Priya Mani Visits Section 36 Music

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Priya Mani is an incredible singer, and I was thrilled she was willing to visit with us and discuss her recent music, her time at Berklee, and more. I’m sure you’ll love everything she has to say.

So, let's see what happens when Priya Mani visits Section 36 Music!

I really enjoyed your recent debut single, “SHE”. What can you tell me about it?
Thank you! The initial inspiration for ‘SHE’ came from a show I watched, where I saw the story of a single mother who gave everything up for her children. She was brave, loving, and selfless. Her story touched my heart, and inspired this song. I hope that 'SHE' represents the strength and resilience of mothers and mother figures, inspires all of us to appreciate them, and give them the love and support they deserve. 

Musically, 'SHE' is a fusion of western pop and Indian contemporary music. I wrote the first demo of this song in English, I just had a verse and chorus at the time. As I wrote the rest of the lyrics and the arrangement, I thought of all the amazing mother figures in my own life as well. I added the Hindi lyrics to the song because it felt more personal, relatable, and made it feel whole!

We worked on this project completely remotely. After multiple zoom calls and sending tracks back and forth, we were finally able to complete the song! I would especially like to thank Snehal Pandey for mixing, mastering, and producing. This wouldn't have been possible without the incredible artists who were a part of this project, and I'm beyond grateful for the genuine dedication and passion with which they worked on 'SHE.’ 

You’re currently attending Berklee College of Music. What’s the most important thing you see that doing for your career?

Berklee has given me so much more than I ever imagined

possible! Since being here, I’ve been able to learn and gain invaluable experience in the fields of vocal performance, music technology, arranging, songwriting, and composition. I’m currently beginning my fourth and final year at Berklee- majoring in Performance, and double minoring in Mediterranean Music, and Recording and Production. I feel like I’ve been introduced to the world of music in a whole new way through the courses I’m taking, and the overall experience of studying here. Personally, I highly value Berklee’s focus on different styles and genres of music from around the world. I have done live performances in over 10 different languages, and worked with professors from over 8 different countries. I was also able to study abroad at the Berklee Valencia campus in Spain, and it was a beautiful experience. 

I believe that my college experience will help me transition into the music industry. The best part about studying there is the people I've met, the professors I have learned from, connections made, and the lifelong friendships. I hope to be able to stay in touch with the musicians I’ve met, and collaborate with them as well in the future. It's truly a special place!   

At Berklee, you’re a member of the phenomenal a cappella group “Treble Threat”. What is that experience like?

Being a part of Treble Threat was one of the best experiences I have ever had. Even though I haven’t had the opportunity to meet some of the members in person yet (due to COVID), we’ve all gotten very close over the past year. These women are beyond talented and each of them bring something unique that creates the 'Treble Threat sound.’ It’s fun, and a great learning experience. I had the opportunity to be the assistant music director for the group and arrange some tunes as well, and it was some of the most enjoyable and rewarding work I’ve ever done. The best part about being in the group, especially in a remote setting, is seeing our final product come to life! 

You were the soloist on Treble Threat’s virtual performance of Kelly Clarkson’s, “Underneath the Tree”. What was that like to put together?

Christmas is my favorite time of year, and virtually putting together our Christmas cover was very enjoyable! Our performance of ‘Underneath the Tree’ was really fun to sing, especially because we felt the Christmas spirit with this one. We also had fun filming the videos and incorporating the red and green color scheme!

Who/what would you consider your biggest musical influences?

I grew up listening to music of many different styles, genres, and languages! Here are a few of the artists who inspire me- Mohammed Rafi, Shreya Ghoshal, Ella Fitzgerald, Jessie J, Coldplay, and Adele. My family is very musical, and growing up I was majorly influenced by their music taste as well.

What are your immediate career goals?

As of now, I would like to continue performing, writing, and releasing more music. I am also focusing on obtaining my bachelor's degree at the Berklee College of Music. I have been freelance composing, arranging, and teaching music, and I hope to be doing that in a greater capacity in the future! Lastly, I would like to collaborate with professional artists from around the world and gain experience performing world music.  

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Sounds like she has a lot of exciting things in store for us. I can't wait!

As always, I want to thank Priya for visiting, and for sending along the pictures to accompany the interview.

I know you’ll all want to follow along with Priya to see what she's up to. The best way is to visit her website, and follow her social media accounts like Instagram and YouTube. They're all great ways to keep track of everything she has going on.

You can also check out her Section 36 Music page. It's a perfect way to enjoy everything Priya has to offer all in one place.

Thanks again Priya, and good luck reaching your goals!