Rhythm and voice

Reewa Rathod, daughter of acclaimed singer Roop Kumar Rathod and a trained vocalist, pianist and music composer, will make her debut in Mumbai on January 5. In a freewheeling chat with Preeti Khilnani, the 20 year-old talks about living up to her father's expectations and future plans

Rhythm and voice

Reewa Rathod is not your ordinary 20 year-old. Apart from being born to renowned singers Roopkumar and Sonali Rathod, she is a trained vocalist, pianist and music composer. She has also received training in Carnatic music from Bala Mani Iyer, Hindustani music from Padma Bhushan Pandit Rajan and Sajan Mishra and learnt Western classical music and the piano from Shanti Sheldon.

Reewa Rathod

The unique aspect about her debut show is the diverse musical facets of her persona that will be showcased on a single stage in a span of 90 minutes. “I will be performing some of my own compositions which are predominantly soul music. I will then be playing the piano and singing Western classical and Eastern classical music,” says the youngster who believes her music is not a fusion of East and West. In fact, she explains, her effort is to perform a pure rendition of the diverse forms of music that she has trained in.

Rathod admits that though her parents are the best in the world, they are also taskmasters. “I could not have reached this far without their support. Every morning I do riyaaz with them for two hours.” Ask her if she feels weighed down by their stature and she quips, “Absolutely. I realise what a big star my father is. So the only thing I can do is practice harder,” she says with a smile.

Before her first solo show the effervescent Mumbaiite is excited as well as nervous. “The last time I performed was with my dad when I was four years old. He had a concert at Tejpal Hall in Mumbai and I sang the Meera bhajan Payoji maine. My father was beaming with pride then, I hope I can make him proud again.”

Being one of the youngest talents to have a perfect background in both Indian and Western music, Rathod wants to explore the Western musical market as well. “I wish to take Indian music to the West. I love artistes like Seal, Mariah Carey and Yanny whose compositions I will be performing in my show. However, my biggest dream is to collaborate with them one day,” she says enthusiastically over the phone.

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