Best known for making history as the first South Asian actress to play Princess Jasmine on Broadway\u2014and for voicing Emily in A24\u2019s Hazbin Hotel<\/em>\u2014Shoba Narayan is now channeling her extraordinary artistry into something deeply personal: her debut album, Soft Hours<\/em>, out May 19.<\/p>\n 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\u2014like self-care you can hear.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Ahead, we spoke with Narayan about motherhood\u2019s impact on her beauty routine, the South Asian wellness traditions she still practices and how slowing down became her greatest act of self-care.<\/p>\n \u201cI think music regulates us in ways we don\u2019t always consciously realize. In this phase of early motherhood, especially, it\u2019s 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\u2014not by making those feelings disappear, but by helping me move through them more gently.<\/p>\n One ritual I\u2019ve really come to love is putting my phone away in the morning and intentionally listening to one or two songs\u2014often classical music\u2014while taking a few deep breaths before the day fully begins. Music is so often treated as background noise now, but there\u2019s something incredibly calming and restorative about being fully present with it, even for just a few minutes without multitasking. I\u2019ve noticed it completely changes how I move through the rest of the day, and it\u2019s something I\u2019d genuinely recommend to other new moms too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs a performer, I\u2019ve 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\u2019ve realized how much my body holds physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually and how deserving it is of care and love because of that.<\/p>\n 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\u2014more about wanting to fully show up for both my work and my family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy 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\u2014although 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.<\/p>\n I\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n My skin-care routine is definitely multi-step, but efficient. At night\u2014especially once the baby is asleep\u2014it becomes this small luxurious moment that\u2019s just for me. I also use\u00a0The Gratitude Journal<\/em>, and on the days I make time for it, it genuinely helps shift my mindset. I love that it asks questions like, \u2018How would I describe myself through affirmation?\u2019 or \u2018What would make today great?\u2019 because it encourages me to check in with what I actually need emotionally that day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMotherhood 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\u2019s actually unfolding.<\/p>\n 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\u2019ve also realized that wellness doesn\u2019t have to be elaborate to matter. Sometimes it\u2019s small things\u2014going 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.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re 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\u2019t really about doing less\u2014it\u2019s about being more present for the life you\u2019re already living.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMusic was such a huge part of my life at home, particularly classical Indian music, which constantly surrounded me growing up. There\u2019s something inherently meditative and grounding about it\u2014the tonalities, the repetition, the emotional depth. Even as a child, I responded to its calming quality before I fully understood why.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Having the chance to weave Indian melodies into\u00a0Soft Hours<\/em>\u00a0felt especially meaningful because it allowed me to reconnect the album to the sounds, rituals, and emotional textures that shaped me growing up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve 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\u2014sleep, hydration, stress, nutrition, movement\u2014all of it.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Post-baby, I\u2019ve also really leaned into Pilates classes, particularly Megaformer Pilates. It\u2019s incredibly efficient, and it has helped me feel stronger, more energized, more centered and more connected to my body again. It\u2019s definitely intense, though, so rest days and massages are equally important.<\/p>\n One beauty habit I really swear by is thoroughly double cleansing my skin\u2014especially 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.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFeeling held to me is someone noticing you\u2019re tired and bringing you a coffee. It\u2019s a friend texting a new mom: \u2018You\u2019re doing a great job.\u2019 It\u2019s having permission to rest without feeling guilty about it.<\/p>\n As a mother\u2014and honestly, as someone working in entertainment too\u2014so 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 \u2018on.\u2019<\/p>\n Sometimes it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n That\u2019s ultimately why I called the album\u00a0Soft Hours<\/em>. I wanted it to feel like an exhale\u2014something soothing and restorative that people can return to at the end of a long day.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\nSoft Hours<\/em> 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\u2019d recommend to new moms or anyone needing to decompress?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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How did becoming a mom to Leela shift your relationship with your own body, beauty and sense of self?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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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?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
You describe\u00a0Soft Hours<\/em>\u00a0as an invitation to \u2018feel held.\u2019 In beauty and wellness spaces, we talk a lot about that same concept\u2014feeling nurtured and cared for. What does feeling truly held look like for you in your everyday life, beyond the music?<\/strong><\/h2>\n