Four of South Asia's Brightest Stars Share How Their Heritage Shapes Their Lives and Music
01/08/2024
On Spotify, we're using this occasion to illuminate the wide breadth of talent in and inspired by these countries. Our Desi hub has become the official home for South Asian Heritage Month, featuring popular Desi playlists, exclusive artist takeovers, and Spotlight: South Asian Icons-our hand-picked collection of podcast episodes featuring some of the top South Asian creators and personalities, including Dev Patel, Priyanka Chopra, and Sundar Pichai.
In addition, billboards in New York, Toronto, and London will spotlight our South Asian Heritage Month ambassadors-a diverse lineup of hitmakers and rising stars that includes Darshan Raval (India), Adnan Dhool (Pakistan), Kanchana Anuradhi (Sri Lanka), and Pritom Hasan (Bangladesh).
Eaton Centre, Toronto
Leicester Square, London
Eaton Centre, Toronto
Eaton Centre, Toronto
Eaton Centre, Toronto
Leicester Square, London
NEXT
For the Record spoke with each of the artists to understand what their culture and heritage mean to them, and what makes South Asian Heritage Month special to them.
Darshan Raval
Darshan is a singer, songwriter, and composer from Ahmedabad, India, who catapulted to stardom after performing in a singing competition on Indian TV. Since then he's gone on to amass nearly 19 million monthly Spotify listeners worldwide and has generated over 1 billion total Spotify streams thanks to singles like Asal Mein and Ek Tarfa, as well as his 2023 album, Dard.
Who is your favorite Indian legend? Kishore Kumar and Sonu Nigam, along with Pritam, who is a music director I really enjoy working with.
What does South Asian Heritage Month mean to you? As an Indian artist, sharing this sound globally fills me with pride. Spotify's South Asian Heritage Month is a fantastic platform to deepen my connection with fans and celebrate our heritage, encouraging global appreciation for South Asian music.
How has your South Asian heritage influenced your music? Growing up in India, I experienced a vibrant mix of musical genres, from classical and folk to Bollywood and indie. And my heritage is the cornerstone of my music, influencing everything from the traditional Indian melodies and rhythms I incorporate to the storytelling that defines my songs. This has given my music a unique sound that resonates with my fans not just in India but lovers of this sound globally.
What message do you want to convey to people as a South Asian Heritage Month ambassador? My aim is to inspire others to share their roots and cultural stories through creative expressions, just as I have. I've always found inspiration in my heritage and enjoyed the freedom to modernize it and make it my own. As a South Asian Heritage Month ambassador, I'm thrilled to be part of this cultural celebration.
Kanchana Anuradhi
Kanchana is a Sri Lankan singer, songwriter, and composer whose talent has earned her national recognition. After rising to fame with her 2020 single Udurawee, Kanchana's popularity continues to grow as she releases hits like Naden and Aaley Mal.
Who is your favorite Sri Lankan legend? My legendary Sri Lankan artist is W. D. Amaradeva. His contribution to music is remarkable and it inspires me.
What does South Asian Heritage Month mean to you? For me, I think it's time to celebrate our diverse cultures, histories, and traditions in South Asian countries, and I also think this will inspire future generations to take pride in their roots.
How has your South Asian heritage influenced your music? My heritage deeply influences my music with traditional rhythms, melodies, and storytelling. It helps me to create unique sounds for a global audience.
What message do you want to convey to people as a South Asian Heritage Month ambassador? As an ambassador, I want to share the message of unity and diversity. Let's celebrate our rich heritage and make the world better together.
Adnan Dhool
Adnan is a Pakistani singer, songwriter, and composer. His soulful voice and emotive performances have earned him a devoted fan base, both at home and in neighboring India. Along with his solo releases, which include Chalo Choro and Pardes Katenda, Adnan contributed the song Ho Ja Mast Malang Tu to the Malang soundtrack.
Who are your favorite Pakistani legends? My favorite legendary Pakistani artists are Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and the living legend Atif Aslam.
What does South Asian Heritage Month mean to you? I think it's a very special month for South Asians to celebrate our music including Punjabi and Saraiki music. There is nothing more beautiful than being proud of your own culture.
How has your South Asian heritage influenced your music? My whole career is based on my heritage. With songs of mine like Bandeya, their essence lies in Sufism. And my latest tracks, Pardes Katenda and Maar Udari (Pardes 2.0), are inspired by my own culture and language.
What message do you want to convey to people as a South Asian Heritage Month ambassador? Whatever your culture is, whatever your language is, and whatever your lifestyle is, you need to be proud of it completely and fearlessly.
Pritom Hasan
Pritom is a singer from Bangladesh who is affectionately known as the Jadukor, or magician, of the industry. After breaking through with his 2016 single Local Bus, Pritom has gone on to release hits including Girlfriend er Biya and Maloma.
Who are your favorite Bangladeshi legends? There are two legendary Bangladeshi artists I love listening to: One of them is Syed Abdul Hadi, and another one is Runa Laila. I have been listening to their songs since childhood as my father was also a fan.
