Press: Tunes News (Album Review)
By John Frazzetta of WMG (Wasabi Media Group), here's a review of the Shalini EP for Tunes News. John gives the Shalini EP 3/3 music notes, "Own It - you should pick one up"
So...what are you waiting for? PICK ONE UP! :)
When it comes to writing about pop music, sometimes the easiest way to describe something is to relate it to something else that is popular. Easy enough, right? Well, yes, it is easy enough, but now I have pigeon-holed an artist to sound similar to a more popular artist in order to entice you to check out some new tunes. That doesn’t strike me as fair at all, but it is the easiest way out of a conversation. For this particular EP I’m going to ask you to keep Sara Bareilles and Zooey Deschanel in mind and not go much further than that.
This set of tunes comes from Vancouver, British Columbia instead of someplace in New Zealand. We should be happy that Shalini Kumar is pursuing her dream of recording music rather than becoming a successful accountant living on a farm on the opposite side of the world. I’ll never know how her number crunching skills are, so I’ll just have to tell you that she can sing very well.
I’ve stated before that I’m a sucker for well crafted pop songs, and this EP has five great examples. When a sad subject can make you tap your feet and bounce, you know someone is doing their job; which is why I like “Feeling Lonely”. Another interesting piece is how she incorporates other instrumentation into her music that reaches further than guitars and drums. Piano and string arrangements intertwine to help create a soothing backdrop, and you can hear the complexity grooving underneath the sweet vocals that want to whisk you someplace far away or take you somewhere dark and personal.
There are not a lot of songs on this EP, and my favorites are “Feeling Lonely”, “Freeze Up” and her best track, “Book of Dreams”. She has lofty ambitions to make it into the world of music, and you can’t help but cheer her on as she races toward her goal. It is refreshing to hear and see artists that don’t rely on costume changes, skimpy clothing and bad reputations in a tabloid to bolster their careers. For more information on Shalini check her website. Anyone that likes pomegranates, Mozart and violent video games can’t be all bad.
Source: Tunes News - http://tunesnews.com/shalini-ep-2011/
Winston Hauschild
Many fans have asked, "Who is Winston?"
And so, on the 13th day of the 12th month of the 11th year of this millennium, Vikaash Prasad and Shalini Kumar took part in conversation with one Winston Hauschild, producer (and guitarist, bass guitarist, synth keyboardist and glockenspiel-ist) of the Shalini EP.
Press: CJSF 90.1 FM Interview with Nick Pannu
On December 23 (last year), after the Indie Pop Vancouver show at the British Ex-Servicemen's Association, Nick Pannu of CJSF 90.1 FM conducted an interview which aired at 3:00pm today on 90.1 FM.
The original air date was December 26, 2011 -- there were some technical difficulties because Nick was all alone at the station, but he held the fort and it was surreal to hear the EP on the radio (again).
Here's the short version of the original airing on CJSF 90.1 FM:
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Press: VanMusic.ca / Indie Pop Vancouver – Dec. 2011
Featured in an article on VanMusic.ca as they present the Indie Pop Vancouver Series Vol. 10 on December 23, 2011.
It's at the British Ex-Servicemen's Association in Vancouver TONIGHT!!!
Tickets at the door for $5 (and beer for only $2).
They've also got the podcast of my radio session with Oswaldo, live at CiTR 101.9fm Vancouver on Dec. 20, 2011.
A Woman’s Crowning Glory…
...her hair! Here's a poem I wrote about my lovely locks - Girls, I'm sure you can relate!
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My Do By: Shalini Kumar It's making an impression as I walk in the room My hair, whatever I do or dare Wigs you know I dig, they're a beauty definer Oh its a mindless affair My hair, whatever I do I dare It's naturally long with my high heels on My hair, whatever I do or dare |
An evening with Shalini
On Monday, I had the opportunity to perform at the Displace Hashery. I got to play 2 sets for a total of an hour - my longest gig yet (thank you Oswaldo!)! What was extra special for me, was that I knew just about every single face in the audience personally and it made me feel at home and at ease (Thank you Vikaash, Giselle, Michael, Anne, Quynh, Randy, Nick, Raymond, Man-Shun, Ike, Angee, Ganesh, Aubrina, Michelle, Grace, Jasel, Mrs. Vinci, Anish (and to Anish's awesome parents for picking up the food bill...you guys didn't have to do that) Mom, and Papa!) The bartender was super cool too and he bought a CD with the tips he collected that night - I thought that was so sweet. :)
Vik brought a couple of hand puppets that he picked up from Seattle. They have such unique personalities! He and my talented friend Nick improvised a puppet show for one of the songs - it was so cute...We're going to have to script out a youtube music video with them - it would be a shame not to show them off to the world!
