Watching Prita perform on the stage from afar was an experience that filled my mind with wonder and astonishment. She was not merely a good singer but an exceptional performer as well. This small woman was energetic and filled the stage with her positive aura, yet she later spoke about the struggles of an upcoming artist. When I got a chance to talk to her, like a rude reporter, I remarked about her size and energy proportionality; she laughed aloud and said that people call her ‘Monster Prita’ who has a small body frame but an exceptionally loud, melodious and energetic voice.
Prita did her degree in psychology but after fulfilling her filial duty, she pursued her dreams in the music industry. The decision was hard and she was aware of the struggles that awaited her. She says that every artist struggles in the industry initially. She is blunt about the realistic aspect as well, “We are all struggling artists but nobody likes to talk about it like that. They wear fancy clothes so they can look very successful but the reality is that even people with record labels are struggling in this industry right now.”
Prita says that although I have to turn to my parents for financial problems sometimes but still they are proud of my achievements, especially when they see me performing with artists like Russell Peters and Jay Sean.
Born in Montreal, Prita has never had a chance to visit India, but she has faced the same problems as any other minority while growing up. She recalls her school saying, “When I was young there weren’t a lot of south Asians around, I thought that the world was actually Jewish. I felt like I didn’t fit in, I hated being South Asian. As I grew up I realized that those are thoughts I put in my head because I was insecure about being South Asian.”
She further says that this has completely changed now, “Now we have South Asians in the mainstream, so now I think the youth has those south Asian people to look up to. The schools are very diverse now. My brother who is 18 loves being an Indian. Now I think whatever they are facing, they are facing as ONE youth, no matter what their ethnicity is.”
Prita wants to be that artist who inspired people to pursue their dreams. Even though many youngsters these days are running after their musical dreams, Prita advises them to not lose their heart and be realistic about the struggles that await them.
This girl who says that she is spiritual in nature thinks about herself as an instrument of god when she is writing her songs, “they are based on different inspirations; that is your imagination shouting to be expressed.” Her likes to write about lost love, partying, romance and even feminism.
But her struggling career has also seen success at times. Over the past year, Prita has toured Canada performing for thousands as part of RBC desifest (Canada’s national South Asian music festival); was the featured music performer at Bollywood star Rahul Bose’s Oxfam Canada benefit; opened for Grammy nominated soul artist Eric Roberson; and was featured alongside world renowned comic Russell Peters at Tampa’s first India Film Festival.
Recently, Prita made history as the first South Asian Canadian musician to open for an artist #1 on the Billboard charts, when she opened for British R&B superstar Jay Sean at the Hershey Centre in December 2009 for over 2,000 fans.
Prita also received worldwide media attention when she became the first South Asian recording artist to sing the national anthems at an NBA game, this past April 4th for the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre in front of 15,000 fans. Prita was immediately invited by the NBA to sing for the Orlando Magic only a few days later on April 9th at the Amway Arena.
Author:Saniya Zahid
