| Devika Chawla Kaushish | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Devika Chawla |
| Also known as | Devika |
| Origin | India |
| Genres | Pop Indipop |
| Years active | 1999 – present |
| Associated acts | Bohemia |
| Website | devikasmusic.com |
Devika is an Indian pop singer.
Devika started vocal music training in New Delhi, India when she was eight years old. She continued her training and entered the enchanting world of Ragas and Hindustani Classical Music, learning under the supervision of several great teachers. The classical training provided her a great base for expansion to other popular styles. She performed frequently through high school (Modern School, New Delhi), using both classical and popular styles to capture her audience.
She moved to the United States for her undergraduate study in Computer Science at Georgetown University. It was during these years that she experimented with a fusion of Indian classical music and western compositions and teamed up with Holmes Ives and performed vocals for the album titled Satyriasis. After graduation she resumed her formal training in Hindustani Classical Music under the supervision of a highly revered teacher.
She recorded a self titled Indian pop music album with Shehzad Hassan (Shahi) of Vital Signs, Pakistan's most well known pop band, Noor Lodhi, Manesh Judge and Anshuman Chandra of SaazMantra. Phat Phish Records, winner of the 2005 MTV Immies Best Video of the Year award for Rabbi Shergill's song "Bulla Ki Jaana Mein Kaun" has directed the video for her title track - "Kehnde Ne Naina".
Sony BMG India released a compilation called "Teri Deewani" with her hit track "Kehnde Ne Naina" in August, 2007. The compilation has been billed as the "Top 14 Sufi Music Tracks of all time". Other artists on the compilation include Kailash Kher, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Sona, Roopkumar Rathod, Rabbi, A. R.Rahman, Shafqat, Rekha Bhardwaj and Devika.
Teri Deewani, featuring Devika's "Kehnde Ne Naina" remains the #1 top selling music album in India for 6 months in a row.
Devika was featured on 4 tracks in Bohemia the Punjabi rapper's album "Da Rap Star". The album was released through Universal Music India, and remained in the Top 10 pop albums of 2009.
Saregama India Limited (HMV India), India's oldest and largest record label released Devika's second solo album "Saari Raat" on Nov 17, 2009. Saari Raat is a contemporary Sufi album and is available on Saregama, CD Baby and iTunes.
Saregama (HMV India) released a compilation called "Colours : Sufi Ke Anek Rang" in December 2009 featuring the track "Barkha Bahaar" from Devika's Saari Raat album. The compilation features tracks from Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, A R Rahman and Sonu Nigam.
Sony Music India licensed "Barkha Bahaar" and "Kehnde Ne Naina"for their compilation titled "Sufiaana : The Complete Sufi Experience" in 2010.
Devika's track "Kotthay Uttay" was remixed and licensed by the producers of "A Beautiful Wife", a Barbara Mori movie that was dubbed in Hindi and released in India in November 2010 as "Spanish Beauty".
Contents |
Devika's (LinkedIn, 2008) page.