Singer-songwriter Shaheen Sheik, a friend from college, just signed with Times Music in Bombay and is on a promo tour here this week. (Watch her video.) Last night she sang on a TV show with a name that’s a paragon of ridiculously nontransitive branding, the Tuscan Verve Zoom Glam Awards. Other nights she slums with the plebeians. That’s usually when I get to see her.
A few of us went to see her first performance at a downtown Bombay club called Prive, which is around the corner from the Gateway of India. It’s decorated like a Southern strip club (black lacquer ceilings, gold bead curtains and lap dance seats), albeit one with floating roses. It was an odd venue for folk-pop ballads, but Shaheen sang four gorgeous melodies and encored with a cover of ‘In Your Eyes.’ Like most desis of a certain age, the duet guitarist provided by the label knew Pink Floyd, the Eagles and Led Zep but was baffled by Peter Gabriel.
There’s an interesting tradeoff when Indians in the diaspora come back to promote their wares (Apache Indian, Salman Rushdie…) On one hand, the potential market is huge with a built-in cultural interest. On the other, the middle class is limited in size, and you earn less per unit than in your home market after currency conversion.
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Ballads at Prive |
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Sisterhood of the traveling leather pants |
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Brothers at Insomnia |
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Shaheen and Natasha, her publicist |
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Shaheen and stylin’ Time Out dude |
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Anil from Time Out scratches the dome |
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Every night in Colaba ends up at Bademiya |
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Chillin’ in Bademiya’s, uh, ‘expansion’ quarters; but the rolls are delish |
If I’ve left out your photo, please forgive — I’ve only included those whom I was pretty sure wouldn’t mind.
This is something I thought last time you linked her M – what’s with the bare feet? Perhaps she’s a Dolores fan.
I take it you don’t wear heels. Go and ruin your image, why don’tcha.
How do you know I don’t wear heels? I have some lovely kitten heel Jimmy Choos and a pair of Prada mules.
That’s how. Prada doesn’t make mules in your size. [Have I revealed too much?]
Yes but do you wear them with a tube top and leather pants while perched atop a stool singing ballads? Confess.
Yes. OK, no, I admit, I don’t.
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I sing old time jazz.
Ennis – there’s always foot-binding. Worked for me, it can work for you and then OH you’ll just be the toast of the Podunksburg glitterati. Ooh but I’m thinking flat shoes for you, wraparound dress, sculpted blouse and a darling hot pink turban.
Hmm, let me check the photo archives…
Go Shanu! Woo hoo!!
As some of you may remember, Bong Breaker and I had an extended conversation here on SM sometime late last year about how he has a secret thing for Manola Blahniks and keeps stealing DesiDancer’s strappy sandals in order to expand his already-vast collection…..
A closer look behind his back would explain why 🙂
This singer is real hot! glad she’s doing well, best of luck to her. Talking about music, I saw this really hot and funny vid on youtube, peeps here might be interested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDfFpnX-yfY
Peace out!
Hey La Fiend, nice clip. One of the related vids on the right is one of the first films I made! Hehehe, what are the chances? I never read the comments, so thanks for reminding me about it. Some chap called PakP says ‘U INDIANS R FUKIN GAY!!!!!!!!!’ and another calls my film ‘horrible’. Excellent.
No one finds the fact she wears leather pants in India odd on any level?
what was the rest of the set? Very ambitious to take on Peter Gabriel. How did it sound?
Not as a performer.
Her original songs. Listen here.
The ‘In Your Eyes’ cover was divine, as were some of her own.
beautiful girl and lovely voice.
“No one finds the fact she wears leather pants in India odd on any level?”
years ago i happened to see jackie shroff in the lobby of a mumbai hotel – he was decked out in red leather from head to toe. it was quite a sight, but as an entertainer he got away with it.
and what’s the deal with india’s obsession and exotification of western-style stripclubs, pole dancing, lapdance moves? seems like every other bollywood movie or music video has a cheesy stripclub-like scene. the “exotic” exotifiying the other so-called “exotic” dancing?
the “big” question is…. are “they” real? 😉
i actually bought my first leather jacket in mumbai along a street that was lined with leather-wares-selling stalls. i can’t remember what it was called, though
bb you dumbass… 🙂 that was hilarious. i cant stop laughing… nice macarena moves – and for the guys on the blog, there’s a bit of T&A thrown in it as well…
more more..
HeLLLOOOOO Anil! Quick, is he single?
Wasn’t Shaheen involved with the Artwallah fest in LA? I’m pretty sure I saw her make announcements, if not actually perform.
Thalassa, Shaheen was Festival Director of ArtWallah for the past few (2?3?) years, and she performed last year as well at the Thursday evening kickoff concert. Take care, ~Ami~
“Shaheen was Festival Director of ArtWallah for the past few (2?3?) years, and she performed last year as well at the Thursday evening kickoff concert.”
Very cool! I was pretty sure I did see her perform. And she did a stellar job as Artwallah director too, the festival is a great forum for emerging South Asian American artists.
hey ray…all i have to say is please refer to seinfeld episode 59, season 4. as for the barefeet…stage is a sacred space, like a temple or mosque as the case may be…shoes would only defile. leather pants were proudly made in india. the irony is one of many in zany motherland.
LOVE her sultry voice but please Shaheen, may I suggest some makeup? She is sexily gorgeous, but imagine a makeover with the hair and lips…
hey manish it was nice to see my pic playing with shaheen thanks for that 🙂
yeah i was baffled by the song In Your Eyes but hey i love peter gabriel’s work be it his solo projects or his earlier days with genesis. just that we didnt have enough time to work out all the songs 🙂
Reply to #24:
That’s what I thought ;). I have all the Seinfeld dialogues memorized :-). Like Costanza would say ” BIG FAN,Big Fan”!!
I saw the video and i think she trying to be SADE. sorry but SADE is a better singer.
Shaheen is extremely sexy in her black leather pants. Keep wearing them, Shaheen! Patrik