Inspiration can appear in the most unexpected moments — even while watching spooky videos on a quiet evening. For 15-year-old singer-songwriter Shanaya Rebelo, it sparked the creation of her latest pop-rock single, ‘Zombies in the Street’, a Halloween-themed track filled with fun, energy, and youthful creativity.
“I wanted to make something fun — a song that’s a little eerie but still energetic and light-hearted,” says Shanaya, who has previously released tracks with strong messages of hope and environmental awareness. The idea took shape during a casual jam session with her friends, who later became her bandmates. “It actually started on my birthday,” recalls the Class 10 student at The Phoenix homeschool in Panaji. “We were just jamming for fun, and the harmonies sounded so good that we decided to record it.”
The teen band, aged between 11 and 16, includes Alethea, Kristyn, and Mia on backing vocals, Zach on drums, and Tracii (from Sharada Mandir School) on bass — with Shanaya on lead vocals and guitar. The group rehearsed and recorded the track entirely live at Groovebox Studios, spending hours fine-tuning their sound. “It was a new experience for most of them, but they were amazing,” says Shanaya. “Working with friends made it even more special because everyone brought in their own ideas.”
Kristyn recalls, “At Shanaya’s birthday, she played us a few of her songs. We really liked ‘Zombies in the Street’, tried some harmonies, and it just clicked.” Zach adds, “The band was formed just for this song, and it was so much fun.”
The music video, filmed near Shanaya’s school, captures a playful Halloween atmosphere with friends acting as zombies. “My friends played the zombies, and we had one main character trying to escape them,” she explains. “It was a total group effort — from costumes to filming. Sumaiya and Jaherul handled the camera work brilliantly, and Mysticka did a great job editing it.”
“For me, the best part was singing together at the studio,” shares Mia, while Kristyn laughs, “Wearing that zombie mask during the shoot was the coolest thing!”
A singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Shanaya Rebelo began her musical journey at age eight with ‘Merry Merry Christmas’ on All India Radio, Panaji. Since then, she has released several singles through Jazz Goa and Boskon Studios, including ‘Levitating Space’, ‘Save the Earth’, and ‘I Won’t Give Up’. Known for her mix of pop, funk, and jazz influences, Shanaya writes, composes, and produces her own music, preferring live recordings for their authentic sound.
Her latest release, ‘Zombies in the Street’, is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, Bloom Music, and other major platforms, with the official video premiering on her YouTube channel.
“Sharing my music with the world gives me the utmost happiness,” says Shanaya — a sentiment that perfectly sums up her creative spirit and the joy her music brings to those who listen.
