Manika Kaur is a kirtan singer, songwriter, and philanthropist from Melbourne, Australia, currently living in Dubai/London. [1]
Early Life
She was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia and her parents were active members of the Sikh community. [2]
As a child, Manika regularly travelled from Melbourne to Punjab with her parents. She never had any formal musical training and started her recording debut with an Australian producer singing in English. [3] In 2006, Manika got married and then moved to Dubai. There she recorded more English music [4] and won a radio competition (by popular vote) for singing an original composition in December 2008. [5]
Musical career
Bandhanaa (re-released as Satnam Waheguru)
Manika’s first album Bandhanaa is produced by bhangra pop star Sukhbir Singh, [6] whom she met at a social event. [7] It was released in 2014 on the US Yoga specialist label, Invincible Music, and is a collection of devotional chants and shabads (hymns) that convey a message of peace, love, and truth. Sukhbir’s Punjabi influenced production on Bandhanaa includes the dhol, dholak, tabla, congos, guitars, and keyboards, and also borrows influence from Spanish and Portuguese rhythms. [8]
I Bow To You Waheguru
Manika’s second album was released by United Sound Recordings in 2015 through UK’s largest independent distributor Proper Music Distribution. The album was recorded between Dubai and London’s Strongroom Studio. It’s title track I Bow to You Waheguru was produced by producer/composer/tabla player Talvin Singh (OBE).
The album features collaborations with Rakesh Chaurasia, Jyotsna Srikanth, Soumik Datta, Bernhard Schimpelsberger, [9] and Reiner Erlings. Manika did a sold-out London debut performance at Union Chapel. [10] Manika Kaur appeared on Sikh Channel, BBC London, ABC Australia TV to name a few. Manika released a music video for the album’s track “Guru Ram Das Rakho Sarnaee”, telling the life story of Guru Ram Das Ji through shadow puppets. The video has over 4.6 million views on YouTube. [11]
Scared Words
The third album, Scared Words was released in 2018 on Martin ‘Youth’ Glover’s label Suriya Recordings. [12] It was released in the US on imprint label partner Six Degrees Records. It features collaborations with Scottish folk musician James Yorkston, Jyotsna Srikanth (violin), and Tunde Jegede. [13]
Tracks are produced and mixed Mercury Prize winner Talvin Singh, TigerStyle, and Oskar Vizan. [14] Ades Tisair Ades was specially mixed by Youth, and the album was mastered by Mandy Parnell. [15]
Philanthropist
Through her foundation Kirtan for Causes, Manika raises awareness for issues such as equality, global access to feminine hygiene products and education of females of all ages around the world. [16]
Her foundation currently supports the education of 100 programme participants, [17] and she personally supports the education of over 200 children. [18]
Manika raised over one million dirhams (approx. £210,000) through her first album, which she donated to finance a new Gurdwara (Sikh temple) in Dubai. [19]
All of the revenue from Manika’s work go to support her charity Kirtan for Causes a foundation created to support impoverished children in Punjab. [20]
Awards
Manika won The 2016 Sikh Award for Sikhs in Entertainment, [21] and placed sacred Sikh vocal music and Kirtan in the World Music Charts Europe for the first time, [22] amassing over 10,000,000 views on YouTube. [23]
Discography
- Bandhanaa (2000)
- Satanam Waheguru (2013)
- I Bow To You Waheguru (2015)
- Aval Allah (single) (2018)
- Scared Words (2018)
References
- ^ "Manika Kaur", Invincible Recordings
- ^ "Manika Kaur: Singing for a Cause", Hindustan Times
- ^ "Bibi Manika Kaur", Sikh Roots
- ^ "CD Review", Yoga Awakening Africa
- ^ "Manika Kaur Releases Debut Kirtan Album: Satnam Waheguru", Sikh Chic
- ^ "Manika Kaur: Sacred Words", Six Degree Records
- ^ "Bibi Manika Kaur", Sikh Roots
- ^ [1], Sikh Chic
- ^ "Manika Kaur: I Bow to You Waheguru" Noise Bliss
- ^ "Manika Kaur: Kirtan for Causes benefit concerts" Rhythm Passport
- ^ "Manika Kaur releases debut kirtan album Satnam Waheguru" Sikh Chic
- ^ "Manika Kaur releases Sacred Words Album" Broadway World
- ^ "Music Preview: Manika Kaur soothes the soul with Sacred Words" Thrive Global
- ^ "Manika Kaur: Sacred Words" Six Degrees Records
- ^ "Music Video: Aval Allah" Sikh Net
- ^ "Music Preview: Manika Kaur releases sublime silky smooth Sacred Words" Celeb Mix
- ^ "Kirtan brings a sense of peace" Just Say It How It Is
- ^ "Manika Kaur is using music as a source for good" iSing Magazine
- ^ "Manika Kaur" Zee Companion
- ^ "Manika Kaur: Sacred Words" Six Degrees Records
- ^ "Sikh Awards in London honour global Sikh diaspora" India GB News
- ^ Her hymns build lives" Times of India
- ^ "Manika Kaur releases Sacred Words album"
External Links
Manika Kaur is a kirtan singer, songwriter, and philanthropist from Melbourne, Australia, currently living in Dubai/London. [1]
Early Life
She was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia and her parents were active members of the Sikh community. [2]
As a child, Manika regularly travelled from Melbourne to Punjab with her parents. She never had any formal musical training and started her recording debut with an Australian producer singing in English. [3] In 2006, Manika got married and then moved to Dubai. There she recorded more English music [4] and won a radio competition (by popular vote) for singing an original composition in December 2008. [5]
Musical career
Bandhanaa (re-released as Satnam Waheguru)
Manika’s first album Bandhanaa is produced by bhangra pop star Sukhbir Singh, [6] whom she met at a social event. [7] It was released in 2014 on the US Yoga specialist label, Invincible Music, and is a collection of devotional chants and shabads (hymns) that convey a message of peace, love, and truth. Sukhbir’s Punjabi influenced production on Bandhanaa includes the dhol, dholak, tabla, congos, guitars, and keyboards, and also borrows influence from Spanish and Portuguese rhythms. [8]
I Bow To You Waheguru
Manika’s second album was released by United Sound Recordings in 2015 through UK’s largest independent distributor Proper Music Distribution. The album was recorded between Dubai and London’s Strongroom Studio. It’s title track I Bow to You Waheguru was produced by producer/composer/tabla player Talvin Singh (OBE).