A couple of friends from my old school came by and caught me by surprise - I hadn't seen them for almost 6 years! I wish I had more time to sit and talk, but will rest assured knowing that we'll be having an eggnog/pumpkin latte get together soon!
My friend, Raymond, took some pictures at the event. I think they turned out so beautiful - especially the ones with the puppets! What do you think?
Press: 101.9 FM Vancouver – First radio airplay!!!
I met Oswaldo Perez at the Music BC Schmusic Party last year and found out that he is not only a Spanish poet/writer but also the voice behind The Morning After Show on CITR 101.9 FM! He's been so kind and helpful and just yesterday, he played Freeze Up and Telescope for the first time on the radio! I was at my work when he told me it would be airing, so I went to their website and listened to the station there. I had Vik on the phone with me and he was listening on the real radio. They put their CITR "T-Shirts" radio advertising on the beginning of the song too - we laughed when we heard it - it was very unexpected but it gave that radioesque touch! The music itself sounded really well put together and when I heard it, it felt surreal. You can listen here: (!!!)
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Ohhh and some exciting news!!! Oswaldo has invited me to his radio station on the Tuesday December 20th at 11:00 AM to join him on his show - which would make it first official radio interview for the EP! Please tune in to listen if you can! You can also stream off of www.citr.ca too. :)
Be sure to check out more great talent from "The Morning After Show" podcasts with Oswaldo Pérez.
An intimate EP release party – December 4, 2011
Thank you to everyone who came out to share this night with me -- I was only expecting around 20 people... but over twice as many bums squeezed in to make it even cozier!!! There was a bit of improvising, but I'm really glad that everyone left the venue smiling. Definitely a night I will never ever forget for so many wonderful reasons. C:
Here's some behind-the-scenes footage from the release, starting with balloons!
And photos, provided by the Rilakkuma-loving Raymond Kam!
SHALINI – Now available to Listen, Love and Buy
The SHALINI EP is officially available to listen to and love online, and don't forget to buy it to help me record a full-length album in 2012.
For packaged CD's or MP3's:
For the audiophile (MP3's, FLAC, OGG and so on) and to listen online:
Official Album Cover Art!!!
I can't believe that everything is coming together - I'm soooo excited to be sharing the cover art for my EP with you!!! :D What do you think?!
I love that it shows strength, boldness, artistic edge, mystery and a whimsical quality all at the same time! Vikaash, you did an amazing job on the photography and the layout - Thank you so much! I especially love that it captures the music on the album ever so perfectly! :D :D :D :D !!! I'm excited beyond words!!!
Update on EP Release
These past few weeks have been very busy indeed...and I'm still managing to get in a chapter of LOTR every now and then which has been refreshing. Got an update from New Jersey that the CD copies are arriving in the next 5 days... this coming Saturday, they'll be released! Release = opening of new doors + meeting new people + working and collaborating and being an opening act for some grand show + radio play..... so many opportunities! Who knows where that could lead to... who knows what's in store... One thing I am sure of is that this week I'll be video blogging, posting, performing and updating my twitter status as much as I can share my excitement with everyone I know!
Everyone has been so helpful, and I feel so blessed. The first music video is on its way and a special thank-you to everyone who is helping out on the project and to everyone who sent in suggestions as to where we could shoot it - I'll let you know where we end up picking...
Have been seeing the number 11 lots too these last few days - I'll take it as a good sign: Bilbo's 111th Birthday, 11 ships sailing to the Gray Heavens, 111 word count on this blog entry so far, 11:11 when my tummy growled before lunch today... license plates, $111 HST to be paid on a beautiful package from the states (arriving at my doorstep last night at 5:11pm)... bizarre.
Long day tomorrow... piano, dance, yoga, discussing new album ideas, video blogging, practicing for show, getting letters together to send out to radio stations and potential mentors... oh so much to do... but so much to wonder about and have fun with.... I can't wait to hear some feedback and start working on the next album!!!
