Sharon Mathai is a 19 year old, South Indian girl from Dallas, Texas who recently took her chances and auditioned for NBC’s The Voice. Sharon was born into a family of doctors, but decided to break away from the norm and pave a new path for herself in the music business. Mathai chose to compete on Adam Levine’s team after winning the attention of three out of the four judges.

AE: What has the experience been like, working with top artist judges?

M: It’s incredible, a dream come true. I can’t even believe it sometimes. To even just be in their presence is definitely a blessing. I’m trying my best to reassure every single moment because it’s so surreal.

AE: Many of us are so thrilled to see a fellow Brown Girl on TV. What has the support from the South Asian community been like?

M: I think it’s blown everyone away, I’ve been getting tweets from my brown girls…and guys too saying things like, “you’re the Jeremy Lin of the music industry.” I just want to do well and represent our culture and show everyone that there is talent throughout all cultures.

AE: How have your parents and family been handling the whole thing?

M: They’ve been good, I think back to high school, freshman year and they wouldn’t allow me to wear sleeveless shirts, or skirts and slowly over the years they have opened their minds, especially to this. They are focusing more on the motivations in my heart rather than the things I do and what people in our society will think.

AE: What does music mean to you?

M: Music is everything. It’s everywhere, it’s part of us, it arises out of every emotion, it’s a remedy, music is the language of the heart, as cheesy as that is.

AE: Do you think you will ever go back to school or medicine if you make a name for yourself in music?

M: I really believe I will. That’s always been an expectation for myself. The Indian inside of me won’t be satisfied until I do.

AE: What made you chose Adele’s “Rumour Has It?”

M: It’s sassy and fun. I’m not a sassy person but I thought I’d bring something different, something that would move the crowd and get them going.

AE: What made you chose to be on Adam’s team?

M: It was honestly, impulsive. I decided to just go with my gut feeling at the time and stop thinking and overanalyzing and just go with it. First instincts are a lot smarter than we give them credit for. I thought Adam and I aligned really well in what he wants and I believe I have that.

AE: What advice do you have for South Asian girls, like you, wanting to pursue a career in music?

M: If you truly believe you have a dream or a talent and you know you have the passion for it, then you need to fight lovingly and gently with your parents and fight for your dreams if you believe you’re supposed to.

To keep up with Mathai, watch Mondays at 7 p.m. on NBC. Follow her on Twitter, ‘Like’ her fan page on Facebook or visit her website  www.mathaimusic.com  for more information.

 Headline photo via Pam Lennard

I don’t usually get crazy nervous when I interview sources for stories but tonight, my nerves took a crazy rollercoaster ride. I felt like a 10-year-old girl at a Spice Girls concert. I had the privilege of speaking with one of my favorite up and coming South Asian artists, Arjun. His debut single ‘Remember Tonight’, gained him the title as ‘Best Newcomer‘ at the Brit Asia Music Awards 2011. I was first introduced to Arjun’s music from one of my best friends and now I cannot stop listening. If you haven’t checked him out, you need to. He has gained whopping 3,696,331 views thus far for his version of the famous, “Why This Kolaveri Di” Tamil hit. Here’s how the Skype interview went:

BG: Some may say that you’re the next Jay Sean or Lomaticc, what do you think about the accuracy of that statement?

 A: I get that a lot really, I do love both artists and their work. Jay Sean has paved the way for Asian artists so thanks to him for that. I just don’t think our sound is the same since my work is guitar based and I also compose all of my own music. All three of us have our own kind of sound, which makes us unique.

BG: Of all the places you’ve performed at so far, which has been your favorite venue or audience?

A: I’ve done some big gigs in England recently, Diwali on the square at Trafalgar Square with an audience of about 30,000 people.  I’ve performed on beaches in Sri Lanka. However, my all time favorite has to be supporting Jagged Edge and Blackstreet at a club in London.

BG: Speaking of performances, are there any plans of you coming to the U.S…more optimistically, Texas?

A: I’m hoping to come to at least 4/5 cities in the US right now like L.A or New York. I’d love to come to Texas if something comes up so give me a shout out if something comes up!

BG: Not that anyone’s counting, but the last time I checked, your “Why This Kolaveri Di English R&B Mix” had a grand total of 3,313,830 views. How do you feel about that?

A: One day, for fun I was humming the tune and ended up adding English to it and then decided to produce it. I got online the next morning and saw the number of views it had and was shocked. I’m really glad I did it. I think it’s also in due part to Facebook and Twitter and becoming so viral online.

