Falu – born Falguni – Shah is a New York based singer and songwriter whose music is featured in Beyond Bollywood. Trained in Bombay, Falu moved to the US in 2000 and worked as a visiting lecturer of Indian classical music. Since then, she has gone on to collaborate with Yo-Yo Ma, Wyclef Jean, Phillip Glass, Ricky Martin, and many others, as well as perform at sold out concerts, The White House, and the Time-100 Gala. Falu is well-known for her beautiful compositions combining both ancient Indian and contemporary Western sounds.
Interview by Rasna Kaur
You began your training in Bombay at an early age. Did you always know you wanted to pursue music?
I started learning music formally at the age of 3. An intense thirst to absorb music began then that has only grown with time – I’ve become more and more curious the more I’ve learned. At 6 years of age, I decided to pursue music for life because that was the only thing that made me truly happy in my little world.
What prompted you to move the US in 2000? How do Indian audiences differ from American audiences?
I met a guy named Gaurav Shah (who is also featured here in this song as a songwriter), and he “persuaded” me to come to the US. I also wanted to study Western Music so it made sense. To me an audience is the same whether Indian or American. I believe in something my teacher Ustad Sultan Khan always said: “Music is what happens when a soul sings and a soul listens.”
Many of your compositions seamlessly blend classical Indian music with more contemporary “western” music. Why mix the two?
When I came here and learned Western music, I naturally started writing in a way that was inspired by both worlds. What emerged is a style that draws from both cultures freely, but that I hope has retained a sense of authenticity.
It appears as though you immediately achieved international acclaim for your talent, collaborations, and performances. Was there ever a time when you doubted you could be successful?
Well, there was a lot of struggle in developing and launching a band, album and brand – and offering people a compelling reason to try something new. I’ve been on this journey for a decade (and I feel I’m still at the beginning) – but I’ve genuinely never really thought of achieving success. I always just wanted to be creative and live the passion I was feeling. When you love something so much, even little successes seem grand.
You’ve composed and sang through a variety of outlets including concerts, movie soundtracks, and radio. What is your process for beginning say, an album or a movie soundtrack?
First I try to enter a zone of meditation and calmness where I can feel and think freely about how best to apply the bit I’ve learned to the task at hand. Sometimes it takes a few hours to get into that zone – and being alone with nature helps a lot. I also try to remember and connect with certain inspiring figures in my life such as my teachers, my mother and my favorite deity Ganesh.
If you could collaborate with any living singer or performer, who would it be? Why?
U2, Madonna, Emmylou Harris, Aretha Franklin. I believe in their music and their message.
Many Indian-Americans are guided towards careers in science, math, technology etc.What advice would you give to those aspiring musicians out there?
If you really believe in your talent and music – NEVER GIVE UP.
You recently visited the Beyond Bollywood exhibit with your family. What did you think of the exhibit? Did anything in the exhibit surprise you?
I was thoroughly impressed with the exhibit. I loved how much effort was put in detailed explanations of Indian American life, in every picture or object presented – and how the diaspora has influenced so many fields from farming to politics/law to science/engineering to arts/entertainment. One exhibit asked me what I would have done if I were in India? I don’t know the answer….I’m here now fully embracing the Indian American experience…
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