Shakila Karim

Karim was born at the Royal London Hospital{{cite news|url=http://www.asiana.tv/entertainment/shalika-karim|title=Teen Singer's love for Help for Hero's|publisher=Asiana|date=2 March 2012|access-date=1 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923175253/http://www.asiana.tv/entertainment/shalika-karim|archive-date=23 September 2015|df=dmy-all}} in Whitechapel, Tower Hamlets, London, England{{cite news |last=Huntley|first=Victoria|url=http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/east_end_s_shakila_sets_sights_on_fame_as_uk_s_first_bangladeshi_pop_star_1_951934|title=East End's Shakila sets sights on fame as UK's first Bangladeshi pop star|location=London|publisher=East London Advertiser|date=4 July 2011|access-date=1 August 2015}}{{cite news|last=Huntley|first=Victoria|url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/east_end_s_shakila_sets_sights_on_fame_as_uk_s_first_bangladeshi_pop_star_1_951934|title=East End's Shakila sets sights on fame as UK's first Bangladeshi pop star|newspaper=Eastern Daily Press|date=4 July 2011|access-date=1 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924005816/http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/east_end_s_shakila_sets_sights_on_fame_as_uk_s_first_bangladeshi_pop_star_1_951934|archive-date=24 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|last=Huntley|first=Victoria|url=http://www.london24.com/news/east_end_s_shakila_sets_sights_on_fame_as_uk_s_first_bangladeshi_pop_star_1_951934|title=East End's Shakila sets sights on fame as UK's first Bangladeshi pop star|location=London|publisher=London 24|date=4 July 2011|access-date=1 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419030751/http://www.london24.com/news/east_end_s_shakila_sets_sights_on_fame_as_uk_s_first_bangladeshi_pop_star_1_951934|archive-date=19 April 2016|df=dmy-all}} and is of Bangladeshi descent.{{cite news|url=http://www.theasiantoday.com/article.aspx?articleId=2475|title=Olympic Dreams for Teen Singer Shakila|newspaper=The Asian Today|date=5 July 2011|access-date=1 August 2015|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110802210244/http://www.theasiantoday.com/article.aspx?articleId=2475|archive-date=2 August 2011|df=dmy-all}} Karim's parents are Karim Ullah (born 1977) and Sultana Parvin, and she has a younger sister, Sonia.

Karim attended Gatehouse School in Bethnal Green. She received speech therapy to help her speak. Yet she was able to sing nursery rhymes perfectly. At around the same time, she started playing her first musical instrument, the violin, when she was a toddler and went on to learn the recorder, piano, ukulele and drums. When she was 11 years old, Karim's family moved out of the East End to Hertfordshire{{cite news |last=Brooke|first=Mike|url=http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/teenager_sings_gigathon_in_spitalfields_for_nepal_earthquake_victims_1_4183904|title=Please re-Tweet? Dad bets on daughter to get more followers than Obama, Gaga and Justin Bieber|location=London|publisher=East London Advertiser|date=7 August 2015|access-date=1 August 2015}} and she started her secondary education at Hockerill Anglo-European College in Bishop's Stortford. She started taking singing lessons from the first term and, in her first year at the school, she passed her Rock School grade three exam. She then attended school in Newport, Essex near Carver Barracks,{{cite news |url=http://www.essexlifemag.co.uk/people/charity_single_raises_money_for_help_for_heroes_1_1648305|title=Charity single raises money for Help for Heroes|location=Essex|publisher=Essex Life|date=22 November 2011|access-date=1 August 2015}} and then Newport Free Grammar School in Uttlesford.{{cite news |last=Bevan|first=Stephen|url=http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk/Stortford-singer-Shakila-returns-London-roots/story-21868780-detail/story.html|title=Stortford singer Shakila returns to London roots|publisher=Herts and Essex Observer|date=16 May 2012|access-date=1 August 2015}}{{cite news |last=de Peyer|first=Robin|url=http://www.saffronwaldenreporter.co.uk/news/bigger_than_bieber_doting_dad_puts_bet_on_teenage_daughter_reaching_100m_twitter_followers_1_2369660|title=Bigger than Bieber: Doting dad puts bet on teenage daughter reaching 100m Twitter followers|location=Saffron Walden|publisher=Saffron Walden Reporter|date=6 September 2013|access-date=1 August 2015}} As of 2015, she was studying A-levels at Joyce Frankland Academy in Newport.{{cite news |title=Teenage singer to raise money for the victims of Nepal Earthquake |url=http://www.asian-voice.com/Student/Shakila%E2%80%99s-Gigathon-to-Raise-Money-for-The-Victims-of-Nepal-Earthquake |work=Asian Voice |date=26 June 2015 |access-date=1 August 2015}} After completing her A-levels in 2016 Karim enrolled at The ICMP (The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance) to study Creative Musicianship where she is a final year student.{{cite web|url=https://www.icmp.ac.uk/news/icmp-spotlight-shakila-k|title=ICMP Spotlight: Shakila K|date=10 September 2018|website=ICMP|access-date=25 December 2018}}

