The Score Magazine - Archive January 2015 issue! | Page 21

Tell us about your experience working with Casio
Keyboards?
I’m really happy to be an educator endorsee with CASIO.
I currently own a Privia PX350 Digital Piano which I use at my
vocal school, Sunitha Sarathy’s School Of Vocal Excellence
(SoVE).
The piano's build quality is solid. I still remember my mother
buying Casio keyboards for her use for many years, from Burma
Bazaar :-). (She now has a Celviano AP450). I used to carry one
of the Casios for performances in school and college.
It’s remarkably easy to use, for me. I’m used to playing
on my mother’s 120 year old piano, so the full 88-key
range and the action of the keys on the Privia PX-
350, feel comfortable to me. When I’m practicing and
I make mistakes, I can turn down the volume. The
students absolutely love the look of the piano and my
accompaniments on the same :)
What are your current projects?
I have 4 Tamil movie releases this month. I have
also signed up with Amaranta Entertainment to
produce my EP, with songs I’ve been writing for a
while now, which should be out later this year.
''
How have Casio keyboards suited your style of
playing and teaching?
T he two quick things that drew
me to using Casio are great
sound and familiar touch.
How did you choose Keyboard as your
instrument? Was it a natural calling?
I grew up in a house full of musicians. My
mother has been playing Classical piano for over
60 years. My Uncle was a multi-instrumentalist
and shaped the careers of many film musicians
and music directors. My grandfather, an
accomplished violinist and pianist, taught
M.S.Viswanathan Western music. When I
started singing, I graduated naturally towards
the piano to accompany myself.
Tell us a little about your performing
experiences? Anything special that
you would like to share?
When I was in school, I thoroughly loved
playing and singing, though at times I was
more an accompanying keyboardist
than a singer. We had an all girl
band that used to sweep all prizes
Memorable
at culturals. They used to like my
performances with
percussive style of playing, and my
your keyboard
arrangements of the covers that we
Couple of ‘Best Vocalist’ prizes
used to do :)
in school and college when I
Your cover song of 'Ennodu
was accompanying myself and
my version of Ennodu Nee
Nee Irundhal’ from I became
Ir undhal .
really famous and you used
Casio Keyboards in that song?
How was the experience?
I used to play piano quite a bit in school and college.
As my singing career took off, I kinda let the piano part
take a major backseat. With ‘Ennodu Nee Irundhaal’,
I thought it would be nice if I could
get back to playing and singing :) I
was a little nervous about it, but
the response to the video has been
tremendous enough to encourage me
to do more :) I have started playing
more piano from the time I’ve started
my vocal school (SoVE) as well.
How fulfilling is this industry
for you?
Keyboardists
that inspire you
My mother and my uncle,
Dondieu Divin, Matt
Littlewood. Growing up, I
used to love watching Nick
Rhodes, Herbie Hancock,
David Foster.
I’ve completed 14 years in the film
industry. I’ve sung various styles across
multiple languages, had many chartbusters and
worked with the best. I like the fact that I can interpret the song
like the music director wants it and still retain my touch and
stylistic embellishments.
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