Shweta Subram
{{Short description|Canadian singer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Shweta Subram
| image = Shweta Subram portfolio image.jpg
| caption =
| birth_place = Mangalore, Karnataka, India
| origin = Ottawa, Canada
| occupation = Singer, songwriter, performer
| genre = Bollywood, Hindi, Punjabi, playback singing
| instrument = Vocals, piano
| years_active = 2011–present
| website = {{URL|www.shwetasubram.com/}}
| associated_acts = Ayushmann Khurrana, Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Ghibran, Shankar Tucker, Sunny Leone, Josh, Vatsal Sheth, Salim–Sulaiman, Shafqat Amanat Ali, Karthik, The Piano Guys, Abhay Jodhpurkar
}}
Kantimathi Subramanian Iyer, known professionally as Shweta Subram, is a Canadian playback singer, known for singing in the song "Jalebi Baby" (2020).{{Cite web|last=Choudhury|first=Nila|date=2020-11-24|title=Tune In Tuesdays - Tesher Ft. Shweta Subram's Sweet 'Jalebi Baby' Got Us Hooked|url=https://www.dissdash.com/2020/11/24/tune-in-tuesdays-tesher-ft-shweta-subrams-sweet-jalebi-baby-got-us-hooked/|access-date=2021-03-27|website=DissDash|language=en-US}} She primarily sings in Hindi, as well as Punjabi, Sindhi, Tamil, English and other languages. Shweta is the recipient of multiple awards including the North American Best Singer award{{cite web |title=Simply Bhangra Introducing Shweta Subramanian |url=http://simplybhangra.com/news/fresh-artists/2824-introducing-shweta-subramanian |work=Simply Bhangra }} from Sangam Kala Group, and Best Singer Award from Shankar Mahadevan Academy's talent hunt,{{cite web |title=Shankar Mahadevan declares Shweta Subram winner |url=http://news.avstv.com/2011/09/13/shankar-mahadevan-declares-shweta-subram-winner/ |publisher=AVS TV }} judged by Shankar Mahadevan himself. Shweta was an active participant in the International Indian Film Academy Awards (2011), performing with Bollywood music composer/director duo Salim–Sulaiman for IIFA Rocks in Toronto.{{cite news |title=Shweta Subram Rocks With Salim and Sulaiman at IIFAs |url=http://www.desihits.com/news/view/shweta-subram-rocks-with-salim-and-sulaiman-at-iffas-20110624 |access-date=26 July 2011 |newspaper=DesiHits}}
Early years
Shweta was born in Mangalore, India but her family relocated to Dubai, UAE when she was two months old and moved to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada during her teenage years. She graduated from Merivale High School and obtained a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from Carleton University. Though singing started off as a hobby for Shweta, her talent was constantly appreciated through multiple awards and accolades in Dubai and Canada, and made way to a full time pursuit of music.{{cite web |url=https://www.paisawapas.com/student-stories/versatile-singer-shweta-subram/ |title=This versatile singer with 73k followers will teach you the real importance of discipline to seek perfection |access-date=5 May 2017 |date=3 May 2017 |website=paisawapas.com}}
Music career
After winning the North American Best Singer award from Sangam Kala Group, Shweta spent some time in India and was chosen by Zoom (TV channel) to join the Sunsilk Gang of Girls.{{cite news |title=Against all odds: Indian Canadian seekssuccess in Indian music industry |url=http://www.shweta.ca/shweta2.PDF |access-date=27 April 2011 |newspaper=The Indian EXPRESS |date=21 December 2007}} After touring across India with the band, Shweta wanted to embark on her own musical journey.
