Picture Perfect Prita
The Hindi and Sanskit meaning of Prita is that of "dear one" and "joyful." And when you actually get to sit down with singer & songwriter, Prita Chhabra, you see that she's exactly that and much more.
I’ve known Prita for quite sometime but because she’s always out and about performing, touring, recording or simply kicking back & enjoying the family life, I hadn’t had a chance to meet her until she recently came out to New York City for a week.
I told her that if we were to meet, it would be on my terms and on my turf, to say the least. We met in Little India – aka Edison, New Jersey, for a very culinary and girl-bonding time.
Over dinner, which consisted of pani puri, chatpati chaat, salted & sweet lasi and more than what could soothe the eyes, we talked about her struggles in the industry. How her family grew to support her hopes, dreams and aspirations.
She asserted, “[for me], music is something comfortable and natural. Writing and performing are spiritual experiences; almost as though a muse speaks through me. Music has always had a hold over me, and to deny my ambition would be to deny myself,” then continuing, “…music is the blood which runs through my veins and leaves me feeling like I’ve lived my life…fulfilled.”
We talked about there is so much talent in the South Asian music industry in America; however, there’s no cohesiveness like the United Kingdom. We talked about boys – the usual ones – Ranbir, Shahid, Hrithik, and my personal favorite, Shahrukh Khan.
We talked about, even though we’re in two different aspects of the industry, we have so much in common and one simple goal: to bring forth awesome content to our followers.
We got sentimental and spoke about things that have caused us to make us who we are today, almost bringing each other to tears. That was when I knew that Prita and I had were destined to meet only at this point in our lives. The restaurant around us was bustling; however, we sat in silence, thinking through the words which were just said.
Since she started her career as a singer, Prita has toured steadily across North America. Prita released her debut CD, Spread The Word, in 2010, and has released 3 music videos since then with a 4th one on the way. Prita has been featured at shows alongside the likes of Jay Sean and Russell Peters, and performed at the 2011 IIFA Awards festivities in Toronto. Prita also made history as the first South Asian recording artist to sing the US and Canadian anthems for the NBA and NHL leagues.
It is my pleasure to share with you, my intimate interview with none other than, Prita Chhabra.
Prita, after quite sometime we have finally sat down for this overdue interview! So we recently got to hang out in the Little India of New Jersey, aka Edison! And boy, did you look like a child in a candy store! I still can’t believe how quickly you are those pani puris! Jokes aside, so tell us, what was one of your most memorable moments from your recent trip to New York?
Sorry but pani puri is THE best thing in the world and I was sooo excited to get them in my belly! Yum! My trip was amazing! I felt like I was living in my dream life! NY is a beautiful city full of amazing sights and sounds (and tastes)! I’d have to say that meeting Sway at MTV Studios in Times Square, and doing tons of interviews and performances across the city were my highlights. I love what I do so to get to do it in NY was awesome!
With your family being in Florida and you now living between Orlando and Toronto, do you find it hard to make time to see your family, as well as, friends?
It is extremely hard. I love having a social life and I hardly ever get to see my best friends in Montreal or my family and puppy in Orlando. When I do spend time with them, I feel like wow, so much time has flown by and people are moving on with their lives. Having kids, buying houses…all these things that I’m not currently doing. I’m more like a gypsy living out of suitcases and I get kind of freaked out when I compare myself to them because I feel like…should I be doing that? Am I not preparing for my future? Should I be settled down now? Not to mention all the parties and birthdays and weddings I’m missing out on because I’m traveling. It kind of makes me sad because I do believe that those memories are important. That being said, I wouldn’t change a thing. I do love my life, and I have lots of awesome, different memories when it comes to my life. I’m following my dreams and doing things I never imagined for myself and I am very happy. This career is one that you’ve got to sacrifice a lot for but its all worth it at the end of the day because I feel like I’m following my purpose. I don’t really know if those people in my life with settled down lives are actually happy. I know that I am. So I have to do what I know is right for me and makes me happy and keep in mind that every life is different and has its own purpose. Time spent with family and friends is awesome, even if it’s limited, but at least I still get to have it and that’s all that matters!
