Q1. Congratulations on the awards sweep. Wake Up was a bit up and down on the charts… were you surprised on winning?
Yes surprised but super grateful and I know how much hard work the team and I put into this record so it was nice to get some recognition for it. And for "wake up" to go up and down the charts and still reach platinum status was another awesome surprise for us.
Q2. It is reported that Wake Up was instrumental in your own recovery from depression…
I was in a dark place for sometime and I wrote this song to myself, it was me telling myself to get my act together and get out of the nutshell that I was in.
Q3. How much of life winds up in your work?
Almost all of it, I write most of what I go through or feel strongly about.
Q4. Would you be comfortable singing songs you’ve not written yourself… why?
If it IS a song that i can relate and connect with then it shouldn’t be hard to sing.
Q5. From the first to the latest album, how have you changed as an artist and how is it reflecting in your work?
I know with my first album I was more naive about life - I was young and still had a lot to experience and I wasn’t as open as I am now. My music now is a more grown up - Aaradhna with more influences gained and more openness and honesty.
Q6. Do you think the whole relationship theme is a bit overdone as far as music records go currently?
In my opinion, songs about relationships can never be overdone, everyday somebody is going through the motions of love and its a good thing that there are those artists that can paint, sing or write about it; while some others can’t, they have people that can and that’s where the connection begins…No I don’t think relationship themed songs are overdone they are still much needed.
Q7. Tell us about the early days…Do you remember the first music you heard as a child or the defining moment when you felt: this is it, I want to sing…?
When I was a child the first piece of music I can remember hearing was "In he jungle the mighty jungle the lion sleeps tonight..." that’s one song I do remember as a child I would sing that everyday as a kid even at my parents friends birthday parties I would get up on the coffee table and sing that song out loud being a big show-off haha. But I would say my defining moment when I felt that I wanted to be a singer was when I was 13 years old I entered a school talent quest. Back then I thought that it was just a common thing to sing, I thought everyone could sing, I grew up in a musical household so music was the norm and so I thought it was normal for everyone to be singers. Well, back to the talent quest I performed a song called "For You I Will" by one of my favourite artists Monica, and during the song a lot of kids were cheering me on and afterwards I would get a lot of people coming up to me telling me I was good and that I should be a singer and I thought to myself "ok I must be a bit of an alright at this singing stuff, if there are a lot of people telling me I am! Yeah, I wanna be a singer then!"
Q8. Similarly, if you had to reflect on your worse moments as a person and an artist…
My worst moment as a person and an artist was Quitting because of negative people. I really let negative people take over my decisions in life and that is where I went wrong. I know now not to make a stupid mistake like that again.
Q9. How much do what the critics say matter?
Back in the days it mattered a lot, it really hurt me hearing bad comments but these days my critics get no attention from me. It’s a waste of my time if I give them the satisfaction.
Q10. How do you practice to keep your voice in top shape??
Some simple vocal warm ups & breathing exercises everday.?
Q11. How do you bring musical influences from your mixed ethnicity in your work??
I feel it’s just naturally shaped my voice. While growing up, most of the music I listened to was music from Indian movies that I used to watch with my dad. I used to try emulate the vibrato in their voices cos I thought it was pretty awesome how they could do that with their voice box. My dads a great singer in his own right, so watching him perform at birthdays was inspiring and my mother writes her own Samoan music she would always encourage me to write my own songs. Growing up in this kind of musical environment definitely played a big part in shaping my craft today. ?
Q12. How does your family play a role in helping you??
My Mum and Dad are both very supportive and give me their tips all the time even when I don’t ask for them haha. My mum is always encouraging me to keep writing my own music and my dad tells me more up-tempo music and to be more confident in everything I do. They are extremely honest with me and I’m grateful for that because I need that especially from people that I respect and love the most. ?
Q13. Tell us a bit about your mixed cultural heritage and family life (friends, pets, neighborhood)….?