 BG: Who are some of your mentors or inspiration for your music?

 A: Craig David. He has a very similar guitar sound and in the late 90’s he was such a great inspiration to me. 112, Genuwine, Jack Johnson and Jason Mraz. I love all kinds of music and I hope that reflects in my own tracks.

 BG: If someone asked you what your favorite song on the radio is, what would your answer be?

 A: I like that Jay-Z and Kanye track, I can’t say the name but you know, “N” word in Paris.

 BG: When you’re not making music, what do you enjoy doing?

 A: I really enjoy playing cricket and just sports in general. I’m also into architecture and artsy things. Normal things, chilling with my mates and going clubbing.

 BG: If you could do a collaboration with any artist, who would it be and why?

A: From an R&B perspective obviously I’d love to do one with a rapper…so Jay-Z would be a privilege. Ryan Leslie would be great too. I really look up to him and respect what he does so one day hopefully I will get to work with him.

 Friend him, Tweet him,Youtube him!

Meet Prita Chhabra, an up and coming South Asian artist taking the music scene by storm one performance at a time! Prita was born in Canada but at the age of fifteen, she moved to Orlando, Florida. She returned to her hometown and obtained a psychology degree from Concordia University. Chhabra started her singing and songwriting career in both Orlando and Toronto. Prita strives to blend both a Western and Indian style in her music to appeal to both audiences. In only the past year, Prita has been given the opportunity to perform with artists like, Jay Sean, comic Russell Peters, and Grammy nominee Eric Robertson. Chhabra was nominated for Best Female Act at the 2010 Toronto Independent Music Awards and received a 2010 Excellence in Entertainment award from the National Association of Indo-Canadians.

I recently had the privilege of interviewing Prita. You can check out her music on her MySpace as well as Facebook page.

BG: Who inspired your music career/ who are your influences?

In grade 1, I told my teacher I was going to be a star (because I wanted to be the cartoon character Jem!) but in grade 2 I heard Bette Midler singing and a flame was lit in my heart that has yet to die. Throughout the years I’ve had many influences ranging from pop to rock to R&B, and I love all sorts of music. I love that you can be moved, inspired and healed through music; it truly is a beautiful thing!

BG: What advice do you have for other South Asian girls aspiring to make it in the music industry?

To be the first you and not the next somebody else. Make sure you’re making music for the right reasons, and don’t worry about what others are doing or saying about you. Whether it’s your family or your competition, just spend all your time and energy on yourself and get yourself to where you want to be. All is possible if you have faith that it is possible.

  BG: What’s something not many people know about you?

That I’m a big high-energy dork! Haha!
BG:  What are some of your upcoming goal and plans?

I’m working on releasing my next CD and my intentions are to move as many people as I can. I have a few more videos that I’ve shot that I will be releasing and I’d like to get into some acting! I’m also working on furthering my own HIV/AIDS awareness campaign!

BG: If you could be a fruit, which one would you be and why?

I’d be a whole fruit salad diced and prepared, ready to go!

It’s been almost a year since I’ve interviewed Reena Shah, then serving as one half of musical duo My Pet Dragon.  Since then, the band has expanded to a full 5-member outfit and they have finished up their first album, Mountains and Cities, debuting on iTunes and Gimme That Sound on August 2^nd.  I got a chance to listen to it, and loved what I heard.

Their first single, Flow, has a nice balance of being catchy enough to appeal to a wide audience, while also still maintaining a quirky enough sound to distinguish it from other generic hooks that seem to make up a large amount of released singles these days. Listening to the rest of the album, the songs create a cohesive tone of instrumental and vocal harmony.

Much of the album’s theme relates to dancing, drinking, and romancing. The first half plays out like a love letter, which admittedly at some moments can get a bit campy and overbearing. But the amount of sincerity more than makes up for the few moments of gushiness that the cynical-hearted like myself tend to avoid. One such track, “Siren,” is one of the softer, melody-driven songs on Mountains and Cities and is an authentic and unabashed account of devotion and admiration – “You’re the siren in the night/sends chills up my spine.”

Other songs like “Moonshine,” and “Lightning Inside” have a dance-pop energy reminiscent of a mix between The Flaming Lips and Coldplay. “Moonshine” in particular is an upbeat tempo with the kind of infectious sound and positive energy that is probably best listened to in live concert, dancing and singing along with hundreds of other people around.

