SOLI KAPADIA

Soli Kapadia is a singer from India and an international celebrity with a warm, sonorous voice that continues to touch the souls and win the hearts of his fans worldwide. A versatile singer of Bollywood songs, Hindi & Urdu Ghazals, Devotional music, Traditional Folk songs, Semi-classical and Light Vocal Music. Besides India, Soli has wide spread popularity in the USA, UK, Europe, Egypt and Middle East with around 4000 concerts worldwide.

The Journey

Soli would board a 4am train from his hometown Surat to travel to Bollywood every weekend for his classical vocal training for 6 long years.The world of music beckoned and Soli left his quiet hometown Surat in 1989 to enter the hustle bustle of Bollywood in Mumbai. He trained vigorously under veteran gurus Pt.Phiroze Dastur & Pt. Ajay Pohankar of the Kirana Gharana from for 27years. It is his inflexible willpower and his ferocious appetite for hard work that has made him what he is today an achiever. Soli signed his first contract with HMV (His Masters Voice) for his album Prem Etle Ke in 1991 followed by several albums every other year namely:
Prem Etley Ke (HMV) 1992 Aapna Sambandh (Saregama Ltd.)1994
Ek Kagal Harivarne (Saregama Ltd.) 1994 Mara Hridayni Vaat (Tips) 1995
Taari Ankhno Afini (Venus) 1996 Najarna Jaam Chhalkavine (Venus Cass.) 1996Nayan ne Bandh Rakhine (Venus Cass.) 1999 Naine Nain Maley (Venus Cass.)1999Tamey mann Mukine Varsya (Venus Cass.) 2005 Prem Rang (Saregama Ltd.) 2006
Taal Purave Dil ni Dhadkan (Musica) 2006 Ganesh Utsav (Times Music) 2006 Be-inteha (Soulful Creations) 2012 Amthu Amthu [Soulful Creations] 2013

Besides the above, Soli lent his soulful voice to more than 300 CDs for Romantic, Folk, Sentimental, Traditional, Ghazals, Devotional, Unplugged bollywood blues.

His popularity chart soared so high in a short time span that for a few big players in the field, Soli was unstoppable with his rock solid faith in himself. He paved his own road and successfully carved his own niche. Though he got his first break in cinema for film Moksha, Soli was more interested in creating his own music and bring creativity in his singing. He can transform a mere song into a phenomenon of the joy of listening with the culmination, intricacies of the ragas, adding the classical touch at one end and caressing the delicate notes at the other, effortlessly vocalising the notes and delivering the song!

The Performer

This dulcet-voiced singer performs with a mellow maturity that belies his youth. He started giving live concerts at an early age of 14 years catering to an arena of crowds ranging from gallery to chaste music lovers initially at city, state level and eventually worldwide. It did not take long for the news to reach the music hub Mumbai and in June 1989, Soli gets an invitation to perform at the prestigious COPWUD ARTS MUSIC CONFERENCE in Bollywood as a singer and a composer. Solis performance stunned the listeners and he received standing ovations, Mumbai became a fan of Soli and he rose to fame singing the big band numbers. It was a turning point in Solis life. Organizations of the world invited Soli as a special artist to perform at prestigious venues of the world. World Gujarati Conference 2012 at New Jersey to mesmerize a crowd of 30000 fans at the prestigious Raritan Center in 2012. Soli has been invited often to give solis solos for his ardent listeners at the well-known Gujarati Literary Academy, (New Jersey), Chicago Music Circle (Chicago), Indian Cultural Centre (Phoenix), Indian Association of Tucson (Arizona), Shruti Arts Foundation (U.K.), Symphony Centre of Birmingham (U.K.)Gujarati Samaj of London, Indo Egyptian Association Community Center (Egypt) where he has performed for sell out crowds. His experience of giving 4000 concerts enthralls crowds of different genre and walks of life. Solis live performances are breath taking, thrilling, soulful and joy giving.

To name a few major performances by Soli: Gujarati Literary Academy (New Jersey, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013) World Gujarati Conference New Jersey, 2012, Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai, U.K. (2005,2009, 2014), Surat Chamber of Commerce (2003) & Chamber of Commerce, Ahmedabad (2004) Orthopedic Association of India (2014), Sham-e-Ghazal, SDCU (San Diego)
Ekal Vidyalaya Charity Shows in Jacksonville, Fl, Tampa Fl, San Diego Ca
Indian Association of Dallas Fortworth, TX, Shah Foundation Charity shows (Los Angeles)American Diabetes Association, Rochester NY - Charity Show Gujarat Tourism Navratri Festival, Surat Indoor Stadium, (2005)
Vadodara Navratri Festival (Vadodara ) 2015 Art & Culture Foundation (Vadodara)

The Passionate Composer

Soli is truly alive when he is in the creative zone. Few composers show the willingness to rise above stereotyped confines and display the innovative spirit which links traditional and contemporary art. Soli is endowed with a rare creative genius that recognises the pathos of the lyrics and translates it into a perfect musical expression, his forte being off beat melodies and tunes based on classical ragas. He lays emphasis on proper application of voice patterns and correct pronunciation with equal scope for innovation - a must for any good composer.