=Playback=
Shweta's debut in Bollywood came through the movie Hawaizaada in 2015 starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Mithun Chakraborty, and Pallavi Sharda. Shweta sang the title song, Dil-e-Nadaan, alongside Ayushmann Khurrana, who is also the music composer for the movie alongside Rochak Kohli.{{cite web|date=20 January 2015|title=Shweta Subram's Bollywood Debut with Ayushmann Khurrana in Hawaizaada|url=http://southasiandaily.com/shweta-subrams-bollywood-debut-with-ayushmann-khurrana-in-hawaizaada/|website=southasiandaily.com}} Her debut in Tamil cinema came through the song "Mella Mella" for the film Maayavan (2017) starring Lavanya Tripathi and Sundeep Kishan for which music was composed by Ghibran.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eCci2Q2Mvg|title=Maayavan | Mella Mella Song with Lyrics|date=17 April 2017|access-date=5 May 2017}} Shweta also sang three songs for Mostly Sunny, a biography of Sunny Leone by director Dilip Mehta.
=Independent music=
In addition to playback, Shweta is also an independent musician. Her debut single, Jee Le Live Life was followed up with Ajooba and these releases brought her in the urban music limelight in North America. Shweta was then contacted by Shankar Tucker to feature in his project. Mere Saajan Sun Sun, which exposed Shweta's talent to a larger audience. Shweta was then contacted by music composer Pravin Mani of A.R. Rahman fame who worked with her on the single Piya featuring the playback singer Karthik. Shweta's biggest break in North America came when she was chosen by The Piano Guys to the render an Indian adaptation of Swedish House Mafia's Don't You Worry Child.{{cite news |title=Shweta Subram and The Piano Guys collaborate for their latest single Khushnuma |url=http://bollyspice.com/64953/shweta-subram-and-the-piano-guys-collaborate-for-their-latest-single-khushnuma |newspaper=Bollywood Spice |date=26 July 2013}} In December 2017, Shweta released a new song, Rasiya, featuring Purbayan Chatterjee on Sitar.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhrDS56e89w|title=Rasiya – Shweta Subram ft. Purbayan|date=12 December 2017|access-date=12 December 2017}} In 2020, Shweta sang the hook Jalebi Baby for Tesher's original with the same name.{{Cite web|last=Vibe|first=Desi|date=2021-02-28|title=Shweta Subram: The voice behind Tik Toks viral anthem 'Jalebi Baby' puts out a Bollywood cover track for her fans|url=https://desivibe.com/2021/02/28/shweta-subram-the-voice-behind-tik-toks-viral-anthem-jalebi-baby-puts-out-a-bollywood-cover-track-for-her-fans/|access-date=2021-03-27|website=DesiVibe.com|language=en-US}}
= Bollywood covers =
In addition to originals, Shweta has also rendered covers of popular Bollywood songs, including Heer, Saadi Galli Aaja, Mitti Di Khushboo, Kuch Na Kaho, and Jab Koi Baat. Backed by the A.R. Rahman's, Shekhar Kapur's, and Samir Bangara's digital music start-up, Qyuki, Shweta released Bollywood Evolution, which presented a medley of Bollywood songs from 1950s in five minutes in a cappella style. This release was picked up by various Indian and international news portals including BuzzFeed and The Times of India. In July 2017, when Shweta featured in a cover of Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin by Parineeti Chopra from the movie Meri Pyaari Bindu.{{cite AV media |date=1 July 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UWHxHSNbfk |title=Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin | Meri Pyaari Bindu – Shweta Subram, Manoj, Nish, Keethan COVER |access-date=6 July 2017}} Chopra took notice of the cover and tweeted that she was "speechless" and the song "made me cry".{{cite tweet |user=ParineetiChopra |author=ParineetiChopra |number=882845563053539328 |title=Speechless!!! Thankyou and god bless you guys Shweta, Nish, Keethan and Manoj .. made me cry ❤️❤️ seriously!!" |date=6 July 2017}}
=Live performances=