W
LINK: | https://newsroom.spotify.com/2024-08-01/south-asian-heritage-month-202... |
See more stories from spotify |
Europe Stories
09/12/2024
Dalet Named an IDC Innovator in Media and Entertainment
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced that it has been named an IDC Innovator in the IDC Innovators: ...
09/11/2024
Dalet Expands Leadership Team to Fuel Next Stage of Growth
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced three new members of its executive team. Tara Bryant joins as Chi...
17/09/2024
FIRST LOOK at Damien Molony in re-imagined series of Bergerac for U and U&DRAMA
UKTV today releases a selection of first look images captured in Jersey for the upcoming re-imagined series of Bergerac (6x60') for U and U&DRAMA. The six-p...
17/09/2024
A Collaboration With Panavision: Oona Menges, BSC
Set in a call center in Bristol, England, the television sitcom Ruby Speaking focuses on the eponymous Ruby (played by Jayde Adams) and her colleagues. It'...
17/09/2024
How Rodeo FX blended science fiction and reality for Saudi Odyssey
The advert was worked on by Rodeo FXs teams in Montreal and Paris By Jenny Priestley Published: September 17, 2024 The advert was worked on by Rodeo FX...
17/09/2024
IBC2024 reports more attendees and exhibitors than 2023
Organisers have also confirmed the dates for IBC2025 By TVBEurope Staff Published: September 17, 2024 Organisers have also confirmed the dates for IBC2025...
17/09/2024
Word cloud: Sum up IBC2024 in one word
By TVBEurope Staff Published: September 17, 2024 During the TVBEurope team's meetings at IBC2024, we asked everyone to give us one word to sum up their...
17/09/2024
X-Rite ColorDesigner PLUS Helps Paint Manufacturers and Retailers Improve Paint Color Matching and Maximize Sales
X-Rite ColorDesigner PLUS Helps Paint Manufacturers and Retailers Improve Paint ...
17/09/2024
Rohde & Schwarz joins forces with fiveD, an innovation leader in hyper-realistic radar simulations
Rohde & Schwarz joins forces with fiveD, an innovation leader in hyper-realistic...
17/09/2024
2024-09-17
With the release of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and watchOS 11 today, Apple Maps is introducing new features to help users explore and find places they lo...
17/09/2024
Thales Australia's Lithgow Arms partners with Vbenfabrikken to establish Danish small arms industrial capability
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn On 17 September 2024, Thales Australia and Denma...
17/09/2024
Thales joins the CAC 40 ESG index
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn The inclusion of Thales in this index reflects the Groups accelerating progress in terms of social and environmental responsibil...
16/09/2024
UKTV joins BBC, ITV, Channel 4 & Channel 5 on Freely, the UK's new live and on demand streaming platform
UKTV and Everyone TV - the organisation leading the evolution of free TV in the ...
16/09/2024
2024-09-16
visionOS 2 is available today, bringing new spatial computing experiences to Apple Vision Pro users around the world. Existing photos can now be turned into spa...
16/09/2024
Rise Awards 2024 nominations announced
The awards recognise women and companies who are stand-out performers, innovators and leaders in the industry By TVBEurope Staff Published: September 16, 202...
16/09/2024
TVBEurope Best of Show IBC2024 winners announced
By Jenny Priestley Published: September 15, 2024 Future's Best of Show at IBC2024 awards have been announced, with exhibitors from across the show floo...
16/09/2024
RT Publishes 2023 Annual Report
RT RETURNS NET DEFICIT OF 9.1 MILLION IN 2023 A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR THE ORGANISATION A DECLINE IN TV LICENCE REVENUES, ALONG WITH AN INCREASE IN OPERATING...
16/09/2024
RT Investigates to air revealing documentary on immigration protests in Ireland
RT Investigates to air revealing documentary on immigration protests in Ireland Never before seen footage - In a change to scheduled programming Prote...
16/09/2024
VEON Delegation Attends 2024 YES Annual Meeting, Discusses Investment and Continued Commitment to Serving Ukraine
16 Sep 2024 VEON Delegation Attends 2024 YES Annual Meeting, Discusses Investme...
16/09/2024
cetecom advanced re-certifies Rohde & Schwarzs eCall PSAP for testing and collaborates on Next Generation eCall
cetecom advanced re-certifies Rohde & Schwarzs eCall PSAP for testing and collab...
16/09/2024
Harmonic Charts the Future of Broadband at SCTE TechExpo24
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Sept. 16, 2024 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced that the company will demonstrate its intelligent ecosystem for fiber and DOCSIS net...
16/09/2024
Arvato Systems and advanco Launch Comprehensive Partnership
Arvato Systems and advanco Launch Comprehensive Partnership Arvato Systems and advanco Combine Serialization Solutions Arvato CSDB and ARC G tersloh - Arvato...
16/09/2024
International ID Day: Thales stands up for a legal and trusted identity for everyone.
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn On the International Identity Day ID Day', ...
14/09/2024
Showcases, Subway Cars, and a Speakeasy: Inside the Spotify x Samsung Galaxy Fresh Finds Event in NYC
At Spotify, our live experiences are curated cultural moments that get people ta...