Thanks for listening and letting me share my excitement with you. I can't wait till you hear the CD!!! <3
Love from
Shalini
Album Cover Photoshoot – Behind the Scenes!
Here's a video courtesy of THiNKViK!! The music in the video is an instrumental of a song I'm working on with Esjay.
Magic Broomsticks, Evil Babies, Jack Skellington Cupcakes etc.
Went to the Hallowe'en Spirit Shop with my friends Raajan and Vikaash. Here's some stuff we found:
And here's a guy at the store telling us about his two favorite remote control toys at the shop:
I’m Performing on Tuesday September 27th, 2011!
I'm really excited about performing at the Tuesday Night Music Club (TNMC) . It'll take place at The Cellar (1006 Granville Street, Downtown Vancouver) and I'll be on stage precisely at 8pm! This is my third time performing there and the first two times have been grand. There have been acts ranging from singer/songwriters, to full on ensembles with entire brass sections, a guy who played his guitar with a beer bottle, pristine angelic voices, drunk people in business suits and metal heads. You never really know what to expect at these things, but do expect a performance from my portable Yamaha and I! I'm on first at 8pm and if you come a little bit early, you can grab a comfy seat on the couch near the stage. That's the area I like sitting at the best.
I'm not a fan of the stage at The Cellar because there is a big high, stupid ledge going around the front of it so when you stand up, you can only see a little bit below the top half of your body. When you sit down, you can see not much below the piano keys. Was going to decorate my piano, but I guess that's not going to happen at this show. Still am not sure what to wear... but I did go shopping at the Value Village in Coquitlam with Vik (thanks to Giselle's mention!) and bought over $200 worth of beautiful clothes. Maybe a colorful polka dot skirt or the turquoise jacket... hmmm decisions.
Some of the other acts performing are:
Kristie Yung
Andrew Phelan
Cortez
Emily Chambers
Erin Frances
Leenie Bennet
Jason & the Diatonics
Joline Baylis
Keenan Lawlor
I'll randomly google Jason and the Diatonics...
My Mexican Zombie Afternoon
After boxing class, my best friend and I decided to go to downtown to check out the annual Zombie-Walk in downtown. My doll, Amelia, came along as I figured she would fit into the creepfest occasion quite well even without the white powder faces and blood - don't you think?
We parked our car, walked up the hill on Jervis and stopped at a noticeable brick wall to take some pictures. Vik just bought his brand new Canon 5D and as he was clicking away, I noticed a man from the corner of my eye who was calling me over and gesturing towards something across the sidewalk. Turned out that he was pointing in the direction of a curious hidden courtyard leading to a cozy, “cat-on-an antique-upright-piano” kind of building called The Holly Lodge. It was built in 1912 by Wright, Rushforth and Cahill, who were based in San Francisco.
It turned out that the courtyard area was going to be used for a TV set so a security guard was watching over all the props (benches and flower pots scattered near the doorstep entrance). The security guy's name was Carlos and he said that my cherry dress reminded him of when he was a kid back in El Salvador. We ended up talking for an hour and he told us some magnificent stories briefly pausing every now and then where he’d stop and watch who was going in and out of the building – commenting on some dress that barely covered one woman’s bum, listening to a resident talk about her cactus plant from her window to her friends below.
A Visit to the Prop Store
My talented and gorgeous friend Sze (she's the girl in the beautiful picture collage below) took us to a huge prop store in Burnaby for some music video/album inspiration. The place is called Can-Am Importique. My friends Vikaash, Brian and Raymond came too and we had fun playing around with fake bombs, rows upon rows of large, UFO-looking computer screens, a photograph of Mulder and Scully, Hallowe'en organs, clowns, fluffy tarantulas, monkey bums, a decapitated Goofy statue, jungle themed voodoo witch cages, a vintage diner, casino tables, arches, aliens playing an accordion, lampposts golden statues of topless women and so much more! The guy at the shop said that they would be shooting a music video there the next day and was going to have the studio full of people.
Anyways, I was flipping through channels the other night and came across a new music video by Mariana's Trench and recognized their set design from somewhere...! I think I touched over 50 props in their video (see below)!