The Mentor

Soli has been mentoring upcoming artists since 1986. He wants to give back as much as possible to the society by way of training, mentoring the young singers and making the new generation ready for tomorrow. Soli has mentored and motovated 600 or more singers and composers today. In July 2014, he conducted a 5Day Music Workshop in Rajkot, Gujarat (India) where he coached 286 formally trained singers who participated for the basics of music, stage performance skills for singing, how to practice singing, and other vital aspects for presentation and performing arts. His workshop was a landmark in the history of India for such a huge turnout of artists. 45 very promising artists were chosen after audition and in Dec. 2014 he conducted another 5Day Advanced Level Music Workshop at Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Performing arts center of South Gujarat University also seeks Solis guidance for their artist students. Soli also has a strong inclination to pass on the legacy of intricate, refined and mature singing to the next generation.

The Musicologist

Being trained under stalwarts of classical music and a self-learner himself, Soli has a very deep understanding of musical notes, phrasing and the craft of singing different genres of music. His study of music is intensely deep and research oriented. Soli has a unique skill of explaining a musical thought or a concept in a thorough scientific way to his students. The student in him always wants to learn & study!

The Columnist…
Since 1985 he has been writing interesting articles on world music. His columns namely, SWARLOK, SOOR DARPAN, SYMPHONY have a huge online fan following across the globe published in leading newspapers of India.

The Music Therapist, Psychologist & Counselor

Soli always wondered if he can use his music to heal mankind and he ventured into becoming a Certified Music Therapist from MET Institute of Alternate Careers, India. Today, Soli continues to perform as a singer-composer. Soli has received a Diploma in Psychology, Mental Health Studies, from Alison University of Ireland in 2016. Being an active member of World Federation of Music Therapy, USA, he has represented India at the World
Conference of Music Therapy in Tsukuba, Japan and Barcelona in 2016 and 2018 respectively.

His Dream

To Soli, music is not just an expression; it is a way of life… It is this total devotion to music that has become the bedrock for Solis existence. Soli believes that good music is what comes from within to touch the audience. That is the fountainhead from which springs forth the rich, unbridled talent of this young artist. Solis dream is to carry forward the legacy of music and its appreciation in the life of a common man. He dreams of the day when music will transcend all language barriers and become the voice of the world. His passion is to use the power of music to heal and bring peace to mankind.

Achievements

Best Playback Singer 2000 for the famous movie MOKSHA. Award by Gujarat Government
Judge on several India Television Panel, Trans media awards, Gujarat Govt. Film awards
Conducts International and National workshops on Music / Talent Hunt
Approved as a singer & composer on All India Radio & National Television (Doordarshan)
AwardsBest Singer of the City 1985 & The Golden Voice of Gujarat 1986
Best singer State Youth Festivals 1987-88
Best Playback Singer 1998 Gujarat Govt. Award 2001 for film Moksha.
Soli is on Celebrity Judge Panel for the famous Transmedia Awards and Gujarat Film Music Awards for Playback singing, music direction & background scores.
Soli is highly respected as a columnist and music critic in leading newspapers of India. His columns on World Music are published every week and enjoyed by his fans and readers.
Invited for the prestigious World Gujarati Conference (2008 and 2012) held in the United States of America.
Best Navratri Performer for Indias Largest Dance Festival organized by Honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modis Vibrant Gujarat Navratri Festival 2007 thru 2014. This is a
mega-event where 250,000 fans and music lovers dance to his tunes every night for 9 consecutive nights!
Performs at Worlds largest Vadodara Navratri Festival to perform for nine consecutive nights in 2015 where 200000 fans dance to his tunes every night for nine consecutive nights.
BBC London Radio was found raving about Solis voice and singing in one of the dailies in the U.K.
Bollywood Super Star Jackie Shroff expressed I am in love with Solis voice. God bless him! while inaugurating Solis album Mara Hriday ni Vaat. Mr. Kalyanji Anandji, Famous Music Director of Bollywood, showered his blessings upon Soli while launching his first album release Prem Etley Ke (Love means) in 1992 amongst the audience packed with the whos who of the music world of Bollywood. Kalyanji had expressed that Soli is the star singer for tomorrow. I hope and pray for a great future for his musical career.
Soli Kapadias wide spread popularity has made Soli a phenomenon. He is looked upon with great awe and respect as a Triumphant artist.

Soli Kapadia 262/601 Sun View Heights, Sher-e-Punjab Society, Mahakali Caves Road, Andheri(E), Mumbai 400 093. India.
Tel. +91-98211 31793 Email: [email protected] Webpage: www.solikapadia.blogspot.com Facebook: soliikapadiia