Check Out Priya Mani’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Priya Mani.

Hi Priya, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Born into a music-loving family, I was exposed to music from a very young age. Some of my fondest memories as a child were when my mom, sister and I would dance and sing along to bollywood songs in our living room! My father loves singing old Hindi songs, and hearing him was probably what first inspired me to sing.

I grew up in Bangalore, India, where I started learning Indian Carnatic Classical Music around the age of six. Alongside Indian classical music, I listened to a lot of contemporary Indian and western pop music! Artists such as Mohammed Rafi, Shreya Ghoshal, Ella Fitzgerald, Jessie J, Coldplay and Adele greatly inspired me. I learned songs of different styles and performed at local and school events. In middle school, I picked up the guitar to accompany myself. It changed the way I approached music! My guitar was a catalyst to my songwriting, which was something I had a newfound passion for. I would play a chord progression and loop it for hours while I came up with melodies, lyrics and harmonies to go with it. It was at that point in my life, I realized my true passion for music.

My family has been extremely supportive of my musical journey. When I was in high school, we moved to Southern California where I was finally able to discover myself as an artist and kickstart my music career!

Moving countries in the middle of high school was a difficult transition for me, but music got me through it. I began performing locally, posting covers on social media, and writing and recording more music! Around the same time, I was learning Hindustani classical music, western vocals, and the piano.

A turning point in my life was when I moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music. I was introduced to a whole new world of music. Ranging from styles such as Jazz, R&B, and Pop, to genres of music from across the world! The people I’ve met and worked with at Berklee inspire me on a daily basis and have greatly contributed to the artist I am today.

Fast forward to today, I have had the opportunity to perform shows in Boston and Orange County, record multiple projects and collaborate with other artists, and release my first single, ‘SHE’!

I am currently in my last year at Berklee and working on releasing and performing more music in the near future!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Choosing a career in the music and performance industry can be quite daunting in many ways but exhilarating at the same time! I’m lucky enough to have an extremely supportive family who have believed in me since the beginning, but sometimes I end up putting a lot of pressure on myself to achieve perfection. Over this past year, I have taken the time to reflect on my music and artistry. This has helped me gain the confidence to be myself on stage, perform in the moment, and embrace it.

My biggest obstacle so far has been maintaining my vocal health. It’s been difficult to practice, record, and perform for long hours while making sure I am not straining my vocal cords. However, discipline and time management has helped me work through it.

Covid has definitely posed a challenge to musicians. It’s been more than a year since I last performed live in-person with other musicians, and I miss being on stage! Thanks to the technology of today, I have been able to perform virtually, collaborate with artists, and continue sharing my music via social media platforms. In fact, my first single SHE was written, recorded, mixed and mastered completely remotely!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The project I am most proud of is my debut single, ‘SHE.’ This song is very close to my heart. It represents the strength and resilience of mothers and mother figures. I hope it inspires us to love, appreciate, and support them! Musically, ‘SHE’ is a fusion of western pop and Indian contemporary music. The lyrics are a mix of English and Hindi. It was a long journey getting from the writing stage to the release, and I couldn’t have done it without the incredible team of musicians who were a part of this and my family. Along with the message of the song, ‘SHE’ helped me express my artistry. I would describe myself as a versatile artist because my music is influenced by a blend of genres.

I am currently pursuing a Bachelors in Music at Berklee College of Music majoring in vocal performance and minoring in Mediterranean music as well as recording and production. In my time at Berklee, I have had the opportunity to perform with many groups including the Berklee Indian Ensemble, Balkan Choir, Flamenco Fusion, Treble Threat and Contemporary Middle Eastern Ensembles. I have done live performances in over ten different languages and worked with professors from over eight different countries. I am so grateful to have shared the stage with musicians like Zakir Hussain, John McLaughlin, and Amira Medunjanin. I also had the opportunity to study abroad in Valencia, Spain, where I studied Mediterranean music.

These experiences have equipped me with the skills to record, produce, perform, compose, arrange, direct, and teach music.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Growing up, my father had a basic music system setup with a mixer and mic at home. He is equally as passionate about music as I am! We used to host ‘mehfils’ or musical gatherings with friends and family at around tea time on weekends. It was like a karaoke night with people who love singing and listening to music! These impromptu gatherings were probably my most cherished memories because it was a beautiful space where all of us could express ourselves through music! It was where I realized that the people you’re with and the moment created is what makes a performance special!

Contact Info:

• Email: priyamanimusic@gmail.com
• Website: https://priyamanimusic.weebly.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/priyamanimusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/priyamanimusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJpOKahkbRXqIdoQE7fNuhg
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-519538903
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0lxstaI12o2fyrX8qHL6XM?si=o68rjpOiS6qb3kfS52e8AA&dl_branch=1

Image Credits:
Shweta Mani Suresh Mani Michael D. Spencer