Madhu’s journey to musical stardom
LIKE most young girls growing up in Wailele, Nabouwalu, on Vanua Levu, Madhu Lata Singh’s introduction to music began with singing Bollywood tunes.
However, as she developed her singing style, her taste turned to lokgeet – the Hindu folk songs are sung at weddings.
The 48-year-old, who now resides at Davuilevu Housing, Waila 3B, Nausori, became so popular in the lokgeet circuit that she was dubbed Fiji’s “lokgeet queen”.
Madhu said her passion for singing while growing up in Wailele helped lay the foundation for an amazing career that has spanned almost a decade.
“I used to listen to songs on the radio and write the lyrics,” the 48-year-old said.
“When I was about 15 or 16 years of age, my interest developed in lokgeet.
“I used to sit for long hours in weddings and just listen to lokgeet sung by the local singers.
“Using the melody of various Bollywood songs, I began to compose my own lokgeet.”
Madhu got married at the age of 18 to Arun Pratap of Tausa, Bua, and he coaxed her to continue singing.
“I told my husband that I have an interest in singing lokgeet and he supported me and encouraged me.
“I used to sing for him in the room and he loved my songs and my voice.
“My husband was very supportive. He was the one who really pushed me to be the best that I could be in lokgeet and whatever I am today is all because of him.
“I got married in 1992 and four years later we moved to Suva.
“At that time I was composing lokgeet but had not sung in public as yet.”
Just when her music career began to take off, tragedy struck. Her husband died in 2017.
Her one consolation was that before his death, Madhu was able to release four lokgeet albums with Procera Music Fiji.
“I was preparing to release my fifth lokgeet album when he passed away.”
Madhu said after recovering from her loss, she poured her heart into her music. “Now I sing lokgeet full-time. “I don’t work. I have a taxi and through singing, I get some side income.”
Madhu also sings kirtan – a call-and-response style of Hindu song or chant, set to music, and sohar – Hindu folk songs sung during or for childbirth.
She said at the start of her music career, she would get nervous and was scared to perform in front of a crowd.
“As time went by and I got more experience, I began to gain confidence.
“I managed to overcome the hurdle and now I can perform in front of a very large crowd with no problem.”
Madhu said in many ways, she was a trailblazer for her family because none of them were musical.
However, through her success, she hoped to pave the way and set an example for her family and fans.
“Some years back, young people lost interest in lokgeet, but now they are slowly coming back to it.
“And it really makes me very happy to see young people taking an interest in lokgeet now.
“I would like to encourage and tell them that while they are concentrating on pursuing their studies, they should never hide their talent.
“If singing interests you, continue singing so that your singing talent is also developed.
“If someone wants any guidance, I am always available to guide and help them.”
Madhu said she was preparing for a lokgeet stage show to be held in New Zealand early next year.
Her favourite local lokgeet singers were Mohan and Phul
Kumari Singh.
“Those two singers were always in my heart, I loved their lokgeet as they were my favourite lokgeet singers.
“I used to listen to their lokgeet during my childhood and I copied down the lyrics of all their lokgeet.
“In my view, they were the best lokgeet singers in Fiji during their time. They have touched so many hearts through their singing.”
Madhu said years back, lokgeet music in Fiji was largely the domain of females.
“But now you’ll find so many males taking interest as well.
“This is good because it develops the lokgeet music in our country.
“I encourage young females to never shy away from singing. If you have the talent to sing, keep developing your talent.”
She also urged parents and guardians to support their children if they expressed a desire to sing or perform music.
“I know every parent wants their children to study but I also urge them not to kill their children’s interest in music.
“Who knows, one day this same talent might become their strength and they could become a very successful person through this.”
She has also acknowledged Procera Music for giving her the opportunity to kick-start her music career.
“They are one of the biggest music companies in the country and I want to thank them.
“They look after the welfare and interest of local musicians.
“From when I released my first album with Procera, I became very popular – not only in Fiji but overseas as well.”
I know every parent wants their children to study but I also urge them not to kill their children’s interest
in music
– Madhu Lata Singh