Shilpa Ananth, an Indian artist living and creating in the UAE, is revealing new single ‘Amputate the Fake’, a bold English-Tamil bilingual blend of soul, R&B, jazz, and hip-hop – out today alongside its striking, AI-infused music video.

A visceral journey toward self-liberation, ‘Amputate the Fake’ arrives as a soul-infused anthem for shedding illusion and reclaiming truth. It is a call for everyone to strip away the external masks that confine us and reevaluate our relationship between authenticity and artifice.

“I wrote this song to describe the feeling of putting down our external masks, freeing our most authentic selves, and letting go of what didn’t serve us,” Shilpa says. “I wanted to speak about not letting go of my dreams and not forgetting my own name – even when faced with intense pushback and adversity. I no longer wish to be put into a box or labelled in a way that makes others feel comfortable about who I am or what kind of music I make. This song marks the moment where I am letting go of the need to find a sense of belonging, especially if it means I need to conform to a mind view I don’t believe in.”

Sonically, ‘Amputate the Fake’ is smooth, warm, and full of movement, led by deep bass grooves, layered vocal harmonies, and Tona’s soulful flugelhorn riffs. With a hip-hop undercurrent and deep R&B soul flavour, the track offers modern Tamil-soul, inspired by the likes of Victoria Monét, Kimbra, and Hiatus Kaiyote, to Erykah Badu, Priya Ragu, and A.R. Rahman.

The accompanying AI-driven music video, directed by Suruchi Sharma (Studio Ainak), blurs the line between what’s real and what’s performed, mirroring our modern struggle with authenticity in a world obsessed with appearances. Shilpa adds: “’Amputate the Fake’ is an act of release – a call to amputate the fake and awaken the real.”