It may not be for everybody, but it’s a solid first album and definitely worth a listen. Part love letter, part dance hall, the album has a good range and enough funkiness to make it exciting with style and substance. Other highlight songs to look out for are “Love Anthem,” “Songbird,” and their title track, “Mountains and Cities.”

Their website offers a free download of “Magestic Lovers” and also provides further information on their background and upcoming activities.

]]> http://browngirlmagazine.com/2011/07/my-pet-dragon-%e2%80%93-mountains-and-cities/feed/ 0 http://browngirlmagazine.com/2011/05/the-voice-sonia-rao/ http://browngirlmagazine.com/2011/05/the-voice-sonia-rao/#comments Thu, 19 May 2011 20:58:36 +0000 browngirlmag http://browngirlmagazine.com/?p=3481 by Komal Thakkar - George Washington University – Star Contributor

I have grown up at the ballet barre beginning at age five, and I have never known a life without dance. In the artistic environments that I was brought up in, minorities are a rare sight. Thus, when I learn of a South Asian making strides in the performing arts, I am deeply intrigued and truly encouraged. When I saw Sonia Rao singing on NBC’s new show The Voice, I knew I had to contact her. Rao grew up in Freehold, NJ (right by my hometown!) to first generation immigrant parents. I had the opportunity to speak to her to learn a little bit more about her background and her future endeavors. She’s definitely a Brown Girl to be inspired by!

Tell me a little bit about your musical background.

I always played instruments. My mom was very interested that I learn violins and piano. I had to practice everyday. At the time, I was very resistant and annoyed. Now I look back on it, and I’m so happy that I have these skills because it’s so relevant to what I’m doing today.

Have you trained in classical Indian art forms at all?

My mom always wanted me to do Bharatanatyam, but I was so resistant at the time because I wanted to do ballet. It’s what was on TV and what I saw around me. Now, I’m getting into Ravishankar and other classical artists.

When did you realize that singing and songwriting was what you wanted to do?

I went to UC Berkely to study psychology. At the beginning, I wanted to be a singer but it seemed so farfetched. My parents drilled it into me that it was a ridiculous idea. I was going to be a psychologist, but my parents wanted me to be pre- med. San Francisco is where I started writing. I sang in college, and I danced. Once I studied song writing after I graduated though, it was so clear that this was what I wanted to do.

When did making a career out of singing become a feasible idea?

Up until the end of high school, you are mostly under your parents’ influence. None of my high school friends were going into artistic fields, so I had no one to look to as an example. In college, I found people taking different arts classes, and it just seemed so much more plausible than when I was in New Jersey.

How have your parents reacted to your decision to sing?

Peoples’ reactions to my being on The Voice had them do a 180. Before, every time I’d call, they’d ask me about Graduate School.  They haven’t mentioned anything since family members have emailed them saying that they saw me on the show. I know they love me and they want me to be secure, but it’s certainly been a bit of struggle. The show has definitely helped.

What was it like on The Voice?

It was an amazing experience. I spent a lot of time with sixty amazing musicians who had taken all these different paths to get there, and I learned so much from them.

Has being on the show altered your career path at all?

My album is coming out over the summer. I was going to release it anyway, but now I have this incredible twitter following and much more support.

Who are the some of the artists that have had an influence on you and your upcoming album?

Florence and the Machine, Ingrid Michaelson, and Sara Bareilles

What’s been your favorite experience or most memorable moment in your singing career thus far?

Writing my first song. I was ecstatic. It’s called Calm Her. I felt like I had tried dancing and painting and all these different artistic mediums my whole life, and when I wrote that first song I had finally found my outlet. Being on The Voice was also a highlight.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

I hope that I am still writing and putting out music. I have three singles out, but this will be the first album. I’m really excited, and I want to continue singing, performing, and writing like I am now.

For more information check out her website at http://soniarao.com/

You can also find her on Itunes by searching Sonia Rao.

Lately, I’ve been busy; I’ve been running around… I’ve been… I’m out of excuses. Truth is I had a small case of writer’s block. Actually, in this book for writers I read (well skimmed through the first ten pages of) I read that ‘writer’s block’ is just writers being lazy. If you have the talent, then creativity and material are just a step away. Just need to get up off your bum and ‘hone your craft’. Writing, like any other sport, hobby, talent, passion, etc. must be actively practiced if any results wish to be seen. SO here I am practicing whilst jamming to my much beloved Bollywood music.

