SingwithPriya

Priya Shah is an intuitive vocalist and musician, drawing from a diverse background of influence and experiences.  Both self-taught and formally trained, she is a singer-songwriter who jumps in and around musical genres quick like a jackrabbit.  She sings, plays the guitar, piano, accordion, loop machine, and a variety of percussion instruments.

When she was 2 years old her favourite songs to sing were 'Will you be there?' by Michael Jackson and 'Jumma Chumma Dede' from the Bollywood movie Hum.  She began singing in choir at the age of 6 and continued all the way to university.  In highschool she joined a Vocal Jazz group, and that is when she decided to pursue music full time.

Upon completing a Bachelor of Music degree with Honours in Performance (Voice), a minor in Psychology, and a minor in Women and Gender Studies at Carleton University, she released her first EP Msafiri in the Clouds in January 2014, which demonstrates an eclectic mix of influences that include Indian Classical, jazz, folk, pop, musical theatre, and free improvisation. She loves writing her own songs and arrangements and is currently working on another EP to be released in Fall 2018. 

 

She has worked with children and youth all over the world, in Calgary, Ottawa, Guatemala, and India.  She has also worked with youth and adults with special needs, through Children At Risk and Respite Services.  A former employee of Monkey Rock Music and Sing House Studios in Ottawa, she is honoured to have had the opportunity to introduce little ones (3 months-4 years old) to the wonderful world of music, as well as teach the fundamentals of singing to school-aged students while professionally recording their progress and shooting fun music videos.

 

A believer of expression through the movement as well as sound, Priya is immersed in the world of yoga and dance. She has former training in ballet, contemporary, flamenco, hip-hop, house, and breakdancing, and has been a certified Hatha Yoga Instructor since May 2015.
 

For 4 years she was blessed to intermittently volunteer at the Perley Rideau and Veterans Health Centre, assisting a music therapist with 1-on-1 visits.  She is currently completing a Masters in Music Therapy at Laurier University and has experience working as a student music therapist in mental health, oncology, and palliative care settings.

 

Priya continues to pursue a career in music through teaching, voice acting, music therapy, and performances.