The album features collaborations with Rakesh Chaurasia, Jyotsna Srikanth, Soumik Datta, Bernhard Schimpelsberger, [9] and Reiner Erlings. Manika did a sold-out London debut performance at Union Chapel. [10] Manika Kaur appeared on Sikh Channel, BBC London, ABC Australia TV to name a few. Manika released a music video for the album’s track “Guru Ram Das Rakho Sarnaee”, telling the life story of Guru Ram Das Ji through shadow puppets. The video has over 4.6 million views on YouTube. [11]
Scared Words
The third album, Scared Words was released in 2018 on Martin ‘Youth’ Glover’s label Suriya Recordings. [12] It was released in the US on imprint label partner Six Degrees Records. It features collaborations with Scottish folk musician James Yorkston, Jyotsna Srikanth (violin), and Tunde Jegede. [13]
Tracks are produced and mixed Mercury Prize winner Talvin Singh, TigerStyle, and Oskar Vizan. [14] Ades Tisair Ades was specially mixed by Youth, and the album was mastered by Mandy Parnell. [15]
Philanthropist
Through her foundation Kirtan for Causes, Manika raises awareness for issues such as equality, global access to feminine hygiene products and education of females of all ages around the world. [16]
Her foundation currently supports the education of 100 programme participants, [17] and she personally supports the education of over 200 children. [18]
Manika raised over one million dirhams (approx. £210,000) through her first album, which she donated to finance a new Gurdwara (Sikh temple) in Dubai. [19]
All of the revenue from Manika’s work go to support her charity Kirtan for Causes a foundation created to support impoverished children in Punjab. [20]
Awards
Manika won The 2016 Sikh Award for Sikhs in Entertainment, [21] and placed sacred Sikh vocal music and Kirtan in the World Music Charts Europe for the first time, [22] amassing over 10,000,000 views on YouTube. [23]
Discography
- Bandhanaa (2000)
- Satanam Waheguru (2013)
- I Bow To You Waheguru (2015)
- Aval Allah (single) (2018)
- Scared Words (2018)
References
- ^ "Manika Kaur", Invincible Recordings
- ^ "Manika Kaur: Singing for a Cause", Hindustan Times
- ^ "Bibi Manika Kaur", Sikh Roots
- ^ "CD Review", Yoga Awakening Africa
- ^ "Manika Kaur Releases Debut Kirtan Album: Satnam Waheguru", Sikh Chic
- ^ "Manika Kaur: Sacred Words", Six Degree Records
- ^ "Bibi Manika Kaur", Sikh Roots
- ^ [1], Sikh Chic
- ^ "Manika Kaur: I Bow to You Waheguru" Noise Bliss
- ^ "Manika Kaur: Kirtan for Causes benefit concerts" Rhythm Passport
- ^ "Manika Kaur releases debut kirtan album Satnam Waheguru" Sikh Chic
- ^ "Manika Kaur releases Sacred Words Album" Broadway World
- ^ "Music Preview: Manika Kaur soothes the soul with Sacred Words" Thrive Global
- ^ "Manika Kaur: Sacred Words" Six Degrees Records
- ^ "Music Video: Aval Allah" Sikh Net
- ^ "Music Preview: Manika Kaur releases sublime silky smooth Sacred Words" Celeb Mix
- ^ "Kirtan brings a sense of peace" Just Say It How It Is
- ^ "Manika Kaur is using music as a source for good" iSing Magazine
- ^ "Manika Kaur" Zee Companion
- ^ "Manika Kaur: Sacred Words" Six Degrees Records
- ^ "Sikh Awards in London honour global Sikh diaspora" India GB News
- ^ Her hymns build lives" Times of India
- ^ "Manika Kaur releases Sacred Words album"