Speaking of Bollywood –*does pseudo-garba/giddha dance* Moving on –

I absolutely adore Indian music. It is as essential to my life as the very air I breathe. I can literally find an Indian song for EVERY mood I’m in. The music never fails to propel me into a world comprised perfectly of melodies, lyrics, and feelings that would be incomplete without each other. The ‘item numbers’ have me subconsciously doing a jig in my seat imaging myself to be the bodacious babe turning heads with my sweet and scintillating hips. The absolutely perfect ‘love songs’ make my heart yearn like a love-struck teenager at my balcony waiting for my true love to whisk me away through the cornfields (we have a lot of those in India) and into the monsoon (because sunsets are so cliché). The ‘broken-heart’ songs make my entire being well with emotion so profound that I can hear the teardrops of pain hit the ground and create cracks in the seemingly smooth and impenetrable surface of love.

I must indulge in a few of my favorite songs:

*Ek Ladki Ko Dekha – 1942 Love Story

*Pehla Nasha – Jo Jita Woh Sikhandar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAmAlQ272KE

*O Re Piya – Aaja Nachle

*Maula Mere Maula – Anwar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvAPcNPXVDQ

*Kaahe Chhed Mohe – Devdas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQrZr8c-xRY

*Pee Loon – Once Upon A Time in Mumbai

*Aadat – Man Push Cart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvxm8JW6mxM

*Munni Badnaam Hui – Dabaang

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpnohT_a-2I

A palette of human emotion is achieved by one genre of music; Indian music has the ability to evoke nostalgia, love, hurt, laughter, anger, and excitement.  I can still remember what I was feeling when I hear certain songs that are near and dear to my heart. It’s a mind boggling experience to be in the present moment at one minute, and then to be catapulted to the past and run head on right into frenzied emotions that were thought to be at bay. It’s nostalgia at its finest. And I wouldn’t change it for the world.

With the 1997 single “Brimful of Asha,” Cornershop, a British band, gained notoriety, especially after Fatboy Slim remixed it. The song has gone on to be featured in a multitude of media. Despite the massive amount of exposure, the band doesn’t stay pigeon holed into one genre. They are known for experimenting with different types of sound, and their newest album Cornershop & The Double ‘O’ Groove Of is no exception.

Cornershop & The Double o’ Groove Of presents Bubbley Kaur, a Punjabi vocalist, as the only vocalist throughout the album. The fun lyrics sound as if they have been ripped out of a Bollywood soundtrack. Released in the spring, this album makes for perfect summer driving music. This is would be the soundtrack heard jumping in and out of a cab in London.

Cornershop currently consists of Tjinder Singh and Benedict Ayres. Kaur and Singh met in passing at a “cellar gathering in Preston Lancashire.” A friend of Singh who drove a taxi referred Singh to a woman he knew who “like to sing.” This friend of the taxi driver was none other than Kaur. Without any prior professional singing or even recording experience, Kaur became the sound of Cornershop’s new album.

The biggest change is the use of cultural music influence. Before this album, Cornershop didn’t have an album heavily influenced by South Asian music.  There are hints of Hindustani and Carnatic inspiration throughout the 1993 album Elvis Sex Change and “Brimful of Asha” epitomizes how the band pays tribute to the founders’ roots. The band features members who play Indian instruments like the sitar and harmonium, although it is primarily non-South Asian.

This album is like Indian food – it’s an acquired taste.

The blend of slightly abrasively recorded Punjabi vocals, soothing mix of indie rock and Indian instrumentals acts as a reflection of both the band’s construction, and of social dynamics, specifically the integration of South Asians in British society.

The first listen through is a bit rough. The vocals sound disconnected from the instrumental. To ears used to Punjabi or indie pop, the mix of the two is awkward. Most other fusion artists rely on either heavy South Asian or Western influences; Cornershop has an equal balance of the cultural sources throughout the album and comes off as the truest fusion album within the fusion genre.

The instrumentals on Natch are indie pop rock and the vocals are reminiscent of Punjabi folk songs. Once the listener reconciles these stylistic nuances, the album becomes a true treat to savor.

Image from Cornershop facebook page.

Visit the Cornershop website to learn more about the band and listen to their music!

