Music a way to communicate for Indo-American singer
Indo-Asian News ServiceToronto, August 26, 2005
Music helps Indo-American singer-composer Mana Bhatt communicate with people and "integrate" her Indian heritage with her American upbringing, she says, preparing to release her debut album Expressions.
For the 23-year-old from Princeton, New Jersey, her album signifies her breaking out of the desi music mould. No bubble-gum lyrics. No lifting from Bollywood soundtracks and no over-produced beats to cover up the flaw in her voice, because frankly, there aren't any.
Expressions, to be distributed soon, is a compilation of a variety of musical genres with global influences. All eight tracks move fluidly through rock, pop, and techno with distinct sounds of Indian, Middle Eastern, and American instruments.
When one asks Bhatt what music means to her, she gets philosophical, according to the South Asian Observer. "Music enables me to convey my deepest thoughts, emotions and beliefs. It allows me to bridge the distance between people - young and old. Music helps me integrate my Indian heritage with my American upbringing, an expression of who I was, an expression of who I am, an expression of who I want to be."
Mana communicates her thoughts in Hindi. She has incorporated her life experiences into the music of Expressions - a childhood in New Jersey, college in New York City, and extended stays in London and India.
English was bound to be a part of the album. But Mana's musical journey began before she could even speak a full sentence in it.
Growing up in a traditional Gujarati household that lived and breathed music, Mana began singing at the age of three as part of her family's travelling show, which had a repertoire full of classic Hindi film hits.
"I don't remember a time in my life when I didn't hear music in our house - I'm not talking about radio or TV. I woke up every Saturday morning to my father singing with my mother as they prepared for some show they were going to perform. Then my sisters and I would be taken to Bharatanatyam class and when we came back, we'd have to sit with the harmonium and sing with my dad for at least an hour before we could do anything else. While other parents made their kids study mathematics and read books, my parents made us sing, dance, and play instruments." more... http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1472763,00110005.htm
Music helps Indo-American singer-composer Mana Bhatt communicate with people and "integrate" her Indian heritage with her American upbringing, she says, preparing to release her debut album Expressions.
For the 23-year-old from Princeton, New Jersey, her album signifies her breaking out of the desi music mould. No bubble-gum lyrics. No lifting from Bollywood soundtracks and no over-produced beats to cover up the flaw in her voice, because frankly, there aren't any.
Expressions, to be distributed soon, is a compilation of a variety of musical genres with global influences. All eight tracks move fluidly through rock, pop, and techno with distinct sounds of Indian, Middle Eastern, and American instruments.
When one asks Bhatt what music means to her, she gets philosophical, according to the South Asian Observer. "Music enables me to convey my deepest thoughts, emotions and beliefs. It allows me to bridge the distance between people - young and old. Music helps me integrate my Indian heritage with my American upbringing, an expression of who I was, an expression of who I am, an expression of who I want to be."
Mana communicates her thoughts in Hindi. She has incorporated her life experiences into the music of Expressions - a childhood in New Jersey, college in New York City, and extended stays in London and India.
English was bound to be a part of the album. But Mana's musical journey began before she could even speak a full sentence in it.
Growing up in a traditional Gujarati household that lived and breathed music, Mana began singing at the age of three as part of her family's travelling show, which had a repertoire full of classic Hindi film hits.
"I don't remember a time in my life when I didn't hear music in our house - I'm not talking about radio or TV. I woke up every Saturday morning to my father singing with my mother as they prepared for some show they were going to perform. Then my sisters and I would be taken to Bharatanatyam class and when we came back, we'd have to sit with the harmonium and sing with my dad for at least an hour before we could do anything else. While other parents made their kids study mathematics and read books, my parents made us sing, dance, and play instruments." more... http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1472763,00110005.htm
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