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Interview With Rianjali, American-Born Acoustic Singer/Songwriter
Rianjali is an american-born, acoustic singer/songwriter from Queens, NY. Hindustani classically trained as a child, she fell in love with Western vocals after being admitted to the prestigious La Guardia School for the Performing Arts. Though she initially began her career in the mental health profession, she found herself stumbling into a career in music and has gone on to collaborate and perform with the likes of A.R. Rahman, Bishop Briggs, and Shawn Mendes. In a interview, Ria talks about her journey as a artist……
What an incredible voice. Let’s begin with little bit about yourself.
Thank you! I’m 28, I was born in Manhattan but my parents sent me to New Delhi, India (which is where my mom is from) because she made the brave decision to go to nursing school. My dad worked late nights and double shifts, my brother was only 5 years old and it would have been a task to send a newborn to a babysitter. So I was raised by my grandparents and my aunt until I was about 5. I barely even knew who my parents were; I thought New Delhi was my home and I loved it there. When I got back to Queens, NY (where I grew up for the rest of my life I absolutely despised my parents simply because I wanted to go back to my grandparents and I didn’t understand why they took me away from them. It was just a confusing time and it took me over a decade to realize the sacrifice my parents had made and how hard it really was for them. I went to Laguardia High school for Performing Arts (known famously as the FAME school) as a Vocal Major during my high school years and then continued on to Stony Brook University for undergrad and City College of New York (CCNY) for my Masters education.
At what age did you started singing?
My dad was a well known Bengali folk singer back in Bangladesh when he was in his teens and early 20s. I heard him singing all my life but he never forced me into it. One day, I was taking a bath with all my rubber duckies and what not, I think I was around 6 years old. And my dad heard me singing one of his Bengali songs from front to back. He had never taught it to me but I was jamming out to it thinking I had utter privacy. He walked in and I got surprised/embarrassed. After I got out, he sat me down and asked me where I had learned the song and if I wanted to learn North Indian classical music from his Guru’s daughter who had just moved here. I shyly answered yes and that began my journey. I never actually thought that I’d be working in music full time but here we are!
Who would you say is your inspiration for your love of music, and why?
This is not to be cocky or anything, but I didn’t grow up having an inspiration because I never really thought it would become a career path. I loved singing and I loved learning but it was always just a thing that my “community” knew about. Just recently I had someone from my elementary school message me asking if Ive always been singing because she cant remember me even speaking in school. I was just that shy. But I do have some favorite artists, obviously A.R. Rahman as a composer, Justin Timberlake as an all around musician/person, Timbaland as a producer, Whitney’s vocals, the list can go on.
Do you compose your own music?
I do! I compose everything from the melody to the lyrics strings section to the type of beat I want. But I do work with a producer now and I have learned to delegate some of that over to him because collaboration is a wonderful thing. But yes, all of my music is composed by me.
What was your first job out of high school?
I was a hostess at a really upscale organic restaurant on the upper east side. It was annoying but felt nice having some money in my pocket.
Tell us little bit about your recent song.
The most recent song I released is called “Yesterday”. It’s the story of a relationship gone sour. “Why’d you waste my time when babe I know you wanted her instead?” Clearly there was someone else involved. But the idea is that you’re over it, it was just a waste of your time, however..that’s all in the past. I create stories, based off of myself, other people, things that I think are relatable but organic. I guess that’s what this was.
(Optional) Most of your music is love music. What is love for you? Have you ever had a heart break? Share.
It is about love, but not about the kind of love you probably imagined it was about. I wanted the music to the universal, what is more universal than love? This is entire EP is the story of being taken for granted and not knowing how to actually love when it comes time to it. Without going into too much detail, (I’m not really ready yet) it’s a story about my family – my parents to be specific. I think the most heartbreak I’ve ever encountered was watching my parents. I’m learning though. At 28, I’m understanding that you don’t have to become everything you see growing up, you have the ability to change it rather.
Tell us about your upcoming projects…
I’ve released 3 songs from my EP so far. (Make You Mine, Whole Again and Yesterday) And the entire EP is coming in May. I’ve got a bonus track/video that I’ll be releasing as well. I’ve put some lyrics down for a movie or two that I can’t talk about just yet, but will be hearing about it within this year. And I’m currently working on the music for an entire musical production, which is also under the radar until it’s not so…look out for some cool things!
Who is your personal favorite singer and song writer?
At the moment, I absolutely love Jon Bellion. He’s an insane musician and doesn’t mold to the industry’s needs. He should be way more popular than he is but isn’t that the mystery about actually talented people?
Some words for your fans……
I appreciate you guys so much. I wouldn’t have the courage to do any of this it wasn’t for all the people who come out to my shows and show me support when I need it the most. I’m not just trying to write a couple of songs and be done with this. I’m on a mission to change the image of the South Asian independent musician. We don’t need to be singing only Hindi tracks or have Indian elements in our music (which I actually do have secretly hidden in a bit of my music)in order to have an exotic feel to us. I write and compose American music and have often felt like it’s not accepted in either world, neither the American world nor the Indian world. But I’m out here to change that now and I’m thankful for each and every person who’s with me.
