Tina Sugandh
Encyclopedia
Tina Sugandh is an India
n born writer
, singer, tabla
player, dancer, guitarist, and actress.
, but moved with her family to New Jersey
in the United States
at age five months. Her mother Geeta Sugandh sang on the radio and at various functions while her father Kanaiya, was a master of ceremonies
, singer, and comedian
.
Sugandh and her sister, Seema, traveled with their parents to all of their performances. At the age of five Tina sang on stage for the first time. She sang a ghazal
and she and her parents recognized that she loved performing and they encouraged her to continue.
Throughout Sugandh's school years, the Sugandh family performed all over the U.S. and the Caribbean
, and gained a following in the Indian community. At one concert, Tina begged her father to let her take over for one song and play the drum that he played, (called the dholak
). Her parents decided to introduce her to a more intricate drum, the tabla
, a two-barreled percussion that takes years to master and is predominantly played by men.
At 15, Sugandh was discovered by Sean Harris, a screenwriter and creative mentor. Harris eventually convinced Sugandh that she should pursue music as a career and, to that end, spent time working on a demo. Between her studies as a biology major at Rutgers University
(where she eventually graduated on the Dean's List), and weekend performances with the Sugandh family, Sugandh worked with Harris, who arranged photo shoots and studio time for her and encouraged her to write her own music.
After Sugandh completed her demo and promo package she sent out hundreds of demo packages in order to get both a management team and writing publishing house.
Her persistence paid off when a friend introduced her to Sean Sullivan, who had been working with Maxwell, John Mellencamp
and Jessica Simpson
and was starting a new management company. Sullivan was impressed and had her perform for Jay Jay French
(Twisted Sister
, Sevendust
), his partner in the new venture. French was equally impressed and the duo signed her to their new company, Rebellion Entertainment. They spent the next year developing her songs and creating new demos. These demos lead to a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music
and a Sony deal.
as a singer and to Warner/Chappell Music as a songwriter, Sugandh began hosting the program Asian Variety Show on Saturday mornings.
Her original album was intended to be released by Hollywood records. She worked with producers Lester Mendez
(Shakira
, Enrique Iglesias
and Jewel
), Track & Field (Nelly Furtado
) The Monkey Boyz, Ming & FS, Dr. Luke and Danny P. Sugandh wrote or co-wrote all twelve tracks on the Hollywood album. Her family made appearances throughout the album, however, the album was never released.
Sugandh has written and recorded over 60 songs. In 2008, Sugandh's remix of "Break Me" reached #4 on the Billboard Dance Chart. "Break Me" was also on the premiere episode of the new "Melrose Place" series.
In 2009, Sugandh collaborated with Ringo Starr
on his album "Why Not".
In 2010, Sugandh released a single under the Timbaland
umbrella entitled "So Good" which features Fat Joe
.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n born writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, singer, tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
player, dancer, guitarist, and actress.
Biography
Sugandh was born in MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, but moved with her family to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at age five months. Her mother Geeta Sugandh sang on the radio and at various functions while her father Kanaiya, was a master of ceremonies
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
, singer, and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
.
Sugandh and her sister, Seema, traveled with their parents to all of their performances. At the age of five Tina sang on stage for the first time. She sang a ghazal
Ghazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
and she and her parents recognized that she loved performing and they encouraged her to continue.
Throughout Sugandh's school years, the Sugandh family performed all over the U.S. and the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, and gained a following in the Indian community. At one concert, Tina begged her father to let her take over for one song and play the drum that he played, (called the dholak
Dholak
The Dholak is a North Indian, Pakistani and Nepalese double-headed hand-drum Madal. The name dholki may also refer to a slightly different instrument that uses high-pitch tabla style syahi masala on its treble skin. This instrument is also known as Naal or Dholki....
). Her parents decided to introduce her to a more intricate drum, the tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
, a two-barreled percussion that takes years to master and is predominantly played by men.