During the 2010 summer holidays, Karim uploaded her first videos on YouTube, started performing at local venues, entered the 2011 Stortford Music Festival, and auditioned for Britain's Got Talent at the age of 12.{{cite news |url=http://www.hertfordshirelife.co.uk/people/talented_teenagers_in_herts_1_1568981|title=Talented teenagers in Herts|location=Hertfordshire|publisher=Hertfordshire Life|date=20 March 2012|access-date=1 August 2015}}

In 2011, Karim released three self-produced singles. On 4 July, Karim's debut single "Just Let It Go" was released. On 24 October, her second single "Gone Too Soon" was released. On 28 November,{{cite news |last=Tonkin|first=Sam|url=http://www.saffronwaldenreporter.co.uk/news/newport_teenager_records_charity_single_for_help_for_heroes_1_1135513|title=Newport teenager records charity single for Help for Heroes|location=Saffron Walden|publisher=Saffron Walden Reporter|date=24 November 2011|access-date=1 August 2015}} her third single "Heroes" was released in aid of the Help for Heroes charity which supports the rehabilitation of injured British service personnel from conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan.{{cite news |url=http://www.saffronwaldenreporter.co.uk/news/teenager_recording_charity_single_for_help_for_heroes_1_1116872|title=Teenager recording charity single for Help for Heroes|location=Saffron Walden|publisher=Saffron Walden Reporter|date=4 November 2011|access-date=1 September 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.theasiantoday.com/article.aspx?articleId=2817|title=MP backing for Teen charity song|newspaper=The Asian Today|date=7 February 2012|access-date=1 August 2015|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210211419/http://theasiantoday.com/article.aspx?articleId=2817|archive-date=10 December 2013|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news |last=Osh |url=http://www.guestlist.net/news/1771/shakila_s_first_charity_single_forhelp_for_heroes |title=Shakila's First Charity Single for 'Help for Heroes'|publisher=Guestlist|date=24 November 2011|access-date=1 August 2015}} On 28 August 2012, her fourth single "Are You All Ready" was released. The song was intended to inspire the athletes competing in London 2012 Paralympics Games.{{cite news |url=http://www.bobfm.co.uk/news/local-news/video-bishops-stortford-teenager-releases-paralympic-inspired-song/|title=VIDEO: Bishop's Stortford Teenager Releases Paralympic-Inspired Song|publisher=BOB fm|date=23 August 2012|access-date=1 August 2015}} On 8 December 2012,{{cite news |last=Edwards|first=Michael|url=http://www.saffronwaldenreporter.co.uk/news/teen_releases_olympic_inspired_single_1_1733366|title=Teen releases Olympic inspired single|location=Saffron Walden|publisher=Saffron Walden Reporter|date=6 December 2012|access-date=1 August 2015}} her fifth single "Thank You for the Sunshine" was released. The song is dedicated to the London 2012 Olympic Games.{{cite news |last=de Peyer|first=Robin|url=http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/teenager_s_olympic_song_celebrates_summer_of_sport_1_1731886|title=Teenager's Olympic song celebrates summer of sport|location=London|publisher=East London Advertiser|date=12 December 2012|access-date=1 August 2015}}{{cite news |last=Dearman|first=Natalie|url=http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk/Stortford-singers-1001-odds-scoring-Christmas-number/story-21892030-detail/story.html|title=Stortford singer's 100–1 odds of scoring Christmas number one|publisher=Herts and Essex Observer|date=19 December 2012|access-date=1 August 2015}} Karim's father, Karim Ullah, wrote "Just Let It Go" and "Gone Too Soon", and "Heroes" was co-written by Karim and her father.

