MUMBAI: Artists from India, Pakistan and the US have collaborated to bring an album that announces the debut of San Francisco based Indian singer – Devika.
Music for this self-titled album has been composed by Shahi (Shehzad Hasan), a music director and producer whose work includes songs such as Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s Mann Ki Lagan and Laal (from the movie Paap). Hasan was also one of the members of Pakistan’s first ever pop band – Vital Signs.
Additional compositions are by Anshuman Chandra, Noor Lodhi and Manesh Judge.
The production started with rough compositions being penned and recorded in Hasan’s studio in Pakistan as well as Lodhi’s studio in San Francisco. These were then transmitted to the other side over the Internet — enhanced, decorated and re-transmitted back and forth until the music, compositions and vocals were rock solid.
Devika is well versed in Hindustani classical music, having learnt under the supervision of teachers including Chandra Rao. She is currently a student of Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan and Ustad Sukhawat Ali Khan.
The theme of her self titled debut album is romance and every song carries it through. The songs span a variety of different styles including lounge, club, easy listening, Punjabi and film. The goal of the album is to demonstrate the versatility of vocal performance and to create a collection where any listener can easily find something to connect with. The music video for the album was shot in several locations in Hyderabad and Mumbai, including the Husain Sagar Lake at dawn.
