Vidya Vox

Last updated

Vidya Vox
Vidya Vox 2016 (cropped).png
Personal information
Born
Vidya Iyer

(1990-09-26) September 26, 1990 (age 34)
NationalityAmerican [1]
Occupations
  • Musician
  • actress
  • YouTuber
  • vlogger
  • dancer
Website www.vidyavox.com
YouTube information
Also known asVidya Vox
Channel
Years active2015 – present
Genres
Subscribers7.63 million [3]
Total views1.2 billion [3]
Network Studio71
Associated acts Shankar Tucker, Arjun
YouTube Silver Play Button 2.svg100,000 subscribers2015
YouTube Gold Play Button 2.svg1,000,000 subscribers2016

Last updated: September 11, 2024

Vidya Iyer (born September 26, 1990), better known by her stage name Vidya Vox, is an American YouTuber and singer. [2] She was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India and immigrated with her family to the United States at the age of eight. According to NBC News, her music is a mix of "Western pop, electronic dance music, Bollywood hits, and Indian classical music." [2] Since beginning her channel in April 2015, her videos have received over 906 million views, and her channel has accumulated over 7 million subscribers. [2] [4]

Contents

Personal life

Iyer was born in a Tamil family in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India and was raised in Virginia in the United States. [5] Her family is from Palakkad, Kerala, and her mother and grandmother grew up in Kerala. [6] She speaks Tamil at home. She learned Carnatic music from the age of 5 and enjoyed listening to English music. She stated to having an identity crisis, being bullied for being Indian, and hiding her culture while growing up, but has stated she "now feels proud" of her culture. [5]

She was inspired by her grandmother to pursue Indian classical music. She became confident of her Indian roots in college, joined the Indian Student Association, and joined Indian folk dance teams. She studied psychology and biomedical sciences at George Washington University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences. She moved to India for two years to learn music. [2]

She collaborated on music with her sister, Vandana Iyer, and her boyfriend, Shankar Tucker, whom she met in college. [2] She participates in bhangra and hip hop dance. [2]

Career

Vidya Iyer regularly sings in a band organized by Tucker, along with percussionist Jomy George. [7] [8] She has performed in various locations around the world, including the White House, National Centre for the Performing Arts (India), and Webster Hall. She has performed at Festivals Des Artes on Réunion; for INK Women; in Suriname; in Dubai; and at the Meru Concert Series in the Netherlands. [9]

Her most popular mashup was "Closer / Kabira", a mash up of "Closer" by Chainsmokers and "Kabira" from the Bollywood film Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani which clocked in over 55 million views in 7 months. One of her mashups is "Lean On" and "Jind Mahi", for which she had a collaboration with several other musicians, including Ricky Jatt, Raashi Kulkarni, and Roginder "Violinder" Momi. [10] She released "Kuttanadan Punjayile", a Kerala boat song, as a fusion along with an English song written by Tucker and herself, which was shot in Kerala with Mohiniyattam performed by Sreenidhi and Sreedevi. In 2016, she released her EP, Kuthu Fire, which was produced by Shankar Tucker, and co-written by Shankar Tucker and herself. [11] [12] [13]

Discography

Original Score

YearAlbumSongCredited asCo-singer(s)Notes
ComposerLyricistProducer
2017Kuthu Fire"Kuthu Fire"Red x.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgCo-written, composed and produced by Shankar Tucker
"Diamonds"Green check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgArjun
Co-written by Arjun Coomarsamy
"Be Free" (Pallivaalu Bhadravattakam)Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgVandana IyerVideography and Editing by Shankar Tucker
"Home"Red x.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgCo-written, composed, directed and produced by Shankar Tucker
"Show Me Your Light"Green check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svg
"Tamil Born Killa"Red x.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svg
Additionally written by Akshaya Tucker
2018MinnaleGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgPartnered with Global Desi
Kaadhal ThozhiRed x.svgRed x.svgRed x.svgTamil lyrics by Madhan Karky
Co-written, composed, directed and produced by Shankar Tucker
Fly AwayRed x.svgRed x.svgRed x.svgMaatiBaani
Gujarati lyrics by MaatiBaani
2019Mad Dreams"Appadi Poodu Di"Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgProduced by Shrutibox Music
"Mad Dreams"Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgCo-written by Shankar Tucker, Casey Breves and Sam Tsui
"Butterfly"Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
"Lose the Night"Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgProduced by Shrutibox Music
"Look at the Lights"Green check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgCo-written by Shankar Tucker, Mindy Jones
Make a MoveGreen check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgCo-written and Produced by Shankar Tucker
Additionally written by Casey Breves and Sam Tsui
2020Faded LoveGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgCo-written and performed by Devenderpal Singh
ThalaiviGreen check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgCo-written and Produced by Shankar Tucker
Lost in the SummerGreen check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svg
2021NachleGreen check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgTrichia Grace-Ann Rebello & Shrey JadavProduced by Adil S Aziz
Melt In My TouchGreen check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgCo-written and Produced by Shankar Tucker
2022VanakkamGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg
Moonlight (Pera Sollu)Green check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svg Shankar Tucker Co-written and Produced by Shankar Tucker
Dream Catcher | Tu Paas AanaGreen check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgShashwat Singh
Additionally written by Shashwat Singh
2023Shubha Mangalyam | Made in the StarsGreen check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgAdditionally written by Seetha Jayakumar (Malayalam), Neeraj Pandey (Hindi)
Co-written and Produced by Shankar Tucker
2024Sundari"Stardust"Green check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgProduced by Shankar Tucker
Tamil lyrics by Madhan Karky
"Sundari"Green check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svg
Co-written and produced by Shankar Tucker
"Ini Ninte Lokam (Go Off)"Green check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgCo-written by Ambrose Tucker and Seetha Jayaraman
Produced by Shankar Tucker
"Dangerous"Green check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgNikhita Gandhi
"Champagne Roses"Green check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svg
Co-written by Ambrose Tucker
"Yazhiha"Green check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgCo-written by Rohith Jayaraman, Ambrose Tucker and Madhan Karky
Produced by Shankar Tucker