In May 2012, Karim performed at the Stortford Music Festival and the Boishakhi Mela. In the same month, she performed live on BBC Asian Network's Tommy Sandhu Show.{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00t3mp2|title=Shakila Sings Michael Jackson's Who's Loving You|publisher=BBC Asian Network|date=May 2012|access-date=1 August 2015}} In August of the same year, she performed at the Hertford Music Festival.{{cite news |title=VIDEO: Bishop's Stortford Teenager Releases Paralympic-Inspired Song |url=http://www.bobfm.co.uk/news/local-news/video-bishops-stortford-teenager-releases-paralympic-inspired-song/ |work=BOB fm |date=23 August 2012 |access-date=14 August 2018}} In August 2014, she performed at the second annual Warren Classic.{{cite news|url=http://www.essexstylemagazine.co.uk/rare-bugatti-veyron-steals-the-show-at-the-warren-classic/|title=Rare Bugatti Veyron Steals The Show at the Warren Classic|location=Essex|publisher=Essex Style Magazine|date=1 August 2014|access-date=1 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810161549/http://www.essexstylemagazine.co.uk/rare-bugatti-veyron-steals-the-show-at-the-warren-classic/|archive-date=10 August 2015|df=dmy-all}}

In October 2013, Karim performed at Wembley Stadium as part of the 92Plus1 challenge to raise money for Help for Heroes. She sang before England's World Cup qualifier against Poland.{{cite news |url=http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk/Stortford-singing-sensation-performs-Wembley-Stadium/story-21877163-detail/story.html|title=Stortford singing sensation performs at Wembley Stadium|publisher=Herts and Essex Observer|date=25 October 2013|access-date=1 September 2015}}

In June 2015, Karim began a musical 'marathon' to sing at 26 different concerts to raise money for the victims of Nepal's earthquake,{{cite news |url=http://www.asian-voice.com/Student/Shakila%E2%80%99s-Gigathon-to-Raise-Money-for-The-Victims-of-Nepal-Earthquake|title=Teenage singer to raise money for the victims of Nepal Earthquake|newspaper=Asian Voice|date=26 June 2015|access-date=1 August 2015}}{{cite news|last=Snead|first=Florence|url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Essex-Sixth-undertake-8216-gig-marathon-8217-aid/story-26657331-detail/story.html|title=Essex Sixth Former to undertake 'gig marathon' in aid of Nepal earthquake victims|location=Cambridge|newspaper=Cambridge News|date=9 June 2015|access-date=1 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923221901/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Essex-Sixth-undertake-8216-gig-marathon-8217-aid/story-26657331-detail/story.html|archive-date=23 September 2015|df=dmy-all}} after being inspired by some of her schoolfriends at Joyce Frankland Academy who are from Nepal. In August of the same year, she performed live on BBC Asian Network.{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b063r8r0|title=Rising Brit Bengali singer Shakila Karim|publisher=BBC Asian Network|date=2 August 2015|access-date=1 August 2015}}

