Ishq Shava Songstress

Moving to Mumbai from Jamshedpur at the age of 13, the super talented singer SHILPA RAO started her journey as a jingle singer. Lending her voice to some of the hit songs of Bollywood lik e Aaj jaane ki zid na karo and Tose naina lage from Anwar, she made the listeners go Malang with her soulful voice. Khuda jaane how she managed to make people feel Ishq Shava, maybe because of the Jazba she had! Read on…

- Shivani Bisht

What and who has been your driving force?

It has to be my parents, yeah both of them. They inspire me all the time!

How did you get into Bollywood?

Well, I completed my schooling in Jamshedpur and started my college here in Mumbai. And Shankar Mahadevan was somebody who I knew and he was really helpful in guiding me. He was the one who made me understand how to start singing in studios and how to record and everything. So he in short helped me a lot and of course, he also gave me my first song in Salaame-Ishq: A Tribute to Love. And then Mithoon at the same time called me for Anwar and both the songs released at the same time so that’s how everything started off.

You have worked with some of the most notable music composers, share your experience.

Well everybody has their own way of working. I mean it has always been a pleasure to work with all of them, like each one has their own style of working and you get to learn a lot when you are working with them. So, I really have to say a big thank you to all the composers. For the way that I was casted in every song and in a way that they allowed me to be myself and did not change anything in me is the best feeling. I think I need to say a huge thank you to all the composers who I have worked with.

Which is your most favourite music genre?

Well, I have not limited myself. I choose a lot of other music, I don’t want to stick to any one particular genre. If any song or any album appeals to me, I will definitely listening to it. So, yes I am pretty open to listening to new music all the time.

How has your musical journey been so far?