Name: Shweta Pandit

Profession: Singer

Sun Sign: 7 July 1986, Cancer

Educational Experience
I did my schooling from Utpal Shanghvi School at Juhu. I just cleared my standard 12 exams from Mithibai college in Mumbai, and am contemplating on which course to take up.

Professional Experience
I started singing when I was four years old. My first recording was for the Hindi dubbed version of a Mani Rathnam film Anjali. Soon after that, I got loads of offers to sing for films as a child singer. I have a faint memory of those songs. Amongst the ones that I do remember are for Nishana, Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, Saaz, Dil Kya Kare and the recent Devgan Productions' Raju Chacha.

My defining moment as a singer came when I was selected by the Yash Chopra banner to sing for one of the leading ladies in their movie Mohabbatein. I was the playback for Shamita Shetty's character 'Ishika' in the movie. It was an exhilarating experience working under the Chopra Banner and I was barely 13. Working with Yashji and Adityaji [Chopra] was a great learning process. The entire unit of Mohabbatein, both the music and film units, was very helpful.

My first debut devotional album was with Pandit Jasraj called Mahalakshmi, that was launched by Times Music. After Mahalakshmi, I also sang for an album called Dashavatar under the same music banner. Recently, I recorded yet another devotional album for them. It should be out this year as well.

Besides, I have also sung for films like the Hrithik- Amisha starrer Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage, the Raveena Tandon starrer Soch, the teen flick Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai (YKHRH). With the talented music trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy being the music directors for YKHRH, the assignment gave me an opportunity to work with musicians totally a league apart.

Recently, I did the title track of Nayee Padosan, which topped the music charts. Currently, I have two projects in my kitty, Rudraksh and Kal Ho Na Ho. I have also sung for the Jimmy Shergill- Harshita Bhatt starrer Haasil.

There is lots more comming up, but I guess I'll just keep my fingers crossed.

Why music?
My family is into music for four generations now. I am the grand daughter of classical vocalist Pandit Pratap Narayan and Pandit Jasraj happens to be my grand uncle, so you can say that music is in my genes.

I have been trained in the Mewati gharana of classical vocal tradition plus the onus of obtaining training from my grandfather Pandit Pratap Narain and father Vishwaraj Pandit was something I could not afford to lose. Even my sister Shraddha Pandit is a playback singer.

Current music scenario
It's definitely a phase and audiences are very fickle. Actually for no particular reason, there are certain songs that climb the popularity charts. Sometimes, even good songs get stifled in the process. I think people are tired of the same old tunes and therefore lap up anything that is different. So for us musicians, we have to keep trying something new.

But even if the so called popular songs are shown 1000 times on television, people will get tired after the intial hype and reject them. Conversely, even if a song is great but is hammered several times on television, people get bored. Over exposure is definitely bad.

Right and wrong about current music scenario
The videos are getting vulgar. Well, at least some of them. I cannot watch them. They make me uncomfortable and eventually I change the channel. It is a bad influence on the kids. I can tell you for sure because I have seen my young cousins getting affected by some videos. Personally, I think they should be banned. As for the songs, they are remixes of great evergreen songs, so they can't be bad. But sadly, the original people associated do not even get the credit for the songs.

Five years from now
I should still be singing and entertaining audiences. My music should be better.

Hobbies
I love reading, watching films, catching up with good friends and listening to songs on the radio.

Idea of enjoyment
My idea of enjoyment is getting up in the morning, spending some time with myself. I love relaxing with my family, listening to great songs and learning something out of it. Catching a good 9-12 film with my family.

I am happy when I go for recording, play badminton with my sister in the evenings, and sing along with her.

Name: Oliver Sean

Designation: Singer

Sun Sign: Gemini

An introduction:
I am India's first truly international complete musician with Indian roots - a singer with a unique style, a songwriter, an arranger and producer all rolled into one - a complete musician. The greatest compliment I received was from veteran musician Remo Fernandes who said: "Oliver has cool songs, warm charm, sex appeal, killer looks - everything it takes to go very, very far". His music is a fusion of blues-n-rock with a smattering of the tabla and yet mainstream so that everyone can identify with it at different levels!

