As HYPERREAL takes flight, The Royals gains ground, Kavya Trehan charts her own creative orbit

Singer, actor, designer, performer — and above all, an intuitive creator — Kavya Trehan has long resisted the idea of choosing just one path. Whether lighting up screens in The Royals or crafting ambient sonic worlds in her latest musical venture, she charts a course that’s all her own. Now, with the lead single Stolen Games out and her producer debut EP HYPERREAL beginning to unfold, Kavya is ready to reveal a soundscape that’s both soul-stirring and deeply personal.But her real magic lies in how she does it — not chasing virality or succumbing to the breakneck pace of the industry. “I’ve never subscribed to viral culture or the pressure of fast-paced success,” she says. “My journey is rooted in depth, not speed.”The first seedEvery artist has an anchor. For Kavya, it’s her mother, Sangeeta Trehan — a respected academic with an MSc in Zoology and a gold medallist BEd graduate in Natural Sciences from Kerala. Beyond the accolades and years of teaching, it was Sangeeta’s unwavering belief in Kavya’s creative spirit that became the foundation for everything to come. “When she encouraged me to follow my curiosity, that support lit the path ahead,” Kavya reflects.Roots in psychology, wings in theatreLong before the spotlight, Kavya was already navigating the human condition — academically and artistically. While studying psychology, she also immersed herself in theatre, finding inspiration in the corridors of the National School of Drama. “Studying the human mind while simultaneously losing myself in characters on stage gave me a deeper emotional vocabulary,” she shares. That early duality — intellect and art — continues to shape every note, word and movement in her work today.Many paths, one soulKavya believes creativity needn’t be confined. “To anyone standing at a crossroads today: you don’t have to choose just one path — it’s entirely possible to honour both,” she says. Her ability to live and work authentically — without filters — has been her greatest strength.Fuelled by curiosity, grounded by chaos“Honestly, I get bored easily,” she admits with a laugh. “So I constantly need to feed my curiosity.” One day she’s on stage; the next, sketching jewellery designs or diving into a script. “There’s just one of me and many ambitions,” she says. “That’s why I’ve built a strong, reliable team — people who step in when I feel stretched.” At the centre of that support system is her older sister, Khyati Trehan — a confidante who keeps her anchored. “Having someone who truly gets me, but also reminds me to rest, has been everything,” Kavya adds.Magic meets methodCreative freedom, she says, needs a backbone. “Creativity needs a framework to flourish.” Her process — which she calls The Creative Way — includes to-do lists, regular check-ins and development reports. “It helps me stay grounded and inspired,” she shares. “Even wild dreams need calm, consistent roots.”HYPERREAL: Her truth in soundHYPERREAL, her debut EP as a producer, is more than a collection of tracks — it’s a visceral, layered journey through overstimulated, hyper-connected emotional states. “It’s called HYPERREAL because that’s how life feels sometimes — too much and too true, all at once.” The recently released single, Stolen Games, sets the tone: avant-garde, instinctive and emotionally rich. Each track peels back a layer of her inner world.Creative questAs an extension of the EP’s aesthetic, Kavya also launched a handcrafted jewellery line — wearable pieces that reflect the tactile spirit of her music. “It’s been so fulfilling to create something people can hold,” she says. And when she needs grounding, she turns to sound — especially James Blake. “I Never Learnt to Share is a song I return to often. It reminds me to hold space for all my selves.”In love with the processThough scripts and secret projects hover on the horizon, Kavya remains rooted in the now — in the act of making. “Staying immersed in the work is what keeps me sane,” she says with a smile. Her journey is not one of overnight fame, but of quiet conviction, fearless curiosity and creative honesty. A reminder that you don’t have to fit in to shine — you just have to stay curious, stay grounded and stay in love with the process.

As HYPERREAL takes flight, The Royals gains ground, Kavya Trehan charts her own creative orbit

Anandita Gupta

Unlock Premium Insights in This Article