Best known for making history as the first South Asian actress to play Princess Jasmine on Broadway—and for voicing Emily in A24’s Hazbin Hotel—Shoba Narayan is now channeling her extraordinary artistry into something deeply personal: her debut album, Soft Hours, out May 19.
The album is a lush, cinematic listening experience born in the quiet hours of new motherhood: part Broadway classic, part Indian melody, part original lullaby and all entirely transportive. What began as songs for her daughter Leela has evolved into a universal invitation to slow down, feel held and reconnect with yourself—like self-care you can hear.
Ahead, we spoke with Narayan about motherhood’s impact on her beauty routine, the South Asian wellness traditions she still practices and how slowing down became her greatest act of self-care.
Soft Hours is being described as a wellness-forward musical offering. How do you see music functioning as a self-care tool, and do you have a ritual around listening that you’d recommend to new moms or anyone needing to decompress?
“I think music regulates us in ways we don’t always consciously realize. In this phase of early motherhood, especially, it’s become a way for me to slow down, reset, and create calm in the midst of very full days. When I have moments of overstimulation and exhaustion, music can really help soften the edges of the day—not by making those feelings disappear, but by helping me move through them more gently.
One ritual I’ve really come to love is putting my phone away in the morning and intentionally listening to one or two songs—often classical music—while taking a few deep breaths before the day fully begins. Music is so often treated as background noise now, but there’s something incredibly calming and restorative about being fully present with it, even for just a few minutes without multitasking. I’ve noticed it completely changes how I move through the rest of the day, and it’s something I’d genuinely recommend to other new moms too.”
How did becoming a mom to Leela shift your relationship with your own body, beauty and sense of self?
“As a performer, I’ve always had a deep appreciation for what my body does, but pregnancy and motherhood amplified that feeling. I became less focused on purely functioning for work or aesthetics and much more focused on strength, resilience and sustainability. Now I think about strength in practical, everyday ways: carrying my daughter, pushing a stroller through New York City, balancing the physical demands of my job and sustaining longer days with often-interrupted sleep. I’ve realized how much my body holds physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually and how deserving it is of care and love because of that.
Of course, being in a visual industry, that awareness around appearance never fully disappears. But now beauty feels much more connected to feeling healthy, strong, capable and comfortable in my own skin. I still care about looking and feeling my best, but it comes from a more compassionate place now—more about wanting to fully show up for both my work and my family.”
Between performing, voiceover work and now releasing a debut album as a new mom, what does your self-care routine look like day-to-day?
“My self-care routine right now is really about maintenance, recovery and finding small moments to take care of myself. Sleep is probably the biggest thing—although as a new mom, that can definitely be a moving target! Even ten quiet minutes to lie down and close my eyes can feel restorative.
I’m also very mindful about vocal health and overuse. I take vocal rest seriously, stay constantly hydrated and always warm up before anything vocally demanding. Long walks in fresh air, a cup of herbal tea or quiet moments to journal are incredibly grounding for me. Calling a friend or getting a massage whenever I can also goes a long way.
My skin-care routine is definitely multi-step, but efficient. At night—especially once the baby is asleep—it becomes this small luxurious moment that’s just for me. I also use The Gratitude Journal, and on the days I make time for it, it genuinely helps shift my mindset. I love that it asks questions like, ‘How would I describe myself through affirmation?’ or ‘What would make today great?’ because it encourages me to check in with what I actually need emotionally that day.”
The album was born out of quiet, intimate moments, which feels almost countercultural in such a fast-paced industry. How has motherhood taught you to slow down, and how has that translated into how you approach beauty or wellness now?
“Motherhood has made me much more aware of how quickly life moves and how easy it is to miss moments while rushing toward the next thing. My ambitions and creative goals are still very much there, but becoming a mother has made me want to be more present for my life as it’s actually unfolding.
That shift has changed the way I think about beauty and wellness, too. My routines are definitely simpler now because time and energy feel different, but I’ve also realized that wellness doesn’t have to be elaborate to matter. Sometimes it’s small things—going for a walk, putting on an outfit that makes me feel good or taking five extra minutes to care for myself before the day begins.
When you’re constantly giving physically and emotionally, especially as a mother, those small acts of care toward yourself start to feel much more meaningful. I think motherhood has taught me that slowing down isn’t really about doing less—it’s about being more present for the life you’re already living.”
You grew up with Indian immigrant parents and wove Indian melodies into this album. Are there any South Asian beauty traditions you were raised with that you still hold close?
“Music was such a huge part of my life at home, particularly classical Indian music, which constantly surrounded me growing up. There’s something inherently meditative and grounding about it—the tonalities, the repetition, the emotional depth. Even as a child, I responded to its calming quality before I fully understood why.
Beyond music, so many of the wellness traditions I was raised with were rooted in nourishment and ritual. Warm home-cooked Indian food with turmeric, ginger, herbs and spices was simply part of everyday life in our home.
I still oil my hair, and I love using sandalwood face masks. They leave my skin incredibly soft and luminous and even the scent carries so much childhood nostalgia for me.
Having the chance to weave Indian melodies into Soft Hours felt especially meaningful because it allowed me to reconnect the album to the sounds, rituals, and emotional textures that shaped me growing up.”
When you are working at the highest levels on Broadway, how do you take care of your body and skin? Any must-do beauty steps or products you love?
“I’ve learned over the years that consistency matters more than intensity. When your body and voice are part of your work, you become very aware of how interconnected everything is—sleep, hydration, stress, nutrition, movement—all of it.
My beauty routine is honestly pretty foundational: cleansing well, keeping my skin hydrated, moisturizing consistently and being diligent about SPF. I tend to gravitate toward rich moisturizers, gentle skin care and anything that helps my skin feel calm and nourished after long days or after wearing makeup.
Post-baby, I’ve also really leaned into Pilates classes, particularly Megaformer Pilates. It’s incredibly efficient, and it has helped me feel stronger, more energized, more centered and more connected to my body again. It’s definitely intense, though, so rest days and massages are equally important.
One beauty habit I really swear by is thoroughly double cleansing my skin—especially after wearing makeup all day. It makes a huge difference for me. One product I genuinely love is the La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum ($43). It makes my skin feel unbelievably hydrated, plump and glowy. I go through those bottles very quickly.”
You describe Soft Hours as an invitation to ‘feel held.’ In beauty and wellness spaces, we talk a lot about that same concept—feeling nurtured and cared for. What does feeling truly held look like for you in your everyday life, beyond the music?
“Feeling held to me is someone noticing you’re tired and bringing you a coffee. It’s a friend texting a new mom: ‘You’re doing a great job.’ It’s having permission to rest without feeling guilty about it.
As a mother—and honestly, as someone working in entertainment too—so much of life is spent giving energy outward: performing, nurturing, creating, constantly showing up for other people. Feeling held is being able to let your guard down for a moment without having to be ‘on.’
Sometimes it’s very small things: wrapping myself in a cozy blanket, putting on music and turning my phone off for twenty minutes or lying next to my daughter while she falls asleep and allowing myself to fully be present for it.
That’s ultimately why I called the album Soft Hours. I wanted it to feel like an exhale—something soothing and restorative that people can return to at the end of a long day.”