Shweta is known to be a rockstar performer. Her set typically includes of popular and upbeat Bollywood songs along with evergreen classics. She has headlined various festivals and concerts in North America, Middle-East, the Caribbean, and Asia. In April 2015, she was invited to sing national anthems of Canada and India to open floor for speeches by Indian PM Modi and Canadian PM harper.{{cite web |title=Shweta Subram Sings Indian & Canadian National Anthems at Ricoh Center |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OJIVm6Lo0g |via=YouTube}} She also headlined the IIFA Buzz (2011) festival in Markham, Ontario and The IIFA Rocks segment was aired globally by STAR (India) to a total audience of 700 million. Shweta sang the song Khuda Ke Liye with Salim–Sulaiman from the film Aazaan{{cite web |title=Khuda Ke Liye (Aazaan) by Salim Merchant and Shweta Subram – IIFA Rocks |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqCD9GIEVuQ |work=Wizcraft |publisher=Star TV}} In March 2015, Shweta became the youngest vocalist of Indian origin to perform at the esteemed Carnegie Hall in New York. Shweta has headlined various concerts and private events across 75 cities in 12 countries.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}
= Awards and honors =
Shweta won a prestigious talent hunt by Sangam Kala Group, emerging as the Best Singer in North America in 2006.{{Cite web|last=Sunder|first=Gautam|date=2017-05-30|title=From Canada, with love|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/music/300517/from-canada-with-love.html|access-date=2021-03-27|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en}} In 2011, Shweta won a global competition organized by Shankar Mahadevan Academy,{{Cite web|date=2011-09-14|title=Shweta Subram wins Shankar Mahadevan's singing contest!|url=https://urbanasian.com/whats-happenin/2011/09/shweta-subram-wins-shankar-mahadevans-singing-contest/|access-date=2021-03-27|website=Urban Asian|language=en-US}} and was personally mentored by Shankar Mahadevan as the winning prize. Shweta was honored as South Asian of the Year by Zee TV Canada and Maple Diversity Communications in May 2015.{{Cite web|title=Shweta Subram honoured as South Asian of the Year 2015|url=http://www.imdb.com/news/ni58802443|access-date=2021-03-27|website=IMDb}}
Radio
From 2009 to 2010 Shweta hosted the Drive Home show{{cite web |title=Shweta Subram interviews Shruti Pathak |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg6f5BICCXs |work=Humdesi Radio }} on HumDesi Radio, the largest radio station in North America.{{cite web |title=Shweta Subramanian on Buzz in Town |url=http://www.buzzintown.com/artistes--type/artist--shweta-subramanian/id--294.html |publisher=Buzz in Town |access-date=28 April 2011}} Prior to this she was the host and reporter of the television program "Sounds of India" on Rogers Channel 22 in Canada, and RJ for CKCU 97.9 FM (CHIN FM).{{cite web |title=Shweta on Sunsilk Gang of Girls |url=http://www.jeetegakaun.in/sunsilk_gang_of_girls/shweta_subramanian/ |work=Jeetenga Kaun |access-date=27 April 2011}}
Television
- Band Member, Sunsilk Gang of Girls (Zoom TV){{cite news |title=Shweta Subramanian talks about her experiences in Mumbai |url=http://www.rcinet.ca/english/program/masala-canada/archives/episode/12-00_2009-12-05-december-5-2009/ |access-date=28 April 2011 |newspaper=CBC Radio Canada International |date=5 December 2009}}{{cite news |title=Against all odds: Indian Canadian seeks success in Indian music industry |url=http://www.shweta.ca/shweta2.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007203410/http://www.shweta.ca/shweta2.PDF |archive-date=7 October 2011 |url-status=dead |newspaper=The Indian Express |date=21 December 2007}}
Discography
=Singles=
=Film soundtracks=
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.shwetasubram.com/ Shweta Subram | Bollywood & Hindi Singer]
- [https://www.facebook.com/shwetasubram Shweta on Facebook]
- [https://www.youtube.com/ShwetaSubram Shweta on YouTube]
- [https://www.twitter.com/ShwetaSubram Shweta on Twitter]
- [https://www.instagram.com/ShwetaSubram Shweta on Instagram]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Subram, Shweta}}
Category:Musicians from Mangalore
Category:Indian emigrants to Canada
Category:Canadian people of Tamil descent
Category:Canadian musicians of Indian descent
Category:Expatriate musicians in India
Category:Canadian expatriate musicians
Category:Canadian expatriates in India
Category:Canadian expatriates in the United Arab Emirates
Category:Canadian playback singers
Category:Canadian women singer-songwriters
Category:Tamil playback singers
Category:Bollywood playback singers
Category:Carleton University alumni
Category:21st-century Canadian women singers