BIO
“I have these crazy and absurd dreams of selling out venues, making music with highly respected producers and instrumentalists, traveling around the world and learning more cultural music, making songs that genuinely touch people, and working on my craft constantly to enhance my musicianship.”
Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Priya Vani Bakshi started her musical career at an early age. From the Indian melodies that surrounded her childhood home to the Progressive Rock that blared from her Dad, music has always played a special role in her everyday life.
Growing up in a musical family, artists such as Queen, Rush, Taylor Swift, Tyler The Creator, and The Beatles, have greatly inspired this 14-year-old artist. Priya began taking lessons at the age of 4, hoping to one day be as good as the artists she aspires to be. Her parents then put her in activities ranging from singing, piano, songwriting, and theater. Lessons from influential, Bob Westbrook, taught Priya how to perform and shine on stage.
Priya Vani continues to write and create music that speaks with vulnerability, earned by countless hours on the piano. Taught by Memphis’ own, Ms. Diana Stein Kabakoff, Priya learned a simple D Minor 7th Jazz chord sparked an entirely new interest in realizing her versatility and exploring genres such as Blues and Jazz. Many choir performances, competitions, live showcases, and nerve-wracking auditions revealed to Priya that hard work and consistent dedication are definitely worth it, especially when one enjoys doing it.
Priya composes songs that could connect with others when they listen, especially those who can relate to the highs and lows of the teenage years. Most of her songs were written in class or at 2 AM when she couldn’t sleep. This shows the reality of balancing being a teenager and an artist. Priya’s first debut single, Stronger Now was written from a place of vulnerability and reflection of the hard work and sacrifice it took for her dreams to become a reality. Priya shares this song with the world in hopes for others to believe that no dream is too big or out of reach.