Indian singer Akasa, who features in a Ricky Martin song, speaks music with Guardian 20
2121 Mararcharcch 222 Maraarch Akasa Singh, from Mumbai, has burst onto the global scene as a singer. But, her beginnings are all about the arduous journey, which all must undertake in humility if they truly desire knowledge and skill. Her ability, or talent, owes a mighty lot to her family. In a conversation with Guardian 20, she remarks upon how her upbringing has been one of the contributing factors to where she has reached today. “I was born into a musical family, my father, Arvinder Singh is a singer and music director. My mother Ameeta Singh, is a trained Kathak dancer and performer.” She adds, “During my formative year I was so inspired by my dad as I watched him perform and listened to his music playing all day at home. At a very young age I was certain that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”
Her journey has only added to what she is as a singer and
Indndiandiia, NadiNadirdi ShahShaah PersPersiarsiia occccupccupieupiesie DDelhilh andan ttakkes ppossesssessiesssioon tthe PPeaacockoc throthronerone.ne JourJournaurnnallist Heneenry SStaanleyle begibeggins hisis famofamousmous expxpedxpediteditioitionio Afrfricfrica.ica. GGutenbtenbernberger BiblBibebl becobeccomesme theth fifififirstfififififififirfifififififirfififirfifififirfififififirfifirfirst pririntrintednted bookboook. a powerhouse performer on the stage. She started with performances on stages that are set for college festivals. “The early college gigs that I did were actually a test I had to pass as an artiste. Those audiences didn’t know me or any of my songs. They would or wouldn’t appreciate me for who I was based on that performance,” Akasa continues, “So performing early on for college crowds actually gave me a lot of good practice”
Her college gigs were followed by an international stage for practice, with Mika Singh. She was a part of Mika Singh’s band at the age of 17, and travelled to many international destinations like the USA, Canada and the UK. Akasa says, “Much like an expensive school, I got to learn from one of the best performers of our country. I joined Mikaji’s band at a very early age and began touring around the world with him, which exposed me to so much and gave me a worldly experience.” This was yet again another chapter where Akasa Singh. she discovered herself before international audiences and realised where she fit in — she was simply amongst the TheTh firstfifififififififirfifififirfififirfirfifirsst sucucceuccesscessfussfulfu pphooto oof Moooonoo iis taketaken.kenn. TThe fififififififififirfififirfifirfirst telelepelephoephonehone calallal betwbetweetweenee NewNe YorkYork andnd Chihhicagocaggo takakesakes plalacelace.ce TThe MMercedrcedesedes iintrodtrooduceduced DDaimleimlerle aat thehe fififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififivefifififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififve- dayday ‘WeekWeeek NNicce’ Niciice, FranFranceance.ce most upbeat performers to hit the stage.
The next stop for Akasa was RAWSTAR. At this na- 24Mar24archarcch 2525 Mararcharcch tional stage for singers from with Himesh Reshammiya, all over India she met some and sang the song “Tu Keech great competitors. “Being on Meri Photo” for the movie Sanational television gives a nam Teri Kasam. She even resinger a face, and audiences corded a few covers of songs always connect to that more. like “Judai” and uploaded RAWSTAR gave me that opthem onto YouTube, which portunity.” She adds,” Not resulted in her gaining a lot only did I get to showcase of attention and enabled her my talent but was also able to expand her fan base. to portray who I was as a Her recent move, which is person and that gained me a a rather big one, has been a lot of fans.” She came out as song with the international the only female singer in the Pop icon Ricky Martin. top 5 performers in the com“Vente pa ca”, sung by Ricky petition. Akasa has paved Martin, is a Spanish song that her way by taking one step was released by RM late last at a time — one judiciously year and became one of the chosen step at a time. And all biggest Spanish-language the while she has been honhits of 2016. “When I signed a ing herself as an artist. management deal with Sony
Akasa maintains a wide Music, Ricky Martin’s label, scope as far as her preferthey approached me with ence of genres go, as a child this song and I was thrilled. she was exposed to her faThis is my debut in pop muther’s music which included sic and working with an inHindustani classical, Sufi, ternational star of his status Ghazals and Punjabi Folk. is what dreams are made of.” As she grew she came in She shares further, “I recordtouch with western influed the Hindi verses with adences like R&B, Hip-Hop and vice from Sony Music’s A&R Country. “I enjoy singing in team — which was then sent all this genres as well,” says to RM and he instantly loved Akasa. She went on to work the sound.” Pr i n t e d a n d d i s t r i b u t e d by P r essReader P r e s s R e a d e r . c o m + 1 6 0 4 2 7 8 4 6 0 4 • ORIGINAL COPY • ORIGINAL COPY • ORIGINAL COPY • ORIGINAL COPY • ORIGINAL COPY • ORIGINAL COPY • COPYR I G H T A N D P R OT E C T E D B Y A P P L I C A B L E L AW