At 15, Sugandh was discovered by Sean Harris, a screenwriter and creative mentor. Harris eventually convinced Sugandh that she should pursue music as a career and, to that end, spent time working on a demo. Between her studies as a biology major at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
(where she eventually graduated on the Dean's List), and weekend performances with the Sugandh family, Sugandh worked with Harris, who arranged photo shoots and studio time for her and encouraged her to write her own music.
After Sugandh completed her demo and promo package she sent out hundreds of demo packages in order to get both a management team and writing publishing house.
Her persistence paid off when a friend introduced her to Sean Sullivan, who had been working with Maxwell, John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp, previously known by the stage names Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American rock singer-songwriter, musician, painter and occasional actor known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock that eschews synthesizers and other artificial sounds...
and Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Ann Simpson is an American recording artist, actress, television personality, and fashion designer whose rise to fame began in 1999. Since that time, Simpson has achieved many recording milestones, starred in several television shows, movies, and commercials, launched a line of hair and...
and was starting a new management company. Sullivan was impressed and had her perform for Jay Jay French
Jay Jay French
John French Segall , better known by his stage name Jay Jay French or J.J. French, is a founding member and one of the two guitarists of the American heavy metal band, Twisted Sister....
(Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from Long Island. Musically, the band implements elements of traditional heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, along with a style that is similar to early glam metal bands...
, Sevendust
Sevendust
Sevendust is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1994 by bassist Vince Hornsby, drummer Morgan Rose and guitarist John Connolly. After their first demo, lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon and guitarist Clint Lowery joined the group...
), his partner in the new venture. French was equally impressed and the duo signed her to their new company, Rebellion Entertainment. They spent the next year developing her songs and creating new demos. These demos lead to a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music
Warner/Chappell Music
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc. is an American music publishing company, and a division of the Warner Music Group. The company traces its origins back to 1811 and the founding of Chappell & Company, a music publishing company and instrument shop on London’s Bond Street that, in 1929, began a rapid...
and a Sony deal.
Professional career
After signing to Hollywood RecordsHollywood Records
Hollywood Records is an American record label owned by Disney Music Group, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.-History:Hollywood Records was founded in 1989 by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner with the idea of expanding the music operations of the company and to develop and promote...
as a singer and to Warner/Chappell Music as a songwriter, Sugandh began hosting the program Asian Variety Show on Saturday mornings.
Her original album was intended to be released by Hollywood records. She worked with producers Lester Mendez
Lester Mendez
Lester Mendez is an American record producer and songwriter. His production/writing credits include a multitude of successful hits including Shakira's "Underneath Your Clothes" and "La Tortura", Jessica Simpson's "A Public Affair", and Nelly Furtado's "Te Busqué".Mendez worked with Carlos Santana...
(Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
, Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias is a Spanish pop music singer, a son of singer Julio Iglesias.Enrique started his musical career on Mexican label Fonovisa...
and Jewel
Jewel (singer)
Jewel Kilcher , professionally known as Jewel, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actress and poet...
), Track & Field (Nelly Furtado
Nelly Furtado
Nelly Kim Furtado is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Furtado grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.Furtado first gained fame with her debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, and its single "I'm Like a Bird", which won a 2001 Juno Award for Single of the Year and a 2002 Grammy...
) The Monkey Boyz, Ming & FS, Dr. Luke and Danny P. Sugandh wrote or co-wrote all twelve tracks on the Hollywood album. Her family made appearances throughout the album, however, the album was never released.
Sugandh has written and recorded over 60 songs. In 2008, Sugandh's remix of "Break Me" reached #4 on the Billboard Dance Chart. "Break Me" was also on the premiere episode of the new "Melrose Place" series.
In 2009, Sugandh collaborated with Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
on his album "Why Not".
In 2010, Sugandh released a single under the Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
umbrella entitled "So Good" which features Fat Joe
Fat Joe
Joseph Antonio Cartagena , better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper, CEO of Terror Squad Entertainment, and member of musical groups D.I.T.C. and Terror Squad....
