‘If you work hard, you can achieve anything’
Showcasing exemplary skills in singing and painting, Delhi-based Nishi Singh is one multifaceted personality. “I was always inclined towards culture and arts, learnt how to sing, as well as taught myself how to paint,” says Singh, who is also the founder of NAAD foundation, an NGO.
Having tried her hand at Hindi songs, she has come up with her new single, Soni Kudi. “I used to sing in the school choir,” recalls Singh, an alumna of Lady Shri Ram College and Law Faculty, Delhi University, adding, “After marriage, singing took a back seat... Eight years ago, I decided to rekindle my connection with music and started performing on stage.”
“I mostly sing Bollywood numbers, light romantic songs, and bhajans, but I am equally comfortable with ghazal and Sufi singing,” says Singh. Soni Kudi is her first foray into Punjabi music. “I asked friends for help with pronunciation and diction. But once I got the hang of it, I recorded the song within two hours,” she says.
Mother to a 22-year-old son and a 16-year-old daughter, she feels, “It’s hard to carve a niche in playback... But, I believe that if you are hard working, you can achieve anything you set your heart on.” Her upcoming projects include a song featuring anchor-actor Maniesh Paul, and composed by Bollywood filmmaker Sachin Gupta. So is she eyeing Bollywood projects in the future? “I’m focusing on my forthcoming solo now, but I do want to be a playback singer. I adore Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Mohammad Rafi sahib. Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal are also my favourites,” she shares.
Talk about her passion for painting, and the artist, whose primary medium is acrylic and watercolour, says, “I prefer figurative landscapes, and have participated in many group exhibitions and auctions, including art festivals in Delhi and Mumbai.”
“During the lockdown last year, I did paint, but I was mostly involved in tending to those without access to basic amenities,” adds Singh, whose foundation aims to preserve India’s cultural heritage, and improve lives of the underprivileged. “During the lockdown, we distributed 10 tonnes of dry ration, PPE kits, sanitisers and masks... Now, we plan to open a music academy for the visually impaired,” she concludes.