WHAT do you do when your grandparents are both singers and your mum is able to sing a tune or two?
Shalini Rohit Chand simply fell into the groove and let music take over her life. In fact, her love for music was so infectious that her daughter Shivika Chand has taken a leaf out of her book.
Shalini said music was more than just a passion or fad.
“It is like food for my mind and the lyrics just flow from my mouth,” the 46-year-old Korovuto, Ba, resident said.
“I have had an interest in singing from my childhood days.
“But I believe one of the main reasons I have continued singing and been encouraged was because of the full support I received from everybody, whether it’s been at home or in school.”
In the course of her career, Shalini has gained popularity in Fiji and abroad because of her innate ability to sing across a number of genres – lokgeet, kirtan, bhajan, gazal, sohar, qawali and even Bollywood songs.
“I have done two qawali stage shows overseas and I would have travelled again but the plan has been on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I have taken part in more than a hundred stage shows in Fiji and abroad and that has made me popular in all the countries where Fiji-Indian diaspora live.
“People invite me to sing at weddings, parties and to do stage shows and take part in competitions.”
Shalini said music was in her blood.
“My aaja Ram Pratap Singh and nana Raj Pal from Nadhari, Ba, were both singers.
“My mum Rambha Wati also had a beautiful voice.
“My daughter Shivika Chand, who is a student at Fiji National University, also loves to sing.
“My husband and my parents have never stopped me from singing, likewise, I have never stopped my children from building up and showcasing their talents.”
Shalini said her “guru” was Bal Ram, a renowned bhajan, lokgeet and qawali singer of Ba.
She said apart from singing she had also learnt how to be an entertainer.
“My guru is a stage entertainer and he has always taught me to be an entertainer on stage.
“I follow him and always try to entertain my audience whenever I do stage shows.”
Shalini said people should not shy away from their hidden talents.
“Show your talent to everyone. “Who knows, this can be one of your sources of income.
“If you read the history of some of the world’s popular singers, you will find that they all arose from grassroots.”
“So never shy away. Some may think that they do not have a good voice, we all have good voice, it’s just that practice has made us perfect. “Remember no one gets perfect unless they practise.”
Shalini said music was something that “relaxes us and gives us inner peace”.