I have a post on my MySpace wall from Navin that dates waaaay back. That was the first time I heard of him, and he had said something like, “Would love to collaborate one day”. I actually met him in person in Toronto at desiFEST. We were both performing and then I remembered that wall post. I believe the idea to work on Dance was a collaborative effort. I wanted to do a Desi remix and Navin came up with THE most perfect melody and lyrics in Hindi. I went back to the studio and re-wrote some lyrics to match his, re-did the music and we met again the following year at desiFEST again and performed the song together for the first time. Since we were both in the same city, we thought, let’s take advantage of this situation and do a video. So the video is a combination of video footage of us practicing before the show and the actual real life performance. I love the video, its so much fun and it really showcases the fun we had preparing for the show and performing together!
How have your fans reacted towards the initial release of the song and thereafter?
I got press like never before and make a splash in the UK for the first time! It’s all very exciting! It’s the only song I’ve written that I know for a fact that my Mom loves (and no, it’s not because she has a crush on Navin) so when your Mom is dancing to your music, you know you’ve done good!
I worked with JoSH on a few songs (Roots being the first) and my next release is a song I worked on with them called Aaja. It’s a love song, one where I’m singing the chorus in Hindi, and it’s about trying to explain that we should give love a chance. There are a lot of guarded and scared people out there, and this song is for them, to know that love is an amazing thing to be experienced, felt and maybe even lost! It is nothing to be scared of and it makes life worth living for. Deep down inside, I believe that Love is God. Love is God’s language and love makes the world go round. There is no emotion out there like love, and it is so healing!
We also hear that you’re doing to be continuing work on an HIV/Aids advocacy campaign. What made you interested in this topic? How do you hope to help bring further awareness on this topic?
I was involved in HIV/Aids advocacy before I even began as a professional singer. I have 2 passions in life, one to help others and the other is music/singing. I’m having a blast combining both in my every day life. My biggest inspirations is Oprah Winfrey and when I saw her trip to Africa, I became incredibly moved and inspired within. I felt like something was telling me that I had to go to Africa. I didn’t know why, or how or what for but I knew that it was time to stop thinking about making a difference and actually go out and DO something to make a difference. I prayed and asked God to please present me with an opportunity to go to Africa and a few months later that prayer was answered. I had just started music school, opened my agenda and saw an ad recruiting students to go to Malawi, Africa to do HIV/Aids research. In that very moment I knew that this was the opportunity I had asked for and I knew i’d be selected…and I was!
I feel like the topic picked me and after visiting Malawi and having my life completely changed, I’ve made it my personal mission to make sure that I talk about this issue because it affects so many people’s lives in this whole world, not just Africa. I want to make sure that all the people I met in Malawi know that their voice is being heard and that I’m so grateful for all that they gave to me. They gave me the opportunity to sing in their country, in their language, and that was such a gift! Seeing the poverty also made me realize how blessed I am to live in North America and made me realize I was taking my life for granted, listening to negative voices in my head telling me i’m not pretty enough to sing or good enough. I decided it was time for me to live my life to the fullest and do the things that I want to do. I hope that by speaking about my experience at shows and at schools that people can gain a greater awareness about their lives and global issues. We have so many resources in North America that we don’t take advantage of and we are the ones who can really help and make a difference because we have access to these resources. I can’t wait to see the day where we find a cure for HIV/Aids and that faith and hope can be restored in all those lives that I met in Malawi. They deserve it and are some of the strongest, kindest, happiest people I’ve ever met in my life.
Being in the music industry, there is always positive feedback from peers; however, we know that the negativity and “constructive criticism” comes hand in hand with the positive. How do you handle negative comments, especially when it comes from someone in the industry?