Music is the solution to every problem or question that may arise in one’s life. It is the answer that one searches for and can’t seem to find elsewhere. Solace, which is otherwise unattainable, seeks refuge in music. It is the amplifier of feelings and emotions. It ushers happiness, sadness, anger, remorse, sympathy; every emotion commonly known and even some that are not.
Like an eternal heartbeat, music is present even when one is not aware of it. It can be found in nature and in daily noise that, many times, one can take for granted. Music is universal and one should be fortunate that it is indeed.
Often, one may lack a companion to share his or her stories with. An individual may doubt the people he or she usually confides in and may slowly find himself becoming victim to the prison of his own mind. During this time, music brings salvation. It liberates a person from the chains that seem to tie him/her down. One develops an affinity with it, such a strong one sometimes, that it hurts the individual deep down.
Music can pain but comfort individuals at the same time. One cannot always express how he or she is feeling, or what he or she is thinking but the music can express it for him/her. It leads individuals to unwind, and realize that for those few fleeting moments, everything will be alright. It is a companion and a confidant. Music is worthy of trust. It is a way of life, so sweet, so real, and most importantly, one does not have to worry about music stabbing him/her in the back.

Only a fellow brown girl knows how hard it is to make it. And by make it, I mean, strip ourselves away from the tensions and insecurities that arise from being immigrants, and turn it one of our biggest strengths.

An emerging and supremely talented young artist, Anjulie Persaud (This isn’t official, but it sounds like a variation of “Anjali Prasad”) is slowly making her way onto the music scene. The Canadian singer’s parents who are of Indian descent were originally from Guyana, who then moved to Canada. Talking about turning her weakness into strength – our spotlight brown girl who is slowly “making it” got her first break in the music industry right after being fired from her job at a record studio. Uh.. what?!

She’s got a unique voice for sure – frank lyrics, and deep, catchy melodies that makes you pay attention. If listened to carefully, the lyrics can unravel a very introspective, smart woman. “I think I have something to say lyrically” she writes on her website (www.anjuliemusic.com) “My background is in songwriting, so I’m really invested in melodies, song structure and payoff choruses, but on this record, I tried to loosen up and just express myself how I wanted to. I really write for myself.” And her self-titled debut album suggests, she really does.

On my first look, she reminded me of Amy WInehouse, on my second, Nelly Furtado, on my third a little bit of Lauryn Hill. That makes sense because she has been influenced by an  array of different artists – from Alanis Morisette to Annie Lennox to Kanye West, and it shows in how different and eclectic her music really is. People across the world, are starting to really dig her music, and so we might just be looking at the Next Music Sensation. Her debut album reached Number 2 on Billboard’s Heatseeker Albums and number 108 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. The single ‘Boom’ reached Number one  the US Dance Charts.

Here’s a brown girl to watch out for and take inspiration from, and hopefully, one day she will be big enough for us to tell everyone that we knew about her first!

Check her music at www.myspace.com/anjulie

Directed by: Radhika Bordia & Natasha Badhwar, Punjabi Kudi. 2008. 20 min.

This short 20-minute documentary takes an expansive look into South Asian female music artists in England and how they personally relate to their craft. The film captures individual perspectives ranging from the ambitious and strong-minded rapper, Taran Hard Kaur’, to traditional Kirtan singer who started performing in Gurdwaras after immigrating to England from India and searching to make a place for herself in a foreign land.

There were many aspects about this film which brought attention to issues relevant in the South Asian diasporic communities. Although relatively short, it manages to explore some of the complexities of trying to uphold cultural expectations, creating a new life/identity, and reconciling one’s position in society as a female and South Asian. All of the artists interviewed had their own unique story, all connecting back to music and how they all found opportunity and personal growth through pursuing it. Even though they all operate in different genres, there seems to be a common theme of using music to reconcile internal and external conflicts. For example, one of the women was able to finally accept herself on her own terms only after being invited/requested to DJ at a new club – but only under the assumption she plays and is in expert in Bhangra music. Taking advantage of the offer, she used outside expectations in regards to her musical sensibilities and connected to her roots through the process of familiarizing herself with Bhangra and other Indian styles of music. Her process and story, while completely different from the others, shares a similar overall tone of sincerity.

What I liked best about this film is how all the scenes flowed together in a natural, uncontrived way. Often with cultural documentaries, or films in general, the audience is forced or manipulated into absorbing or accepting a specific message. However this film is thought-provoking and easily accessible without oversimplifying or shoving an agenda down the audience’s throat. Although about music, the film (like any good film) manages to transcend it’s concrete subject to make larger, universal statements about succeeding and existing a woman, as South Asian, as a person. Needless to say, I highly recommend giving this a watch – a must for any smart, hip, and beautiful brown girl.