The early years:
Born in Goa to an Italian father & Portuguese-Goan mother, I began singing on stage at the early age of four. Influenced by my family of musicians, I picked up the guitar at the age of eight. I started writing my own songs by the time I was 11; and at age 13 I was tutoring other kids older than me on how to play the guitar, keyboards & drums. People were not surprised when I got a scholarship in school for the most outstanding student in music.

At 13, I joined the band 'Knights' and moved onto to the band 'India' at age 15. Finally, at age 17, I started my own band 'Cloud 9'. I relocated to Dubai at age 20, where I pursued an MBA while simultaneously doing live performances and eventually setting up a recording studio there. Then, I went on to release my first single There She Is Again under my own record label 'WOA International' which received a lot of critical acclaim and airplay.

Then I went to California and enrolled at the Recording Institute of Technology at Musicians Institute, so as to learn more about Sound Engineering & Production and later moved to London to explore avenues there. I was soon offered to perform at the Mick Jagger Centre, which led to more performances there.

Impressed with my original compositions and singing style, Waterfall Studios and SKY TV contacted me to record live and subsequently put three videos of my live performances across the SKY TV Network across Europe and America. I have been travelling between the UK and India ever since.

About my debut album:
My debut album I like it has had a soft-launch in the UK and India. It has songs I have written over the years. It has been completely recorded and produced by me primarily in my Dubai studio with the finishing touches given at my Goa Studio.

I have played different styles of music over the years. This is reflected in my songwriting in the album - from blues to country and rock - all this with a fusion of acoustic guitars and tablas - a clear reflection of the fusion of my cultures!

My lyrics talk about love, longing and life, but remain boyishly uncomplicated - with trademark references to Goa - sand, surf and bikinis. However, what enhances the album further is my unique singing style and some clean guitar-playing!

I dedicate this album to my uncle late Victor Alvares - who was a legendary 'bass' guitarist with Remo's band "The Microwave Pappadums'.

The songs on the album include Tonite (a blues rock song with a cool acoustic guitar twist), I Like It (a classic rock song with an unique blend of tablas with the acoustic guitar); Nicole - a unique fusion element on a predominantly country style song, amongst others.

I will be officially launching another album with the video I Like It in June '03 followed by a whirlwind promotional tour across India and abroad. A second video Nicole will be on-air after the promotional tour.

My live act:
The Oliver Sean band comprises a drummer, a key-boardist, a bassist, a tabla player (with a violinist joining-in at times as a guest musician). My live act is a high-energy act with a lot of visual impact reminiscent of International classic rock acts, blended with my charisma and killer looks.

Generally, I prefer playing original songs at my shows, because I strongly believe that "musicians should not get stuck into the rut of playing covers, but should make an effort to write their own stuff and play their originals when they perform live.

However, I do indulge in the rare performance of classic rock songs such as Satisfaction (Rolling Stones) and I Shot the Sheriff amongst others. But these too are improvised by us - giving the songs a flavour of his own ! Another aspect of my live performances is my 'unplugged' session where I enthrall the audiences all alone - just myself and my acoustic guitar !

I have performed extensively in the Middle East and the UK and of course around India as well. However, one of my favourite places to perform remains at the beach concerts in Goa 'cos I truly believe that the audience there really knows how to party.

What I feel about my industry:
It's a tough industry, but if you have the talent and belief - there is nothing to stop you". This belief and confidence is reflected in my ability of getting the crowds to sing along and enjoy with my originals due to their simple-yet-meaningful lyrics and catchy hook-lines, developed with years of experience performing live.

Where I see myself after five years:
I see myself being a part of this great industry. I would be seen producing albums for talented new, young artistes and lending a helping hand to promote them.

One thing's for sure - my music and performances is gonna get you saying - I LIKE IT!!