I’m sensitive to it. I let the blow hit me, lol, and then I try to make sense of it. I try to see if there is any truth in it and I feel the emotion to its fullest and then I gain strength from it and eventually as time goes by, its harder and harder for negative comments to really get to me. At the end of the day, I know I’m doing my best and as long as I keep going at it, i’m only going to get better. In the end, everything that someone says to me, has really no reflection on me and every reflection of them. So if they choose to be mean and nasty, its because they themselves are mean and nasty and it has nothing to do with me at all. As long as I’m happy and proud of myself, then thats all that matters.
Who has been your strongest beam of support since you stepped into the field of music?
My manager Deejay Ra. This industry is full of sharks and he’s like this safe cruise ship that I get to sail on while going through the waters. He is one of the most genuine people I have met in this industry. He always does what is right, even if it means that it’s not the best case scenario for my career and I really respect that. He keeps it real and all the good that has happened to me is a direct reflection of our work together and the energy we put into things. He has always believed in me since day one and I couldn’t be more thankful.
Picture the scenario: You’re on stage, the crowd is cheering your name and you begin to sing. You pan the fans who are jamming with you and you see a young girl, maybe 10 or 11 years old, singing along with you. How does that make you feel?
That actually DID happen. It was insane. I was performing at Tigerfest to support former WWF wrestler Tiger Ali Singh (who appears in my Roots video) and I was really nervous because I was performing in the wrestling ring! That thing is really bouncy and add me in heels in that thing…you’re asking for a disaster haha! Anyway, I remember two young girls holding on to the ropes and singing along with me to Roots. They weren’t South Asian and were doing the Bhangra moves perfectly. I was thrilled! I grabbed them onto the ring and had them sing into the mic. It was soooo thrilling and rewarding. After, they told me that I really inspired them and I felt like I was on the right track because that’s why I sing…to inspire and move others. It was a great moment in my career!
If you were stranded on a desert island and could only have three things with you, what would they be?
My dog Lucas, my diary (I’ve had one since grade 2) and my keyboard so I could keep writing music.
Musically, who is your idol?
Gosh! Everyone! I love music, there isn’t any genre that i don’t like. Some of my old time favorites are Bette Midler (she was my first inspiration), Our Lady Peace, NIN, Dave Matthews, Ace of Base, Boyz II Men and more recent are Maroon 5, Rihanna, Beyonce, One Republic and David Guetta.
When it comes to fashion, who’s style do you most want to be int he lines of?
I’m like a mix of sophisticated/classy and urban/rock. I like classy things that have a funky twist on them and are different.
Do you believe in the following, “everything happens for a reason“?
Yes. I believe where you are right now is exactly where you need to be to get to the next place. Everything in life is preparing you to be the best you that you can be and you can’t resist it, good or bad. Sometimes I look at situations and say, why did that have to happen? Sometimes there’s an answer and sometimes there isn’t but I do believe that its for a reason. Sometimes things happen to us to teach or help someone else and we aren’t aware of it either. You just have to have faith that all is well and that we aren’t alone, we’re being looked after. 🙂
Alright, time for a fast round of questions! Don’t think too much, just be very honest about your thoughts! Louis Vitton or Prada?
Louis. He’s my boyfriend right now 🙂
Hotter body: Ranbir Kapoor or Shahid Kapoor?
Hrithik Roshan. That will always be my answer when you ask me about male bodies haha!
Better style: Deepika or Priyanka?
They are both equally gorgeous and have fab style.
What would you prefer: Fighting in a relationship or never having a day to argue?
Fighting. If you’re fighting, it’s because you care. If you care, its because you have love and love makes the world go round!
If you had the chance to do a collaboration, who would it be with…Beyonce or Rihaana?
Beyonce all the way!
And here’s the last one: Hot sex or passionate love?
Both.
Do you have any final words for our readers and your fans?
If there is anything you can gain from me, its that I hope you have the courage and confidence to be yourself to the fullest and live your life the way you would like to and feels best for you. Follow your heart and dreams and be in charge of your life! There is nothing to lose so go for it!
