The music gene

I am always in awe of anyone who can sing,by that I mean sing well! I come from a family of singers, my maternal grandmother was a well known singer in her hey days singing for All India Radio and even today at 87, can pop out a "right on key" tune in her soft sweet voice! My mother then got her fair share of lessons and I remember her singing at various functions when we were little. Then bringing up 2 kids and looking after a household got in the way and she had no time to stay in touch. And then there was me....I wouldn't go as far as to say there is not a single musical bone on my body, I can sing OK, but nothing like my mom or grandmom. I never got any musical training, academics sort of took over. My son inherited a bit of this musical gene and used to sing in an a Capella group in college. 
But in recent years, the family member making waves-literally-with her fabulous voice is my husband's cousin Meera, who lives in San Jose and sings for a musical group called "Thillana". Meera is not just an accomplished singer, she is a marathoner (you can read about her marathon experience here)...another thing I envy (I can walk a 1000 miles and do endless sun salutations, but running...not my thing), and is also very creative and design oriented. You can also join her Facebook music page here. 
This is what she says about herself "I am a Tamilian originally from Palakkad, Kerala, living in the Bay area, CA for the last 10 years.I have been singing for as long as I can remember. Am trained in South Indian classical music, and totally adore instruments but then can’t play one thing!! I am part of a Bay Area light music band called Thillana for the last 10 years. I have dabbled in music here and there singing for a movie, Blogswara, a couple of stage plays locally and of course my audio blog. Music has been a passion and a staple in my life for a long long time now, and still is....."
But enough gabbing...let me share with you a few of her renderings, both in Hindi as well as Tamil!

Mar Jaawaan ( Cover version ) | Musicians Available


Kuch tho log kahenge ( female cover version ) with Jay Swami | Musicians Available


Raina Beethi Jaaye ( Cover version-reuploaded ) | Upload Music


Gems of Ilayaraaja- Kaatril varum geethamae (cover version) | Upload Music


Gems of Ilayaraja- Nee Paadhi Naan Paadhi (Cover version) | Musicians Available
Isn't her voice lovely? She is now my one claim to singing stardom fame.