.
Discography
- River of Dreams - Around The World In 80 DaysAround the World in 80 Days (2004 film)Around the World in 80 Days is a 2004 American comedy adventure film based on Jules Verne's novel of the same name. It stars Jackie Chan, Steve Coogan and Cécile de France. The film is set in 19th-century Britain and centers on Phileas Fogg , here reimagined as an eccentric inventor, and his...
(2004) - There Is No Alternative (T.I.N.A.) - Ice PrincessIce PrincessIce Princess is a 2005 American figure-skating film directed by Tim Fywell, Starring Michelle Trachtenberg, Joan Cusack, Kim Cattrall, Hayden Panettiere, Trevor Blumas, and Kirsten Olson...
(2005) - White Christmas - Christmas With The KranksChristmas with the KranksChristmas with the Kranks is a 2004 American comedy film directed by Joe Roth and starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. The screenplay by Chris Columbus is based on the 2001 novel Skipping Christmas by John Grisham.-Plot:...
(2004) - Lift Off - Raise Your VoiceRaise Your VoiceRaise Your Voice is a 2004 American teen musical drama film directed by Sean McNamara-Plot:Terri Fletcher , a teenager with a passion for singing, has been accepted into a music program in Los Angeles to compete for a $10,000 scholarship shortly after her brother Paul 's tragic death in a car crash...
- I Be What I Be - Masala! Mehndi! Masti! Festival (2005)
- Theme song from Hope & FaithHope & FaithHope & Faith is an American sitcom that aired for three seasons on ABC from September 26, 2003, to May 2, 2006. For its first two seasons the show was part of a revived TGIF comedy block....
with Kelly Ripa (2005) - Break it Down - The CliqueThe CliqueThe Clique was a group of English artists formed by Richard Dadd in the late 1830s. Other members were Augustus Egg, Alfred Elmore, William Powell Frith, Henry Nelson O'Neil, John Phillip and Edward Matthew Ward....
(2008) - So Good Feat. Fat JoeFat JoeJoseph Antonio Cartagena , better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper, CEO of Terror Squad Entertainment, and member of musical groups D.I.T.C. and Terror Squad....
- (2010)
Debut Album
Her first album, "TablaGirl", came out on May 12, 2009 was released independently. The following tracks are available on the album:- Jao
- Bollywood Girl
- You Without Me
- Break Me
- HisStory
- Indestructible
- Patiently Wait
- T.here I.s N.o A.lternative
- Love Junkie
- Prisoner
- Stay
Additional Songwriting Credits
- So Good feat FAT JOE
- Bollywood Boy (With Fred Sargolini) (2007)
- Fantasy
- Girl Next Door
- Hooked
- I Spit Fire
- Inevitably
- Is It My Time
- Lift Off (also covered by Kristy Frank)
- Maybe
- Nasha
- Our Final Round
- Prisoner
- River Of Dreams
- Try a Little Me
- Unbelievable
- Yesterday
- You've Got Your Eyes On Me
External links
- http://www.tinasugandh.com - Tina Sugandh Homepage
- http://www.myspace.com/tinasugandh/ - Myspace
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2751905/ - IMDB
- Tabla Girl To Release Anticipated Debut Album, SAPNA Magazine, January 2009
- Trending the Tabla, Nirali Magazine, November 2004
- http://hollywoodrecords.go.com/tinasugandh/ - Hollywood Records
- http://www.blender.com/blender-blog/77187/watch-ringo-starr-gets-drum-lesson.html - Ringo Starr Gets a Drum Lesson (Exclusive)
- http://www.thetimbalandbuzz.com/
- http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/music/item_kD4cmVgGGvhWXKjLvUfIfN - New York Post : "Fab Jersey Girl is Subcontinental"
- http://www.drummagazine.com/handdrum/post/tina-sugandh/
- http://www.desihits.com/artists/view/tina+sugandh