Shilpa Ananth

Shilpa Ananth is an Indian vocalist, songwriter, composer, producer, and educator whose work combines R&B, soul, jazz, and electronic music elements with music styles from South India. Singing in Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Arabic as well as English,.[1] she published her debut album Indian Soul in 2015. In December 2020, she was given the 'Best Independent Artist' award at the Blue Rhymez Entertainment Honorary Awards.

Shilpa Ananth
Background information
BornDubai, United Arab Emirates
GenresSoul, Jazz, Electronic
Occupation(s)Vocalist, Songwriter, Producer, Educator
InstrumentsVoice
Websitewww.shilpananth.com

Biography

Early life

Shilpa Ananth grew up in Dubai studying Indian classical music from the age of 3, singing bhajans and taking lessons.[2] At the age of 13, her older brother introduced her to Western styles of music, such as jazz, rock, and hip hop, and she drew inspiration from Western artists such as Norah Jones, Lalah Hathaway, and Ella Fitzgerald.[3] She successfully competed in vocal competitions as a teenager.[3]

Music career

Ananth released her debut EP, "Indian Soul" in 2015,[2] and will be releasing a second EP entitled "Reproduction" in the Fall of 2021.[4] The first single from her upcoming EP, "Face Myself", was released on December 12, 2019,[1] and the second single, "Align", was released on January 2, 2020.[1]

She has been featured on a Grammy-nominated album 'ONA' by Thana Alexa[5] and has performed with Grammy award-winning artists such as A. R. Rahman, [6] Bobby McFerrin, and Javier Limón.[7]

In 2020, Ananth became an instructor at the Berklee College of Music's new campus in Abu Dhabi, teaching voice and songwriting.[8]

Awards and honors

More recently, she was given the 'Best Independent Artist' award at the 2020 Blue Rhymez Entertainment Honorary Awards in December.[9] She was also the recipient of the New York Foundation for the Arts Women's Fund for Media, Music, and Theater,[10] and was the 2020 Fall Grantee of the Café Royal Cultural Foundation music grant[4]

Discography

As a leader
  • Indian Soul (2015)[2]
  • Reproduction (coming Fall 2021)[4]

As a guest

With Javier Limón

With Thana Alexa

  • Ona (Self release, 2020)[5]

References
  1. Tagat, Anurag. "Exclusive Premiere: New York-Based Singer-Songwriter Shilpa Ananth's Soothing 'Align'". Rolling Stone India. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  2. Smithers, Erin. "In Conversations - Heart to Heart with Shilpa Ananth". Follow the Soul Trane. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  3. Sadarangani, Khushali. "A city college grad, this Brooklyn, New York-based singer is back on her first music tour of India fusing regional sounds and languages with Western styles". Balgalore Mirror. Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  4. "Music Grant 2020 Fall Grantee". Cafe Royal Cultural Foundation. Cafe Royal Cultural Foundation. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  5. Collette, Doug. "Thana Alexa: ONA". All About Jazz. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  6. Pendharkar, Vrushal. "Sound of music: What keeps the Berklee Indian Ensemble going, harmoniously". Firstpost. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  7. "Javier Limón to Present Flamenco Orígenes in New York". World Music Central. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  8. "Berklee Abu Dhabi Instructors". Berklee Abu Dhabi. Berklee College of Music. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  9. "The 2020 Honorary Music Awards By Blue Rhymez Entertainment". Blue Rhymez Entertainment. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  10. "2020 Recipients". New York Foundation for the Arts. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
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