Meet Indian girl in Dubai with 1m views on YouTube
Sanjay, 15, has released 51 covers and two original songs
She is only 15, but this Indian student in Dubai has released 51 covers and two original songs on her YouTube channel.
Shirene Sanjay’s first original song, Chalte Chalte, was released six months ago and has more than one million views.
Not just that. In total, her eponymous channel has received more than three million views since its launch on November 5, 2017.
A grade 11 student at Delhi Private School Dubai, Shirene is blessed with a melodious voice. She sings in English, Hindi and Punjabi, her mother tongue.
“My mother has told me that as a baby, I used to crave two things — food and music. So, indeed music has been a fulfilling element in my life,” the teenager said in an interview to Gulf News.
Her first public performance was at the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Dubai’s Jebel Ali, following which she started getting more appreciation for her vocal talent.
“A lot of encouragement from my family, especially my maternal grandma, inspired me to start official training in music.”
Shirene said she then joined vocal lessons with Monique Hebrard. “Her lessons helped me with my western singing skills and voice modulations. My grandma inspired me to go on YouTube.”
With the support of her
A lot of encouragement from my family, especially my maternal grandma, inspired me to start official training in music.”
Shirene Sanjay | Singer
mother Dr Imneet Madan, a laser specialist paediatric dentist in Dubai, and her studio music coach Sreejith Pillai, Shirene ventured into making cover songs.
Million reasons to smile
Shirene said her singing evolved with continuous practice, hard work and overnight recording sessions.
“I started to believe in the gifts of hard work and dedication. It boosted my confidence and helped me change myself from an introvert.”
Having hit the one million button on YouTube, the young singer is counting her blessings and thanking all those who supported her throughout her musical journey — her brother Yuvraj, who is studying audio engineering, her caretaker, driver, coaches, school, friends and the fans who played and shared her songs.
“When I read the comments, it is so nice to see how supportive people are.”