Nikhil D'Souza
| Nikhil D'Souza | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Nikhil D'Souza |
| Born | 21 November 1981 |
| Origin | Mumbai, India |
| Genres | Filmi, Indie Pop, Alternative rock, Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Song writer, composer, performer |
| Instruments | Vocals, acoustic guitar |
| Website | [url=https://www.soundcloud.com/nikhildsouza] |
Nikhil D'Souza is an Indian playback singer, song writer and guitarist.[1] He was the South Asia Soloist Winner at SUTASI '09.[2] He made his playback singing debut in Rajshree Ojha's Aisha.[3][4]
Early life
Nikhil was born and brought up in Mumbai.[5] He majored in Geology from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. He is a talented guitarist and singer-songwriter from Mumbai, India. Nikhil’s genre and musical style can be loosely defined as eclectic acoustic guitar based pop. His songs have a full melodic quality to them due to his use of alternative tunings (favored by such artists as Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley). Nikhil's major musical influences have been Sting and Jeff Buckley.
Over the past few years Nikhil has been co-writing with different writers, performing solo as well as with his band and working hard at developing his songwriting and performance skills. During this time he has performed many shows across India as well as Europe, US and Australia.
Recently, Nikhil has been travelling back and forth to Nashville to co-write with award winning songwriter Jeff Cohen. They have been busy writing and recording songs for Nikhil's US launch in 2015. Whilst in India Nikhil is in the studio most days recording tracks for film and TV commercials,most evenings he is performing live for his large indian following across the country.
Nikhil had to be brave to get to this level, quitting his secure day job as a Geologist to pursue music full time. The strength of his original songs, the beautiful tones and range of his voice together with his attractive image and looks are all the ingredients of a rising international star.
Rolling Stones Music Magazine in India has favorably featured Nikhil’s music several times: Neha Sharma from Rolling Stone said “D’Souza’s strength as a songwriter is well established in his numerous gripping compositions. Most of his songs shiver with this arresting melancholy as his falsetto glides over twangy guitar riffs”. Uday Benegal, the host and initiator of Tuborg Acoustic Adventure TV series (which Nikhil performed for) was quoted in Rolling Stone as saying “Any new artist performing at Acoustic Adventures, needless to say, will be the best.” India Today also included Nikhil as part of their “Faces of the Future,” and he was recently featured on MTV’s COKE Studio series.
A distinctive feature of Nikhil D’Souza and his music is the strong emphasis on touching, melodic vocals and lyrics, backed up by skilled and unconventional guitar.
Bollywood Songs
| Year | Song | Movie | Composer | C-Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "Shaam" | Aisha | Amit Trivedi | Amit Trivedi, Neuman Pinto |
| "Mere Bina" | Crook | Pritam | – | |
| "Anjaana Anjaani Ki Kahani" | Anjaana Anjaani | Vishal-Shekhar | Monali Thakur | |
| "Main Jiyunga" | Break Ke Baad | Vishal-Shekhar | – | |
| 2011 | I'm The One | Ishaan | – | |
| "Khwab" (Rock) | Kucch Luv Jaisaa | Pritam | – | |
| "Khwab" (Raghav's Confession) | – | |||
| "Hello Hello Laila" | Dhada | Devi Sri Prasad | Neha Bhasin | |
| "You're So Beautiful" | Haunted | Chirantan Bhatt | – | |
| "Lamha Lamha" | Ye Stupid Pyar | Vipin Patwa | – | |
| 2012 | "Gubbare Gubbare" | Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu | Amit Trivedi | – |
| "Dil Ye Bekarar Kyu Hain – Reprise " | Players | Pritam | Priyani Vani | |
| "Jannatein Kahan" (Power Ballad) | Jannat 2 | Pritam | – | |
| "Sang Hoon Tere" | – | |||
| "Tere Naam" | Cocktail | Pritam | – | |
| "Anu Vidhaiththa Boomiyile" (Tamil) "Koi Kahin" (Hindi) | Vishwaroop | Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy | Kamal Haasan | |
| "Bas Main Aur Tu" | Akaash Vani | Hitesh Sonik | – Neeti Mohan | |
| "Dooriyan" | Cigarette Ki Tarah | – | – | |
| 2013 | "Out of Control" | David | Mikey McCleary | Preeti Pillai |
| "Jaata Hai Tujh Tak" | Murder 3 | Anupam Amod | – | |
| "Jaata Hai Tujh Tak" (Film Version) | – | |||
| "Thu Hi Rey" | Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinde | Anoop Rubens | Nithya Menen | |
| "Alvida" | D-Day | Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy | Sukhvinder Singh, Shruti Hassan, Loy Mendonsa | |
| "Har Kisi Ko" | Boss (2013 film) | Chirantan Bhatt | ||
| "Ninne Ninne Chusthunte" | Adda | |||
| 2014 | "O Gujariya" | Queen | Amit Trivedi | Shefali Alvares |
| "Bebaak " | Filmistaan | Arijit Datta | – | |
| "Waakeyi " | Amit Sahni Ki List | Raghu Dixit | Shruti Pathak | |
| "Bezubaan" | Life is beautiful! | John Hunt | – | |
| 2015 | "Title Song 1" | Phir Se... | Jeet Ganguly | Shreya Ghoshal |
References
- ↑ "Party for the Telly Stars". The Times of India. 30 April 2009.
- ↑ cite web |title=HappySing: Nikhil D'Souza|url=http://new.happysing.com/nikhil-d-souza
- ↑ "Nikhil D'Souza Croons Again". Times of India. 16 November 2010.
- ↑ "Crook: It's Good To Be Bad". Bollywood Hungama. 8 October 2010.
- ↑ "Chosen 1 : Nikhil D'Souza". Indian Rock mp3. 15 June 2010.
- "Interview With Nikhil D'Souza, Singer/Song Writer, With Hits From 'Aisha' and 'Anjaana Anjaani'". 3 March 2011.