BORN TO SING

Shashika Mooruth is a talented South African vocalist and composer, who merges traditional Indian influences with her own unique style. Her passion for music led her to pursue a B.Sc part time through the University of South Africa, UNISA while training in Hindustani classical vocal and sitar in India. She loves to experiment with different styles, blending her voice to create something truly special. She had an interest from childhood to spread a message of peace, love and harmony through her music and has always strived to use her unique voice to reach and inspire others. Her music is a mixture of traditional melodies, spiritual hymns and modern contemporary tunes, creating a powerful and beautiful sound. Through her performances she has been able to reach and touch the hearts of many, raising funds for those in need and creating a sense of peace and joy. Shashika is a true talent and her music is sure to leave a lasting impression. ​ Her first performance was at the age of eight and by the age of fourteen, she had sung to some of the largest audiences in South Africa raising funds for old age homes, orphanages, charitable trusts, missionaries, spiritual organisations and various fundraising initiatives.  ​ Not only is she an incredibly talented performer, but her passion for music has enabled her to take her career to new heights. She has had the honor of winning gold and silver medals for vocal performances in childhood, as well as a silver for the highest aggregate in the intermediate division of the Speech and Drama Eisteddfod.  ​ She also performed on stage in Durban with two renowned recording artistes from India viz. Shri Kishore Kumar and Shri Mahendra Kapoor in the 70's as a little child. In fact, it was her meeting with the legendary playback singer Shri Kishore Kumar that changed her life.  He remarked to her father upon hearing her sing, that she was born in the wrong country and should be in India in the music field. As the years passed, Shashika felt the deep desire to find herself more in her music and her desire to travel to India for training increased.  ​ Shashika has worked with some of the most prominent artistes in India such as Shri Anup Jalota, Sonu Nigam, Udit Narayan and Adnan Sami. She has also completed Sangit Visharad l in Hindustani Vocal under her guru Pandit Sudhindra Bhowmick and sitar under Smt. Stuti Dey from Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai, affiliated to University of Lucknow. She also received training for a short period under Smt. Shobha Gurtu and was accepted as a student by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Saheb in 1997 when he heard her sing in Mumbai. He commented that she has 'a voice steeped in emotion that comes only from the spiritual world,  not every one receives this gift ….' ​​ Honoured at the World Hindu Conference in S.Africa 1995 for her contribution to Indian Music in S.Africa alongside Indian artistes Pandit Shivkumar Sharma and Pdt Hrdaynath Mangeshkar, she also received the South African Hindu Dharma Sabha’s Honour award from the Indian Consulate General Mr Anil Sharma in 2011 for her sterling contribution to the advancement of Indian culture in S.Africa through her music and performed at the welcome reception of Indian PM Shri Narendra Modi in S.Africa in 2016.  ​ In 2003, she launched her independent music label URJA MUSIC. Her interest as a music producer, songwriter and recording artiste increased hence she spent less time as a stage performing artiste and produced successful albums and singles that enjoy popularity worldwide. 'I was not happy just singing covers, I wanted to have my own songs which is what really makes a singer apart from the rest. I established my label and never looked back.' ​ The track Govinda Madhava from album Swagatam Krishna was nominated at Just Plain Folks Music Awards, USA in Indian music category in 2006. In 2015, her single Manzil Tu Hi was at no. 29 on iTunes SA Top 100 in World Music. The album Krishna, The Flute Player received rave reviews in USA and appeared at no. 14 on the US Billboard Chart in September 2016. It was also included in the Music Appreciation and World Music classes at Emerson College in Boston in October and received a Silver Certificate for outstanding achievement at Global Music Award, California. In 2017 it was again nominated at Global Peace Song Awards while a track from the album “It’s SA GA SA GA MA” was nominated in Best World Music Song at the Roundglass Music Awards 2018, New York, USA. She received the International Achiever Award on 2nd June 2018 from the President of South Africa, Honorable Cyril Ramaphosa at SAMA24 (South African Music Awards) organised by The Recording Industry of South Africa RISA at The Superbowl, Sun City,  Johannesburg, South Africa. ​ She also became the first South African of Indian origin to receive the award.  The International Achiever Award is a Special Merit Award presented to performers who, during their musical careers, have achieved notable international success. ​ The Lifetime Achievement Award and International Achiever Award are two highest awards at the SAMA ceremony.  ​ She has produced more than 200 original songs and has traveled to more than 25 countries as a performing artiste. With a passion for discovering and sharing the healing power of music, Shashika Mooruth has designed unique and holistic workshops in voice culture, training participants to receive music in their voice as a pathway to self-realization. She also conducts motivational talks and has devised specialized workshops on the transformative power of sound vibration, guiding individuals to explore the deeper connection between sound, body, and spirit.