Biography
International recording artist, songwriter and producer Shaheen has proven herself as a musician with enduring artistry. After finishing law school, she promptly set forth on an uncharted path by immersing herself into a decades-long music career. Hungry to share her music, Shaheen beat Hollywood’s unforgiving streets with a guitar slung over her shoulder, playing from gig to gig, Her songs reflect her steady transformation from being “India’s answer to Sheryl Crow,” dubbed so by Mumbai’s press, to a leading chillout/lounge artist featured on Buddha Bar with long-time collaborator Soul Avenue.
“When I started out, all I had was this tenacious, naïve vision of what it meant to ‘make it.’ That innocence allowed me to bust through doors armed with curiosity, grit and a collection of likable pop songs. I traveled the world with my music, lent my talents to music supervising for films, and even dipped my toe in film acting. With age, and particularly, motherhood, came a drive to go deeper into the most authentic artist I could be, which only brought me back to my roots in songwriting. In that honesty, my storytelling shifted from perky melodies to emotional, ethereal soundscapes allowing my listeners to go deep with me.”
Having released her albums Rock Candy (2005) and Revolution (2008) to national and international acclaim, including LA’s Star 98.7 FM Top 100 Unsigned Artists and regular rotation on MTV Desi and MTV India, Shaheen hunkered down to work on her next album. It was then she learned she was expecting and found herself in unfamiliar territory as she slowed down her hectic pace, manifesting in her music as well.
“During my pregnancy, I began retreating into playing sarod, discovering that time with Indian ragas could unlock expression without the need for words or description, transcendent, much like the spellbinding work of creating a life. That stillness of expression allowed me refuge with this new being growing in my belly.”
After becoming a mother, Shaheen immersed herself in exploring Eastern melodies. That gentler inquiry has come through in her collaborations with premier Swedish producer Soul Avenue. Since 2010, their music has been released globally, including on the Buddha Bar compilations, mixed by the world-renowned DJ Ravin. Soul Avenue and Shaheen’s most recent song “Refugee” was released on Buddha Bar Summer of Chill in June 2020.
Highlights
Discography
rEvolution (LP)| Independent Release (May 2008)
Rock Candy (LP) | India Release (May 2006); Independent Release (May 2005)
In Your Love (EP) | Independent Release (August 2003)
Live from Santosha (LP) | Independent Release (January 2003)
Soundtracks/Compilations
Buddha Bar Summer of Chill: Refugee (2020)
Buddha Bar Greatest Hits: One by One (2019)
Buddha Bar XV: Lullaby for Samiyah (2013)
Buddha Bar XIV: Different (2012)
Buddha Bar XIII: One by One (2011)
Buddha Bar XII: Here We Go (Ehru Blues Mix) (2010)
Chillbar Volume 1: Wildflower World (Wild Orchid Mix) (2008)
Anokhi Compilation: Here and Now (2008)
Soundtrack to Purity: Vocals for Journey Through The Sky (2006)
Soundtrack to Indian Cowboy: Table for Two (2005)
BCBGMAXAZRIA LIVE CD: Vocals for The Color of Bees (2004)
Soundtrack to the Blessing: Here and Now & So Easy (2004)
Live
LOS ANGELES
Hotel Café. The Mint. Ford Amphitheater. Staples Center. Egyptian Theater. Anaheim Pond. Knitting Factory. The Joint. The Gig. Genghis Cohen. Acoustic Playhouse. Club 7969. Club Lingerie. Highland Grounds. Molly Malone's. Tempest. The Art Hub. UC Irvine. UCLA. Safari Sam’s.
MUMBAI
Prive. Zoom Glam Awards (Hilton Mumbai). Planet M. Zenzi.
SAN FRANCISCO
Circadia. Freight and Salvage. Hotel Utah. Last Day Saloon. Lush Lounge. Paradise Lounge. Sweetwater.
PHOENIX
Suede; Cleveland: Palmer's Grill; Charlottesville: Baja Bean Company. Espresso Corner.
Radio
NORTH AMERICA
Star987.com Unsigned Artist Competition Top 10; San Diego's Radiophive.com interview and airplay; New York's Imaginasian Radio interview and airplay; L.A.'s 90.7 FM (KPFK) 1 hour live performance, interview and regular rotation; L.A.'s 88.5 FM (KCSN) 1 hour interview and airplay; San Francisco's 93.7 FM airplay; Toronto's CKLN 88.1FM airplay
INDIA
Mumbai's Radio Mirchi interview and airplay; Chennai's Kiruba.com Podcast interview
EUROPE
BBC Asian Network’s Bobby Friction Show (March 2008 – UK); #1 on Colourfulradio.com charts (Nov, 2007 - UK) ; BBC Asian Network's Adil Ray Show (UK) interview and airplay; DeutschlandRadio (Germany) streaming radio play
