Maithili Raelle Chooses Herself in Empowering Anthem

Written By Mike Greenblatt
Maithili Raelle

“I Choose Me,” by Indian-American Maithili Raelle, raised in Asbury Park, is a jolt of electricity between herself and Brooklyn-born rapper Hiii Siddity. Her sense of pop history results in how within the song she samples “Where My Girls At,” the 1999 hit by Las Vegas girl group 702.

Maithili: “My family is actually very musically inclined, so starting music as a hobby was never questioned. It just felt very natural. Then, when music transitioned from being a hobby into a career, that also happened pretty naturally for us. Even though pursuing music professionally isn't something you see very often in Indian or Asian culture, my family has been 200% supportive.”

She likes “choosing herself” as, to her, it means “embracing every part of your story—including your culture, influences, experiences and ambitions and allowing those elements to shape something uniquely your own.”

Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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