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The beautiful and talented artist from the UK, Kiran Dhanoa, talks to UrbanAsian…check out what she has to say!
UA: Hi Kiran! How are you? Why don’t you go ahead and start off by telling our readers a little bit about yourself?
Hey I’m very well thank you! I’m the latest signing to Rishi Rich Productions and Mumbai Rouge International as a Punjabi vocalist. And on top of that I’m a student going into my final year of my law degree (manic, I know)!
UA: What inspired you to become a musician?
I’ve always been so passionate about music and I would definitely say it’s like the love of my life and I feel as if music has always been there for me and now it’s my turn to try and give something back you know? Whilst growing up I was very keen on learning how to play the keyboard and harmonium and it also helped that most of my family members feel very passionately about music too. So I guess you could say that it was a compilation of factors that inspired me to take the first few steps to what I’m doing now.
UA: Which musicians do you idolize, and why?
I honestly cannot pinpoint just a couple of people who have inspired me because hand on heart there are so many!! I definitely look up to female vocalists such as Sudesh Kumari (she has killer vocals and is still very underrated) and it might sound cliché but Rishi Rich and Veronica are two people I have looked up to from a very young age. They both in my eyes have become trend setters in their own right and they have broken barriers as well as brought people together via their music. I am very lucky to be a part of what they started so m any years ago.
UA: As most people know, you’re one of the newest members of Rishi Rich Productions. How did you and Rishi Rich meet?
I started off by singing cover versions, recording them on my phone and then uploading them on to Facebook as videos just to gather an interest and to get advice from the few industry folk I had on my friends list. My videos were getting a brilliant response but something inside just didn’t feel right. It felt like what I was doing wasn’t enough to satisfy the hunger and the passion I had. So I decided to take a step further and directly messaged Rishi on Facebook with a clip of my rendition of ‘Gum Shum Gum Shum’ (by Sukshinder Shinda-Ji and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan-Ji) and a little message introducing myself. It started off with ‘here’s a clip of what I sound like do you have any advice as to how I can better myself?’ and Rishi responded (a year later!!) with ‘You sound good, you need a bit of work; so when can you come down and audition for Veronica and myself’. That was such a poignant and life defining moment for me because it was the first time somebody had complimented me, told me what I lacked AND gave me an opportunity to audition properly all in one go!!
UA: How did you react when you found out you had the opportunity to work with him at his camp?
I think that was the second life defining moment for me!! I felt so overwhelmed like a huge burden had been lifted off my shoulders. For years I uploaded videos in the hopes of being recognized but with the recurring thought at the back of my head that I might just not be good enough. My confidence was so low but when I was welcomed into the family with open arms it just felt amazing. I never thought it could happen and it did. I think I remember jumping up and down, crying and dancing around a little!!
UA: What was your motivation behind writing “Tere Bina Nahin Jeena”?
As a person I am very emotional and very passionate and I think “Tere Bina Nahin Jeena” portrays just how deep I am. And I’m sure every writer would say that feelings and emotions when it comes to song writing are very important, it creates the intensity needed for a ballad. Don’t get me wrong the song isn’t based on anybody in particular, but I was in that intense zone and “Tere Bina Nahin Jeena” was the outcome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YffDnr61jfQ
UA: How does it feel to be the owner of a track that topped iTunes World Charts?
Honestly?? Surreal. I don’t think any of us expected it to reach so high in the charts especially as quickly as it did. It was a team effort that made “Tere Bina Nahin Jeena” reach Number 1 in the iTunes World Charts and we are all so glad that its received such a warm welcome. But yes I remember jumping up and down and crying and screaming; I was VERY emotional that day!!
UA: As a relatively new artist, what advice would you give to people who wish to become a part of the music scene?
Hard work ALWAYS pays off! No matter how many times you think you can’t do it or your not good enough; honestly keep trying. I don’t know how I would be feeling right now if I gave up on uploading my cover versions onto the internet. But I do know if I gave in and let my dream slip out of my fingers I wouldn’t be where I am now. Everything has its time and place and hard work and patience will land you the opportunities you deserve.
UA: Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
My life has completely changed now and I feel as if my dream of singing has been set in motion so I now have time to dream of other things I’ve always wanted to do! Hopefully I will still be singing, writing and progressing as an artist; maybe writing for other artists, maybe Bollywood. Who knows?? But I’m eager to see what happens next; music is a beautiful thing it can take you to places you could only imagine. It’s very powerful.
UA: Is there anything else that you would like to share you’re your fans and UrbanAsian readers before we go?
I want to say a HUGE thank you to all the UrbanAsian readers for your messages and love and to everybody else that has purchased a copy of my debut single, without the support and love from you all we wouldn’t have made “Tere Bina Nahin Jeena” what it has now become. To keep in contact with me you can catch me on Twitter, Facebook and on the OFFICIAL fan page. And lastly to everybody that dreams; remember you are your own destiny. Go out there and make it happen! Lots of Love! xx
Keep it locked with UrbanAsian for more updates on Kiran Dhanoa!