14/09/2024
Eutelsat selected by SABA WORLD to deliver educational content across the MENA region
Photo credit: GETTY IMAGES Press release - 14 September 2024 12:59 Eutelsat ...
13/09/2024
Spotify Pilots New Music Experience for Young Listeners on Family Plans
Spotify is committed to bringing the best listening experience to all our users, and that includes parents and families. That's why we've introduced a p...
13/09/2024
Spotify's New Countdown To' Vodcast Series Kicks Off With Artists Jelly Roll and mgk in Debut Episode
As fans patiently await their favorite artists' new album releases, the anti...
13/09/2024
The Making of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
What I've always loved about his films is that incredible warmth and that incredible imagination, cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos, BSC, GSC says of dire...
13/09/2024
Revolution in Storage: EditShare Reveals Game-Changing New Line Up at IBC 2024
Revolution in Storage: EditShare Reveals Game-Changing New Line Up at IBC 2024 More power, more speed, more flexibility, more capacity, more security, more co...
13/09/2024
M2A Media welcomes Ciarn Doran and Graham Pitman as new CEO and chairman
Both appointees join the company following extensive careers in the industry By Matthew Corrigan Published: September 13, 2024 Updated: September 16, 2024 ...
13/09/2024
Introducing the 2061 Miniature Omni Mic
The 2061 also offers simplicity, durability and reliability combined with DPA's natural sound. We launched the 2061 to appeal to audio professionals who ar...
13/09/2024
VEON General Counsel Omiyinka Doris Named Among Top 15 Legal Leader by the Financial Times
13 Sep 2024 VEON General Counsel Omiyinka Doris Named Among Top 15 Legal Leader...
13/09/2024
Sky Studios Elstree opens Sky Up Academy to inspire 10,000 students a year to pursue a career in Film and TV
Sky Studios Elstree opens Sky Up Academy to inspire 10,000 students a year to pu...
13/09/2024
Countering the autonomous aerial threat
Countering the autonomous aerial threat In an interview, Martin Woywod, Product Manager Counter-UAS (CUAS) Systems, Rohde & Schwarz , talks about the need for...
13/09/2024
WDR Relies on Riedel Backbone for Remote Production of UEFA Euro 2024
Amsterdam September 13, 2024 WDR Relies on Riedel Backbone for Remote Production of UEFA Euro 2024The German regional public broadcaster Westdeutscher Rundfu...
13/09/2024
Riedel Expands Its Range of NSA Network Stream Adapters
Amsterdam September 13, 2024 Riedel Expands Its Range of NSA Network Stream AdaptersRiedel Communications today announced the launch of two new additions to i...
13/09/2024
Riedel Communications Launches Virtual SmartPanel at IBC2024
Amsterdam September 13, 2024 Riedel Communications Launches Virtual SmartPanel at IBC2024At IBC2024, Riedel Communications announced the launch of its ground...
13/09/2024
Riedel Unveils Revolutionary SAME Smart Audio & Mixing Engine at IBC2024
Amsterdam September 13, 2024 Riedel Unveils Revolutionary SAME Smart Audio & Mixing Engine at IBC2024Riedel SAME Delivers Ultra-Low-Latency Audio Processing ...
13/09/2024
Harmonic's VOS360 Ad SaaS Validated by FreeWheel, Transforming Video Streaming Monetization
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Sept. 13, 2024 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) is pleased to announ...
13/09/2024
Eutelsat selected by TVPlus for extensive broadcast services across Australia and New Zealand
Photo credit: GETTY IMAGES Press release - 13 September 2024 09:50 Eutelsat ...
13/09/2024
FRANSAT unveils the TV Stick, a USB format CAM CI Plus 2.0 module for HD and UHD satellite reception directly in the TV
Photo credit: AdobeStock_305149408- nuchao Press release - 13 September 2024...
13/09/2024
2024-07-24
Today, Apple Maps on the web is available in public beta, allowing users around the world to access Maps directly from their browser.1...
13/09/2024
2024-08-07
Apple and Major League Baseball (MLB) today announced the September game schedule for Friday Night Baseball, a weekly doubleheader available to Apple TV+ subs...
13/09/2024
2024-08-14
Starting with iOS 18.1, developers will be able to offer NFC contactless transactions using the Secure Element from within their own apps on iPhone, separate fr...
13/09/2024
2024-09-12
Starting tomorrow, September 13, at 5 a.m. PDT, customers can pre-order Apple's powerful new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models on apple.com/uk and in the r...
13/09/2024
Alaska awards Thales Driver's License, ID Card contract with next generation security
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Alaska residents will be the first in the U.S. t...
13/09/2024
Dolby Unveils New, Live Streaming Offering for the Sport and Entertainment Industries at IBC 2024
13 September 2024, 01:30 (PDT) Dolby Unveils New, Live Streaming Offering for t...
12/09/2024
Four Must-Use Spotify Features That Bring You Closer to Your Favorite Artists
We know that when fans fall in love with an artist, they can't get enough. So when you want to connect with your favorites on a deeper level, Spotify is you...