Pop/singer-songwriter, Sonali just released her new music video for “Who We Are,” the single off her new EP, Wake Up.
Going to the movies, talking to friends, doting on her Yorkie terrier: in many ways New York City based singer-songwriter Sonali Argade is a typical teenage girl. But this assumption vanishes as soon as the music begins. In February 2012, Sonali showcased a dynamic mix of sparkling songs, energetic performances and auspicious vocal authority on her debut EP,Speechless. The EP served as the introduction to an emerging artist on the edge of ascension, a performer, guitarist and songwriter whose mastery of pop song craft reaches far beyond any chronological age.
Music came early: Sonali began humming before she could speak, and she scribbled away at her own versions of song lyrics long before she could write as she was instinctively drawn into the avocation that she discovered on her own. Fortunately, her parents were supportive. “I am inspired mostly by my family,” she says. “I base everything I do on the way they act, and how caring they are.”
A multi-instrumentalist who plays keyboard, drums and bass, Sonali is a scorching lead guitarist who wields an impressive arsenal of instruments. Although her favorite genres include her favorite metal bands, her own music is defined by the accessibility and optimism that mirrors her sunny and upbeat personality.
In fall of 2012, Sonali was invited to attend the prestigious Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, housed in New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Here, she was afforded the pleasure of working with some of the best in the industry, including numerous Grammy Award winning professors. “I absolutely love NYU because the learning never stops, both inside and outside the classroom,” Sonali says. “For me, one of the best parts about this program is being surrounded by such talented and humble classmates”. In December 2012, Sonali and her classmates collaborated to create a viral cover of the famous Rihanna song “Diamonds.” The video garnered the attention of Rihanna herself who invited them to her concert in Newark, where she personally admired and congratulated them on their work.
As Sonali’s musical tastes expanded in the Big Apple, her writing style began to evolve. In February 2014, Sonali released her second EP, titled Wake Up produced by Kazumi Shimokawa and Justin Tracy. “I’ve put in so much time working on this, and I’ve spent a long time thinking about the sound I want to create and the impact I want my music to have. Moving to New York has exposed me to a lot of different musical styles, and I was able to draw from my influences and blend this rich diversity into something that finally feels like me. When I listen to the music and lyrics on Wake Up, it sounds like such an accurate representation of who I am right now and what I believe, and that’s a great feeling!” The new EP is an eclectic mix of folky pop-rock, reminiscent of both Mumford & Sons and Colbie Caillat.
Other than music, community service is an essential element in Sonali’s life. She has enjoyed working with Smile Train, an international charity that provides free cleft surgery for thousands of poor children in developing countries. 100% of the iTunes sales from her Speechless EP are donated to Smile Train Organization.
Dedicated studies, including jazz guitar at the Players School of Music, Berklee College of Music’s Five Week Summer Performance Program for Voice, and her current studies at NYU have propelled Sonali’s knowledge and ambitions. Armed with an arsenal of raw talent, technical know-how and resilient focus, Sonali is on a mission to win the title of pop-rock diva and music is her weapon. Keep up with her by joining her mailing list and Facebook Fan Page (www.facebook.com/itsmesonali), as well as following her on Twitter (www.twitter.com/itsmesonali).
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