Singer, arranger and composer, U.S.-based Guyanese Radha Singh is a music maestro who, embracing many heritages, also stays true to her own
Radha Singh was born into the world of theatre. She began performing at just three years old, and was a member of the Messenger Group, a music, poetry and drama organization in Guyana, founded by her mother Rajkumari Singh. Rajkumari was a notable writer, political activist, educator, and distinguished cultural leader who received national honours such as the Golden Arrowhead of Achievement.
Under her tutelage, Radha studied diction and performance and won first place in many national competitions for verse speaking and drama. An accomplished dancer, Radha studied kathak and ballet with her brother, Sri Gora Singh.
In 1978, Radha migrated to New York where she continued dramatic studies at Herbert Berghof Studios, Sullivan Walker and Pace University. She then went on to specialise in voice at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. She studied under renowned vocal teachers, Andrew Frierson and Bonnie Kirk.
Though her musical emphasis has been on rhythm and blues, Radha infuses traditional Indian motifs into her music compositions, utilising Indian drums and Vedic hymns with riveting Latin percussion and primordial sounds. Her recording, “You’re The One”, was a hit at the Lincoln Centre’s Out-Of-Doors Indo-Caribbean Festival of Music Dance in Damrosch Park.
The artiste’s recorded works were rated and reviewed by DJ record pools across the U.S. She has also performed live in popular New York clubs. As a solo singer and bandleader, she received rave reviews from Village Voice, Daily News, NY Times, Associate Press, and magazines such as India Abroad and mainstream contemporary journals.
Her theatre credits include: “The Seagull”, “A View from the Bridge”, “Antigone”, “Karna & Kunti”, Sullivan Walker’s “Caribbean Woman” and “Godspell”. She also wrote original works and performed in Kitchrie 1998–2002. Kitchrie ‘03 drama, “Chaykay”, marked her directorial debut. She received a composers’ commission from the New York Council on the Arts for a collaborative, original sound score for a new work by Pritha Singh, “Women of the Mahabharata” and was director for that production.
In 2006-2009, Radha conceptualized and spearheaded “Art Interpreted”- a collage of artistic expression, and a weekly event showcased in New York forums, providing a space and giving opportunities for diverse, multi-disciplinary of artists to performed their original works.
Additionally, she has performed in series of concerts with a Jazz and Blues ensemble in New York metro and tri-state, as well as producing and collaborating on a Vedic chants CD with well-known author, Ayurvedic teacher and spiritual motivator Maya Tiwari.
In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Radha stated that both her parents were artists and scholars.
“My siblings and I had the good fortune of hearing music, poetry, theatre, and dance from incredible artists who were mentored by my mother. My mother was my inspiration and my siblings were very supportive and contributed to help develop my artistic expressions. My first performance was spoken word and drama at age 3,” she recalled.
A notable accomplishment, according to the musician, was at Guyana Festival of the Arts (Guyfesta) in 1975, where she was the youngest to receive the certificate of excellence in verse speaking and dance interpretation of her mother’s poem “Per Agie”. This was when Radha realised she wanted to pursue the arts.
“I still write, arrange, sing, produce, record and collaborate with many incredible artists. I released three singles with various producers. I was commissioned by the Rockefeller Foundation to compose a full sound score for the play and screenplay “Women of The Mahabharata”. I’ve performed in U.S. cities, Europe and the Caribbean and in the NY tri-state at venues such as the Lincoln Center to museums, theatres, CBGB’s, Bowery Ballroom, NYC. I love performing live,” Radha disclosed.
Of East Indian descent, Radha pointed out that she embraces all genre of music. In New York, she worked with amazing international musicians while developing her own brand – a blend of rock, funk and reggae. The music was well received, which resulted in music management and recording contracts. However, Radha continued to preserve her ancestral music genres such as bhajans, mantras and Caribbean folk songs.
“Technology has changed the arts arena and has opened music collaborations and recordings into an international cyber experience. It’s just amazing! Today, I can work with several writers, composers, musicians and engineers across the globe. I’m about to release a single in collaboration with other artists. I’m presently preparing the release of 2 albums: “Raag to Rock”-original songs in collaboration with my sister, Chitra Singh and writer/composer/producer Bonnie Kirk and “The Blue One”- consisting of original songs and cover songs of mantras and bhajans with new music. I’m currently involved in Rajkumari Centre’s upcoming dance-drama production in December 2013. As well as securing performance venues for my band,” Radha outlined.
She continues to serve at the Rajkumari Cultural Center (an art centre dedicated to her mother) as drama coach, choreographer, and music director, as well as sound and lighting technician on festival, theatre and concert presentations. She also funds development and marketing projects, and teaches and mentors upcoming artists. Additionally, she enjoys teaching yoga and meditation.
“Music is my life. It does for me what it does for everyone. It’s food for the soul. From the maverick to the pauper, music is ear candy after a long day. My days and nights are filled with harmonic frequency. It fulfils me,” she declared.
