In a world where creativity often serves as a vehicle for change, Ditty stands as a luminous force, an artist whose melodies resonate with purpose and activism. A songstress, eco-warrior, and unapologetic feminist, Ditty's work seamlessly bridges the realms of music, sustainable fashion, and social justice. Through her art, she not only crafts soulful tunes but also sparks critical conversations about the environment, gender equity, and ethical living. In this exclusive interview with Misha Paul from Team Nete, Ditty opens up about her creative process, the inspiration behind her eco-conscious wardrobe, and how feminism shapes both her music and her message. 

MP: Hello Ditty. We are excited to speak with you today and share your journey with the Nete family. Tell us a little about yourself- you are a songwriter, environmentalist, and naturalist- and your journey so far.

D: Thank you, and I’m super excited about our conversation as well. I grew up in New Delhi in the early 90s. My mom’s a Botanist. I remember that as children, we were always outdoors. I have had a deep connection with the ‘outdoors’ and with the natural world ever since I was very young. I feel a lot. I allow myself to feel a lot. I suffered a lot when I saw the city change in my teenage years and my 20s. I was also always singing. It was around the time when I lost my dad that I started writing songs. Music became my ally during this difficult time and showed me that it would become a strong force that would accompany me for life.  

MP: Is it tough to lead a sustainable lifestyle? Do you have to sacrifice to stick to your beliefs, mainly where brand partnerships are concerned? 

D: This is an excellent question because this doesn’t get spoken about much. There are many sacrifices one has to make for sure, but when you have your values intact, they don’t feel like ‘sacrifices’. I truly believe we must value our clothes, have less, repeat what we already have, and be creative, doing things that our ancestors did.  My grandmom and mom somehow managed to look great without having a lot. Growing up, I saw my mom only wearing saris, and she looked great. She made the sari so creative. So I’m trying to say that yes, I say no to much more than I say yes to because it’s always challenging to find partners that align. There’s also a lot of greenwashing. But some brands want to do the right thing. They just don’t know how to. You see, the system sometimes forces us to not be able to do the right thing. Going back to our values can help us be more sustainable. 

MP: How important is storytelling in your life, through your music, fashion, and life?

D: I love stories. That’s what life is about for me. I love to sing about our times. That’s what I truly believe art can help us do- it can help us make life more bearable through stories.

MP: How has it been ditching fast fashion? What stops people from ditching it? Do you think it’s a lack of awareness, education, or choices?

D: It’s been liberating to ditch fast fashion. My journey started as an architect in a firm in Sri Lanka. That’s where I learned the truth about the fast fashion industry. One of my clients was an apparel manufacturer who used all kinds of toxic dyes. I saw a lot that no one should see. I know what fast fashion is doing to the earth. After that, I just couldn’t buy fast fashion. What stops people from ditching fast fashion could be a lack of awareness. I did not know what it was. We are also living in a post-colonial world. There is always greed, a desire to have more, and to look a certain way- there’s so much pressure on women, especially to look a certain way. Ditching all this can bring you closer to yourself and know yourself better.

MP: Tell us about your most fun collab/ project.

D: It has to be the video of my song ‘Home and My Skin’. This was the first time I was working with movement artists and dancers. I trained in Kathak for 7 years when I was a kid. Now I feel disconnected. Then I found this beautiful movement group that I worked with on Home and My Skin. It was such a revelation. To dance and move and revisit that part of me was beautiful. 

MP: Could you tell us more about the intersection of music, feminism, and ecology? What is ecofeminism, and why is it so important?

D: My understanding of ecofeminism is that all living beings are equal. We must find a way to coexist with all living beings. No one is above the other. We are all part of this diverse ecosystem that forms the basis of life. This is the feminist theory for me - to make space for growth, life, healing, restoration, and thriving.

MP: You talk a lot about carbon-neutral travel. What does it mean? What tips do you have for people who want to adopt a carbon-neutral form of travelling?

D: For me, carbon-neutral travel was an entry point to start having conversations around travel and touring sensitively and consciously. I was trying to do things differently, so I made my first carbon-neutral tour in 2020. But I’ve been doing that ever since. Today, we are flying all over the world, even from Bombay to Goa. This is crazy. We are not looking at the impact flying has on anything beyond ourselves. We have forgotten how to slow down. This tour was an attempt in that direction. I would encourage everyone to take advantage of India’s magnificent rail network. It is incredible. My one tip: Ditch the aeroplanes and take the train. 

MP: You have done some interesting work with organisations like Greenpeace and Viva con Agua. Tell us more about them.

D: With Greenpeace, I worked on a mobility campaign. The public transportation system in our country is weak. Even the Metro uses a lot of energy. Most of the metro construction is powered by diesel and other sources that aren’t sustainable. Greenpeace was encouraging the government to introduce more buses, especially electric buses. They were rooting for equity and access for women and the underprivileged. This was beautiful work, and they invited me to speak with them about these topics.

MP: Please share your top 5 tracks that you suggest everyone listen to before 2025 begins. We would also love to know some of your favourite lyrics from your music. 

D: 3 wonderful artists that are trending on my playlist:

• Arooj Aftab and her new track Raat ki Rani. I was very excited to open for her in November

• Kae Tempest’s new album The Line is a Curve

• The Notewist- Pick Up the Phone

My newest single, Azadi, is my first song in Hindi. It’s been beautiful writing in Hindi. Some lines I like are: parvato ki khamoshi to samjho na tum buzdili. This kind of sums up the song.

MP: We would love to know your favourite Nete styles. Please pick a few from the website. 

MP: A message for people to live a more sustainable life? 

D: Just find a way to connect with plants. I think I saw a meme somewhere today that said- plants are not alternative medicine; they are ‘the medicine’. It was funny, but it made sense. We are so disconnected from the earth. Some connection with plants and animals can help us bring change in ourselves.