If you don’t pay your exorcist…
A random sign in North Vancouver. Very close to where I escaped when I ran away from home and also close to where I had voice lessons with an angry voice teacher. There was a flood of memories in the car when we drove past the area... and then a moment of deep questioning when this sign popped up. I wonder who put it there? At first I thought it might be a part of some church. And when I ran away, my mom did say that I was probably possessed. I never had to pay an exorcist...but I did have to pay for yoga, piano, dance and theatre classes.... and those did heal quite well I must say.
I love the random questions in life. They cause for creations of whirlwinds and wonderful why's.
Kyle
This is my friend Kyle. He has inspired me lots mostly because of his bravery to face the world on his own and his passion to learn and work his way to the top from dirt rock bottom. He likes wearing strange costumes and making funny faces. He also likes making movies and singing. I met him at voice class and we clicked. He needed a ride so I drove him home. We got lost even though we had a GPS. Kyle isn't good at directions. It would have helped if he knew his address. He likes singing with the radio in the car. He also like watching movies. The last movie we watched together was Ghostbusters (I've never seen it and neither has he). We both got a kick out of the marshmallow guy. Kyle likes repeating what I say. Kyle likes repeating what I say. I like repeating what he says too.
Rehearsal with RRAFIKI
My friend Riyaz asked me to sing some songs with a band he started 15 years ago with his buddy Raheem named RRAFIKI, so I decided to go down and join one of their rehearsals. When I got there, they surprised me by learning one of my songs - Falling- from its original version I had shown Riyaz a few years ago. I was so shocked that I forgot the words and was blown away by their interpretation of it. This was one of the moments I really wish I had my camera!
It was great playing with 6 other seasoned musicians and I got to play a tambourine and a shaker too! Here are some pictures from our rehearsal courtesy of Vikaash Prasad:
STOP IT SHALINI!
I know I haven't posted in a while now. It's because I've been feeling so disorganized and like I've been dreaming this whole time. I was picking up something at Superstore (chickpeas I think) and I didn't even realize I was physically there until someone rammed me on the side with her shopping cart. Maryse had a long talk with me too - said I wasn't utilizing myself to my fullest potential...and she's right. I should be able to play that Rachmaninoff Prelude in C# minor easy, but I haven't been spending nearly enough time at the piano to brush up on my technique for the 3rd page.
There's a scary haze around my head and it’s my own creation of an invisible barrier... maybe I'm just scared of success...or maybe I'm scared of failure. I should be performing every single day, doing what I love and streaming random jam sessions online like Vik suggested. But nope. I got this lousy crick in my neck and I can't grasp what's happening around me because it’s repetitive and obvious and my brain goes on automatic pilot and I drift off into the never-ending Life of the Mind…and there are stupid obstacles the size of the Great Wall of China being patrolled by a mass army of the Grey species. Maybe I can sneak in through with the mice... I can make a very convincing squeaking noises.
The rest of this post is going to be more complaining. Complain complain complain complain complain complain complain complain complain complain complain complain complian complain complain complain complain.
STOP IT SHALINI KUMAR RIGHT THIS MINUTE. YOU are going to get your ass up and start making music. You are going to drink this drink and grow larger than the Great Wall of China, stomp over those aliens, repel their lasers, flick their crafts back into outer space and make your way through. Do what you are supposed to be doing damn it! If Frodo can, why can't you?
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...or see me at my shows to get the beautiful, fancy-schmancy package with juicier-than-the-real-thing pomegranate CD!
Upcoming Shows
Tweets
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Life isnt complete without madelines.
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Sometimes the music business sucks. gotta find a positive notee.
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Excited to play Apparitions by @mattgood tonight at the Displace Hashery! (3293 West 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC.)
Recent Entries
- Press: Tunes News (Album Review)
- Winston Hauschild
- Press: CJSF 90.1 FM Interview with Nick Pannu
- Press: VanMusic.ca / Indie Pop Vancouver – Dec. 2011
- A Woman’s Crowning Glory…
Recent Comments
- Press: 101.9 FM Vancouver - First radio airplay!!! Awesomeee ... imagine how many people must have heard your music ... too cool
- An intimate EP release party - December 4, 2011 Awesome work Shalini! I love the album and the creative design/artwork done by Vik! Looking forward to seeing the mus...
- Studio Days - "The Life of the Mind" Track Preview! that guitar sounds sickkkk ... talented dood ... when is the album dropping yo???
- STOP IT SHALINI! "If Frodo can, why can't you?" hahahah too good ... the music was perfect to have play during the post too ... bravo ...