As singer

YearSongComposerCo-singer(s)Notes
2024Kaakarattan G. V. Prakash Kumar Rajalakshmi Senthilganesan [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vidya Balan</span> Indian film actress (born 1979)

Vidya Balan is an Indian actress. Known for pioneering a change in the portrayal of women in Hindi cinema with her roles in female-led films, she is the recipient of several awards, including a National Film Award and seven Filmfare Awards. She was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vasundhara Das</span> Indian actress and playback singer

Vasundhara Das is an Indian playback singer and former actress. Vasundhara's acting career includes Hey Ram (Tamil/Hindi), Monsoon Wedding (English), Citizen (Tamil), Ravana Prabhu (Malayalam), Lankesh Patrike (Kannada) and several others. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Tamil for the song, "Shakalaka Baby" from the film Mudhalvan

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shankar Mahadevan</span> Indian singer (born 1967)

Shankar Mahadevan is an Indian singer and composer who is part of the Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy trio that writes music for Indian films. In 2023, he was awarded a honorary doctorate by Birmingham City University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Priyamani</span> Indian actress (born 1984)

Priya Mani Raj, known professionally as Priyamani, is an Indian actress who predominantly works in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, and Kannada films. She is the recipient of several awards, including a National Film Award and three Filmfare Awards South.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raai Laxmi</span> Indian actress, model

Lakshmi Rai, professionally credited as Raai Laxmi, is an Indian actress and model who predominantly works in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahalakshmi Iyer</span> Indian singer

Mahalakshmi Iyer is an Indian playback singer, best known for her Hindi, Assamese and Tamil songs. She has sung in many other Indian languages as well, including Telugu, Marathi, Bengali, Odia, Gujarati and Kannada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neeti Mohan</span> Indian singer

Neeti Mohan Sharma is an Indian singer. She sings mainly in Hindi films, but has also sung in Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, Punjabi and English. Born in Delhi, she was one of the winners of the Channel V's reality show Popstars, subsequently being chosen for Aasma, with other winners of the show. She rose to prominence after recording "Ishq Wala Love" for Student of the Year (2012), ultimately winning the Filmfare R. D. Burman Award for New Music Talent and was nominated for the Best Female Playback Singer for "Jiya Re" from Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shweta Subram</span> Canadian singer

Kantimathi Subramanian Iyer, known professionally as Shweta Subram, is a Canadian playback singer, known for singing in the song "Jalebi Baby" (2020). She primarily sings in Hindi, as well as Punjabi, Sindhi, Tamil, English and other languages. Shweta is the recipient of multiple awards including the North American Best Singer award from Sangam Kala Group, and Best Singer Award from Shankar Mahadevan Academy's talent hunt, judged by Shankar Mahadevan himself. Shweta was an active participant in the International Indian Film Academy Awards (2011), performing with Bollywood music composer/director duo Salim–Sulaiman for IIFA Rocks in Toronto.

Caralisa Monteiro is an Indian singer known for advertising jingles and Bollywood songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natalie Di Luccio</span> Musical artist

Natalie Di Luccio is an Italian-Canadian classical-crossover singer from Toronto, Ontario. She is often referred to as "Bollywood's Soprano" because of her unique renditions of Indian classics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shankar Tucker</span> American clarinetist and music composer (born 1987)

Shankar Tucker is an American clarinetist and music composer. He rose to fame with the popularity of his YouTube music channel "The ShrutiBox".

