The city-based songstress who was on India’s first-ever music reality show gets candid
Kenishaa Francis with RJ Shagufta
It was at the tender age of 23 that life handed Kenishaa Francis, a city-based singer, a terrible blow. Her mum, whom she was closest to, collapsed to her death while singing in the very church that introduced the young girl to music, a place that Francis says she can never go back to. “My mother was a social worker, whose life revolved around this church. It holds too many memories for me and I struggle to even pass by it on the road without feeling utterly sad,” she shares.
Now, two years later, the pretty, petite vocalist is all set to take the world by storm with her musical prowess. Having performed on The Stage, India’s only English language music reality show, she was prematurely eliminated but shares that it opened doors for her that she never dreamed of. “It was an experience of a lifetime. One day, someone called and told me there were some auditions happening. Since it was close to where I live, I went. Until the fourth round of auditions I had no clue what it was for. I’m soon going to be collaborating with well-known artistes and celebrities based in Mumbai, which I can’t talk much about until the final plans are in place. I’m also performing at a lot more shows and alongside many talented local musicians in Bengaluru,” reveals the talented singer, whose life up until now has been a series of struggles.
Even before the untimely passing of her mother, financial difficulties saw Francis supporting her family and paying for her own education ever since she turned 15. “Of course, it wasn’t forced on me, but I was mature and strong enough to do it and wanted to help out,” she tells us. From working as a receptionist to a call centre executive, Francis has taken on many odd jobs to get her degree. “I also performed small gigs in little coffee shops and buffet restaurants, where people would not even stop to listen to my music. I did that for about two-and-half years. And it’s really phenomenal to go from that to a situation where 20 million people are watching you on TV,” she tells us.
After successfully getting her degree, the skilled vocalist underwent a corporate training course and became a trainer, but music was something that she did not want to leave behind. “Right now, music takes up about 90 per cent of my life. I do a lot of corporate events, weddings, and work with other musicians. The rest of the time, I’m doing freelance training sessions,” she says.
Jazz is a genre that resonates with her sensibilities and that’s the way she chooses to express herself, though she’s open to other styles as well. Naming the legendary Ella Fitzgerald and Whitney Houston as her musical influences, Beyonce is also a star she idolises. “I love her voice and I sometimes, even try to carry myself off like her,” she laughs.
Currently working towards releasing her single, Francis thanks her mother, for pushing her towards music. “If it weren’t for my mother I wouldn’t be where I am today. She was a singer herself and she taught me most of what I know. She always told me that my voice will touch the lives of many people and that’s what I am hoping to do,” she concludes.
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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