DESIFEST Sofa Sessions

Two-time JUNO winner Kiran Ahluwalia and multifaceted guitarist Rez Abbasi are a real-life couple, and music world duo. One of Indian origin, the other Pakistani, they perform songs of breakup and love with equal conviction. The combination of Kiran's open-hearted vocals and Rez’s inspired and evocative guitar work seamlessly to bring together the disparate traditions of Indian music, West African blues and Jazz so organically, that while the sound isn’t quite like anything you’ve heard, its combination of ethereal elegance and raw urgency is immediately welcoming and ultimately universal. This is truly music for the moment and what the world could use a lot more of.

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Nishat (Ana) born and brought up in India, it’s been 2 years since she moved to Toronto and absolutely loving it. She works as a Technology Consultant and holds her passion to music.

She is a singer/songwriter, classically trained and eventually moved to Bollywood songs and finally passed the grade 5 of London College of Music exam for Western Rock and Pop.

Each of these genres had so much to offer. The transition from one form of music to the other has been smooth, but nevertheless very exciting and perhaps that’s why she has such a strong fascination for mashups.

She has been a Music tutor in Trinity School of music back in India and also been a part of a corporate band for 4 years. She is in search of a band here in Canada, where she is hoping to fit well.

Rosemin is originally from Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania and by profession is in law. Since childhood one of her hobbies includes singing. She has had training from her guru for almost 6 years.

She moved to Canada and pursued her passion for singing in Toronto and received a lot of encouragement from the community to pursue singing. Her genre is mainly Ghazals, Qawalis and Bollywood songs, some of which are her own or her guru’s compositions. Rosemin is very well known in her own community in Toronto.

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Jathavi Shanmuganantham is a fourth-year Business Technology Management Student Co-op student at Ryerson University, minoring in Music and Culture, and Computer Science. She began singing at the age of seven, completed up to Grade 4 in Carnatic Music and Grade 7 in Western Music.

Jathavi participated in various competitions, in which she won first place including Superstar Junior Season 3. Then onwards, she was provided with the opportunity to sing with many renown playback singers at local shows and in front of music directors such as Anirudh and Imman. Jathavi continues to develop herself as an artist within the community and hopes to gain your support throughout her future ventures.

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Kiyaan Lavji is a 12 year old student. At a young age he was exposed to playing various different instruments. But his passion has always been playing tabla.

He has been fortunate to have had the opportunity to be part of the Jubilee Arts initiative and participated in both the Regional and National Jubilee Arts Festival. He also had the honour to perform for the Right Honorable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, at the Navroz Celebration, 2018.

He has performed for various celebrations and the World Partnership Walk. In 2019 He established “Kiyaan’s School of Tabla” which held it’s first tabla workshop in August 2019. Currently he is teaching students virtually due to covid. He aspires to inspire others to follow their passion.

Aparna Ramabhotla is an accomplished Carnatic singer - holding a diploma from Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, a music teacher, a healthcare professional, radio jockey, celebrity interviewer, events ideator, coordinator and a host with natural flair in people management and coordination.

Aparna learnt Carnatic music from eminent scholar Mahamahopadhyaya Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana garu and Dr. Vyzarsu Balasubrahmanyam garu. She performed and released a cassette on Lalitha Sahasranama Stotrams in 2002 when she was just 11 years old and made it to the headlines. She later performed and recorded cover songs from popular hits of A.R. Rahman and Ilayaraja and has given numerous stage performances.

Known in her circles as flamboyant and vibrant, she has come a long way juggling studies, career and hobbies with ease. Now as a new mom, she very well knows the knack to balance work and life and giving her best to excel in both.

A Robotics Engineering post-graduate and a piano/keyboard performer & teacher by passion, Arvind had stepped into the world of music at the age of 6.

His mainstream music career started off with a distinction from the Trinity College of Music, London (UK), also securing accolades in various instrumental music competitions. Having performed with several bands and solo performances in multiple genres with major interest in contemporary Western and Indian Film Music. Arvind has also been the arranger and lead hand for OHM Rock Band, Canada.

Collaborating with several leading musicians across North America, Arvind has performed for various cultural events and concerts including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Bollywood Festivals, in addition to being a part of the judging panel for various music competitions. He also secured recognition from City of Brampton, Canada (2017, 2018).

M S Viswanath or MSV is an Indian Violinist. He is a composer, performer and album producer from Tripunithura, Kerala. He performs Carnatic music, Western classics and Fusion music with his violin. MSV also plays the Cello and the Double Bass.

Viswanath is considered to be the first and only Indian artist to play the 7 String Electric Violin VIPER for his stage shows and albums. MSV has performed in more than 500 stage shows in India and abroad. M S Viswanath holds the Guinness World Record for playing the Longest Marathon Playing in Violin. He set the record by playing continuously for 36 hours.

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