<i>2 States</i> (2014 film) 2014 Indian film written and directed by Abhishek Varman

2 States is a 2014 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy-drama film directed by Abhishek Varman and produced by Karan Johar and Sajid Nadiadwala. Based on Chetan Bhagat's 2009 novel of the same name with the story rewritten by Varman and Bhagat, the film stars Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt with Amrita Singh, Ronit Roy, Revathi and Shiv Kumar Subramaniam in supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shilpa Natarajan</span> Musical artist

Shilpa Natarajan is an independent acoustic singer-songwriter and a playback singer and was a music presenter on Chennai Live 104.8FM, based in Chennai, India. In 2015 she performed with the Beef Sappad Trio. She is an ATCL diploma graduate in Western Classical Music (Performance).

<i>Hamari Adhuri Kahani</i> 2015 film directed by Mohit Suri

Hamari Adhuri Kahani is a 2015 Indian Hindi-language musical romantic drama film directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Mahesh Bhatt under the banners of Vishesh Films and Fox Star Studios. The film stars Emraan Hashmi, Vidya Balan and Rajkummar Rao in lead roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonita Gandhi</span> Canadian singer

Jonita Gandhi is a Canadian singer known for her work in the Indian film and music industries. She has recorded songs predominantly in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu ,languages with few in Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali. Some of her most acclaimed songs include "The Breakup Song", "Mental Manadhil". She is also well known for her YouTube presence. Her singing debut started through Chennai Express in 2013.

Gayathiri Venkatagiri is an Indian actress and model from Tamilnadu, and was bought up in Kochi, Kerala, who has acted predominantly in Hindi, Kannada, Telugu and Bengali films.

<i>Begum Jaan</i> 2017 Indian film by Srijit Mukherji

Begum Jaan is a 2017 Indian Hindi period drama film. It is directed and co-written by National Film Award-winning director Srijit Mukherji in his Hindi directional debut and produced by Mukesh Bhatt, Vishesh Bhatt and Play Entertainment. The film is co-produced by Sakshi Bhatt and Shree Venkatesh Films with executive producer Kumkum Saigal. The cinematography is done by Gopi Bhagat. Lyrics, additional screenplay and dialogues have been penned by Kausar Munir and Rahat Indori.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanah Moidutty</span> Indian singer songwriter (born 1991)

Sanah Moidutty is an Indian singer songwriter. She has been trained in Carnatic and Hindustani classical music as well as western vocals, and performs Indian classical and pop music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chitra Iyer</span> Indian Musician

Chitra Iyer is an Indian playback singer who has worked in Indian and Italian films across five different industries primarily in Malayalam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kavya Ajit</span> Indian playback singer

Kavya Ajit is an Indian singer, violinist and a live performer born in Kozhikode, Kerala. Apart from Malayalam, she has recorded songs in many Indian languages including Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. Having trained in Carnatic Classical Music and Western classical style of Violin, she has performed in concerts and stage shows across the world.

References

  1. 1 2 "About". Vidya Vox. December 9, 2015. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Luhar, Monica (November 17, 2017). "As a kid, Vidya Vox hid her Indian roots. Now, her music merges India and the U.S." NBC News. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "About VidyaVox". YouTube.
  4. "Be Free (Pallivaalu Bhadravattakam) ft. Vandana Iyer". YouTube . January 9, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Vidya Vox proud to be Indian in America". IANS . November 22, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  6. Jaames, Merin Maria (January 17, 2016). "Stylish makeover for Malayalam folk song". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  7. Sreenivasan, Deepthi (July 14, 2016). "Black or brown, Jomy George is a maestro". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  8. Khan, Farah (April 28, 2016). "Vidya Vox Returns to Her Roots With Latest 'Jodhaa Akbar'-Adele Mashup". India.com. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  9. "The mashup star". The Hindu. August 21, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  10. "Singer Vidya Vox on Blending two Musical Worlds: East and West". India.com. January 8, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  11. "The Famous Kerala Boat Song 'Kuttanadan Punjayile' Just Got A New Twist And It Sounds Awesome". The Huffington Post. January 13, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  12. "Vidya and Shankar Tucker gives Kerala's favourite boat song 'Kuttanadan Punjayile' a classic twist". India Today. January 14, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  13. "Stylish makeover for Malayalam folk song". Deccan Chronicle. January 17, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  14. Vijaykumar, Vaishali (March 26, 2024). "Rooted in culture,global in appeal". Indian Express . Retrieved September 10, 2024.

Further reading