During the summer of 2017, Karim and her father organised a special concert for ICMP students to raise money for the survivors of Grenfell Tower.{{cite web|url=https://www.saffronwaldenreporter.co.uk/news/former-newport-student-to-use-vocal-talents-to-help-victims-of-grenfell-tower-fire-1-5175408|title=Former Newport student to use vocal talents to help victims of Grenfell Tower fire|first=Abbie|last=Weaving|website=Saffron Walden Reporter|access-date=25 December 2018}}

Karim released two self-penned tracks in 2018. For the first one "The Mask Is Always On" she was interviewed on BBC Three Counties Radio and got to sing live. Her second track was "Electricity".{{cite web|url=https://www.saffronwaldenreporter.co.uk/news/newport-songwriter-is-hoping-for-a-powerful-response-to-her-new-single-1-5719511|title=Newport songwriter is hoping for a powerful response to her new single|last=Braddick|first= Imogen|date=2 October 2018|website=saffronwaldenreporter.co.uk|access-date=25 April 2019}} She worked with fellow The ICMP students Milxnake (Serena Harmsworth) and Lucas Green on both tracks.{{cite web|url=https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/shakila-k-launches-her-singing-career-with-first-ep-1-5642466|title=Grenfell Tower and Nepal earthquake fundraiser Shakila K launches singing career with new EP|first=Mike|last=Brooke|website=East London Advertiser|access-date=25 December 2018}} In April 2019, Karim opened for 1990s English boy band East 17 in Bishop's Stortford.{{cite web|url=https://www.bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/whats-on/walthamstow-bad-boys-east-17-set-to-play-stortford-gig-with-shakila-k-9063831/|title=Stortford's own Shakila K named as opening act for East 17's Thorley Park concert|website=bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk|first=Kat|last=Barkley|date=14 March 2019|access-date=22 April 2019}}

Karim's father, Karim Ullah, left school with no qualifications but went on to work in media sales and later to set up his own Asian business publication in 2007. Her father's business suffered due to the 2008 financial crisis, and in 2010, it was forced to close. Consequently, Karim had to be taken out of boarding school and had to stop taking singing lessons. The business failure also meant that the family, who were by then renting a home in Bishops Stortford, became homeless and spent three months in a homeless hostel in Spellbrook. While living in the hostel, Karim's father became ill. He had to undergo major emergency surgery in October 2010 to remove part of his intestine following the flare-up of his previously diagnosed Crohn's disease and was hospitalised for several weeks, then suffering appendicitis in September 2011. Karim's father is now a writer for a golf magazine.{{cite news |last=de Peyer|first=Robin|url=http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/please_re_tweet_dad_bets_on_daughter_to_get_more_followers_than_obama_gaga_and_justin_bieber_1_2367681|title=Please re-Tweet? Dad bets on daughter to get more followers than Obama, Gaga and Justin Bieber|location=London|publisher=East London Advertiser|date=5 September 2013|access-date=1 August 2015}}

Karim now lives with her parents in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. She has been influenced musically by Michael Jackson, Queen, Freddie Mercury, Elton John, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Amy Lee and Rihanna.

• British Bangladeshi
• List of British Bangladeshis

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.shakilak.com/}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150923175253/http://www.asiana.tv/entertainment/shalika-karim Teen Singer’s love for Help for Hero’s]. Asiana. 2 March 2012

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Karim, Shakila}}

Category:1997 births

Category:Living people

Category:English Muslims

Category:English people of Bangladeshi descent

Category:English women singer-songwriters

Category:English singer-songwriters

Category:English pop pianists

Category:Charity fundraisers (people)

Category:Singers from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Category:People from Whitechapel

Category:People educated at Gatehouse School

Category:People educated at Hockerill Anglo-European College

Category:People educated at Newport Free Grammar School

Category:People from Newport, Essex

Category:21st-century English women singers

Category:21st-century English singers

Category:21st-century English pianists

Category:21st-century English women pianists