My mother is Samoan and my Dad is Indian?. I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters all names starting with double A, Aayushya, Aakash, Aashchay & Aashiyana. I have a close-knit bunch of friends that I’ve made since high school that I also used to sing with back in school. I have a partner who’s is an athlete that plays in the NZ basketball league and I have a bullmastiff mix gentle giant of a dog named Rucker that I love so much!?
Q14. What does a typical day go like?
Wake up in the morning, head out to the city to do some radio/TV promos come back home late in the afternoon and work on some music, then sleep and do it all over again next day. On my days off I like to go home to my family and spend quality time with them, walk our dog, and also meet with friends have a few laughs and a good catch up with them.?
Q15. Which languages do you speak?
I speak English
Q16. What kind of music do you like to listen to?
I love to listen to a lot of old rhythm and blues and doo wop music and music of 90's ?
Q17. And which artists do you admire the most, or aspire to be like??
I Love Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Ruth Brown and Amy Winehouse. I aspire to be as sincere as they were with their music.?
Q18. Between studio recordings and live performances, what would you pick and why??
I personally love recording in the studio because I’m in my zone I’m not nervous about anything and that’s where it all begins - that’s where all the music is created and I love the creative aspect of it.?
Q19. You have travelled a bit, share with us the most memorable bits, where and why??
It has to be Savaii in Samoa, I went to go visit my mothers villages Papsataua, Auala and Falealupo-Uta seeing where she grew up and did all the hard yards at was a real emotional journey for me. I have visited my Dad's village Navsari but I was a young kid so I don’t remember too much of it. - I’m aiming to visit his village again sometime soon.?
Q20. Best thing about your job and the worst thing about you job?
Best thing about my job is being able express myself 100 percent and having people listen to what i've got to say. Worst thing about my job is nothing. I feel like this is the best job ever, no rules in music and I like that.?
Q21. If not a musician, then…?
Maybe an Archaeologist. I am also an Indiana Jones fan so travelling the world and finding treasure sounds like a lot of fun to me.?
Q22. From your experience, do you feel it is hard to breakthrough for people of ethnicity or things may change yet?
It does get hard because a lot of people want to put you in a certain box and when they cant figure you out they tend to just ignore you and not give you a chance. But we are all unique in our own way and I can only do my best to stand out and that all comes down to the music I make and put out.
Q23. What are your favorite food, colour, fragrance and outfit?
My favorite food is pasta, my favorite colour would be the colours of the rainbow, my favorite fragrance right now would be Escada Marine Groove and my Fav outfit at the moment would be this custom made maroon/white ethnic patterned peplum dress made by my amazing stylist Kylie Cooke.?
Q24. Name 5 things on your personal bucket list…
1. Get Married ?
2. Own a 1954 Volkswagen kombi and a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado. I love old school cars.?
3.Buy My Mum and Dad a big house
4.Travel the whole World - I want my passport to look like a map book.?
5. Act in a Horror or Action movie.
Q25. Do you have a tattoo? If yes, what does it signify?
Yes I have three. One on my arm of my Parents names decorated with birds and hearts, one on my neck going down the top of my back with indian patterns (its unfinished), and I have Samoan Malu and Indian patterned tattoos on both my hands - its just me representing both my cultures, theres no other deeper meaning to it I just wanted something that represents my background.
Q26. What do fans still don’t know about Aaradhna?
I’m extremely shy.
Q27. Do you support any charities or would you in the future? ?
I don’t support any charities yet but I am interested in the kids Starship foundation.
Q28. Does this success give you a feeling of having arrived, so to speak, and what next for you as an artist…
It gives me confidence that I must be doing something right. I plan to keep writing music, put out more albums, and I plan to tour and hopefully get to write for other artists.
Q29. Any words of wisdom to those kids out there in the ethnic communities writing, singing and creating …
If you want something that bad you will find ways to make that happen! Write down some goals and steps towards your dreams and Never Ever let negative people get in the way of what you want to do in Life!