Happy New Year!
I hope it’s off to a great start for you. What an exciting time it is to not only start a new year, but a new decade, with repeating numbers that lend itself to saying “I see you clearly 2020.” There is truth to that statement for me as I feel that I can see my life with more clarity than before.
I’d like to thank all of you who have continued to support my musical endeavors. As a few of you may know, I started an very demanding job a little over a year ago, which made it challenging to focus on music. Fortunately, I didn’t let it stop me.
Here are some highlights of 2019:
I released my very first solo EP called “Her Heart Speaks.” This R&B project was a collaboration between producer and friend, Savvy and me. We co-wrote the entire album and released it independently. In case you still have not listened or downloaded it yet, you can do so here: https://g.co/kgs/kzNFWE
Also released last year, was a rock-opera musical album called “Lovers and Angeles” a project written and produced by friends, Mark Nguyen and Juan Andres Lizarazo. I was a main featured singer.
I performed in two major charity events. The first was the 22nd Annual Theresa A. Mike scholarship Gala, where I had the opportunity to relive a few of my favorite Disney scenes as the lead entertainer, in none other than the Coachella Valley, where I grew up!
The second was the 18th Annual “LA Walk to Defeat ALS.” If you haven’t read my blog about it yet, you can do so here: https://www.shalinivarghese.com/news/la-walk-to-defeat-als
Last but certainly not least, I made my return to Chicago to perform once again at Buddy Guy’s legends! I teamed up with several of the same blues band members from the prior year, Derek Caruso, Andy Sutton, Lou Terry, plus amazing keyboardist Victor Baker Sr. We truly had a blast!
I haven’t posted videos yet, but check out a couple of my performances with this incredible band from the Mahindra Blues Weekend in 2018 and subscribe to my channel for more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK0_m7xg3Hs
Also, in case you haven’t noticed I finally launched my first artist website. :-) I was on the fence for a long time, but with the encouragement of friend and website designer, Lisa Steele, I went for it. Please take a look around and feel free to share your feedback with me!
They say hindsight is 2020, but looking back at 2019, I’m proud of the new milestones I achieved, as I continued to learn about myself as a person and artist. How my “2020 Vision” will unfold is soon to be told, so stay tuned and in touch.
Wishing you the best in this year and decade ahead!
~Shalini
“Her Heart Speaks” Album Cover, Released January 2019
Performing “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast at the 22nd Annual Theresa A. Mike Scholarship Gala, for underserved Native American youth.
Belting out the Blues at Buddy Guy’s Legends, Summer 2019 Photo Credit: Blushing Rose Photography.
