Harpal and I finally made our way to Seattle last weekend.  We had a chance to visit Natasha, my dear friend and publicist, and a bunch of our old friends from my time in San Francisco.  It was heart-warming to be with all of them.  They have been there from the beginning of my musical journey, from the days I started as weekly regular at the Lush Lounge in San Fran.  Very healing.  Very sweet.

We started our weekend catching up in Natasha’s condo and on Saturday, we made our way to Soloman’s before dinner.  A guitar magically appeared - courtesy of Munira.   What soon followed was an impromptu performance of Wildflower World.  Hope you enjoy.

p.s.  The update on the third album…we’re having production meeting #2 on Sunday, November 2.  Me, Michael and Jesse.  I still need to decide what this album will be about…Journaling abounds.

Tags: Music & Creativity, Gigs and Concerts by admin
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With less than 6 months between me and REVOLUTION’s release, my musicians, Michael Duffy (drums/percussion) and Jesse Stern (bass, keys, percussion) have officially gotten on my case about starting album #3.  I have yet to recover from the emotion ride that birthing an album involves, yet Michael has challenged me to find another set of passions to express.  I’m thankful though that this time, I’ll have them as partners in crime to create the music collabaratively. 

What would album #3 be about?  I’ve taken to carrying around my journal with me everywhere again.  Perhaps the answers will begin to emerge in the quiet moments I share with pen and paper observing the world.

In the meantime, I’m enjoying friends and family, creating remixes with Soul Blender, meeting new people and taking the next steps for building Azadi’s catalogue and exposing it to more and more people.  Many thanks to Dave’s Lounge for featuring my track “In You” alongside Thievery Corporation on podcast #127.  It was a high moment in my career thus far.

Last Sunday, I had a chance to chill with my friend and fellow Producer - Raoul Juneja - aka Deejay Ra.  A bit of coffee, a bit of conversation and most of all, good laughs about music and life.  Can’t get much better than that.  Ra…good times, good times.

p.s.  USC fans…Harpal went there.  I have two words for you…GO BEARS!!!

Tags: Music & Creativity, Out And About by admin
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This past weekend in London has been filled with long chats with two musicians I deeply admire.  DJ Swami and Nitin Sawhney. 

Swami and I go back a few years and he melted my heart yesterday when said, “consider me and my family your family here in London.”   I spent Sunday afternoon with his wife and two children at Hampstead Heath, a sprawling Victorian park in inner London.  Four years ago, I met Swami and after taking a listen to Rock Candy, he told me that next time I should just do the album by myself.  As we sipped tea like proper British people, he asked me if I really self-produced REVOLUTION.  My response:  “You told me to!“ 

He stared back and said, “You really listen to us when we tell you something.”  I trust Swami and his musical ear/advice.  If he says something, I’ll listen.  His wife backed me up.  “I definitely remember you telling her to do the next album by herself.”  He was a bit in shock and also happy in a way a big brother can be.  I listened and I think he was proud that I as an Indian woman tackled the hairy world of production.  Not too many of us floating around.  Still, the constructive feedback followed.  Again, I listened.  I hope to make him proud again on the next album.

The day before, I spent the afternoon with Nitin Sawhney in his studio.  We listened to tracks from his upcoming album.  I shared songs from my album.  His positive and constructive feedback followed.  I am humbled that these guys care enough to spend the time to offer me advice.

After music talk, Nitin and I grabbed a drink at a local pub and talked politics.  I love it when musicians get together and talk about the world.  There is no shortage of rebellion and skeptism charging through the air.  Noam Chomsky and “common sense” are often used in a sentence together. 

The weekend was sweet and enlightening, but most of all, inspiring.  Travel has a way of refueling the soul.  Songs are emerging from within.  I can feel it.

When I got back to my computer this morning, had a gift waiting from Yuriyi.  He’s made a chillout mix and included the new Wildflower World Remix by Soul Avenue. 

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Enjoy, enjoy!  More news from London in a bit…also, check the Ashanti Omkar post.  My show with her is live on their site!

Tags: Music & Creativity by admin
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After 5 years of being involved with ArtWallah, once again, I had the privilege of performing at the Festival this year. My dear friend, Lakshmi Iyengar, and I performed a traditional Bharatanatyam piece. For music, I played acoustically on Saturday and with the band on Sunday.

My acoustic performance was also graced by Sandra Chatterjee’s lovely improv dancing. Here’s a rough recording of the piece we improvised to live on Saturday night. I’ve named the piece Mirage…enjoy!

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Thank you to Soumya, Sarita, Megha and all the volutneers for making the event so lovely!

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So a while back, my booking agent, Chris, got me and Harpal a couple of tickets to watch Moby perform at Yahoo! Live Sets. Guess who got to ask Moby a question?!? You guessed right if you guessed me!!! Video below…proof that I chatted with Moby. Yup…it was a good moment! (I’m about half way through…)

Tags: Music & Creativity, Out And About by admin
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UPDATE: I got a copy of Dave’s Lounge: #119. Enjoy!

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Hello, hello!!! Today is a special day….well, for me it is at least. Two reasons. It’s my birthday and also Dave Warner featured a remix of ‘Wildflower World’ on his podcast this morning! I love this remix. A very talented producer named SoulAvenue put together this little bit of heaven. I hope you visit Dave’s Lounge and enjoy the best in chillout, downtempo and trip hop music.

Thank you for all the birthday wishes and I hope you are all having a lovely June 17!

Tags: Music & Creativity by admin
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this past year has brought a lot of personal turbulence.  with my mother and my father-in-law both being diagnosed with cancer, we’re not exactly sure how we all just got through it.  most recently, my sister-in-law’s parents were killed in their home in india.  the insanity and tragedy of such violence overwhelmed my entire family.  for sure, we’re all looking forward to the end of 2007.

with things finally settling down at home, i decided to get back to finishing my album.  everyday i sit down in the studio surrounded by my instruments and my notes hoping that my muse will find me once again.  no doubt, i’ve met her a few times in the last week.  she’s looking well.

the latest song i’m working on is called "i wonder" and it’s about the murders in our family.  i can’t help but cry each time i track the vocals or listen to the song from start to finish.  but i think those are the best pieces of art.  the ones that make you feel something in your most sacred spaces are the ones that are worth sharing.

when the album is done and you all get a chance to listen to it, i hope i can touch your hearts with this song.

Tags: Music & Creativity by Shaheen Sheik
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just something i saw today and wanted to share. peter gabriel is one of my heroes and this performance makes me love him even more given that he’s bouncing around in a giant ball on his stage. i LOVE it. hope you enjoy!

Tags: Music & Creativity by Shaheen Sheik
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in a way, i feel a little bit like i’ve been in some sort of crazy car crash, broke my leg and finally got my cast off!  but now that the cast is off, i have to build up my muscles to walk again.  i have broken my ankle once, years ago.  i know that the rehab left me a lot stronger than even before the break.

that’s what i’m hoping happens with my music.  last night, i ran through my vocal exercises for the first time in 6 months.  if you can believe it, i broke out into a sweat and was short of breath.  clearly i am out of shape.  this long away from practicing is too long, but life happens and you figure out a way to reintegrate right?

it felt good though.  and i felt proud.  for being willing to go through my version of rehab and for actually starting the process yesterday.  plan to write a song soon.

Tags: Music & Creativity by Shaheen Sheik
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