Whether it’s Western genres, like jazz and rock, melodious Bollywood tunes or classical forms like qawwali, Delhi’s music scene has developed from a wide range of inspirations. Here is a prime example of one artist making waves across the underground music scene.

“My name is Piyali Ganguly. I was born in Delhi, India and grew up in the culturally rich city of Kolkata in the State of West Bengal, India, Currently I am a proud citizen of the United States of America, living in North Carolina. I am an independent and unsigned singer-songwriter, a wife and a mother. From 2003 until 2013 I had my own private wholistic (I like to spell it with a “w”) practice, where I offered, reiki healing, therapeutic massage & reflexology as a nationally certified massage therapist.
I received Hindustani vocal training from my mother, Krishna Chakraborty, who is an exponent of North Indian vocal classical music. Two of my favorite quotes comes from Billy Holiday which I deeply
resonate with and couldn’t agree with more:

“If I’m going to sing like someone else, then I don’t need to sing at all.”
And again “You can’t copy anybody and end with anything. If you copy, it means you’re
working without any real feeling. No two people on earth are alike, and it’s got to
be that way in music or it isn’t music.” ― Billie Holiday

My style of singing is unique to me and it is always my hope that when someone listens to my songs they will remember it, and it would mean something to the listener and give him/her something to think about with regard to love and life. I am rarely able to identify under what genre my music falls, since I have been influenced by so many different types of musical genres. Hence I simply label myself as an Indie artist and let the listener be the judge of the genre of my songs.

Last year, on the 16th of December of 2017, I independently released two
original singles, written and sung by me with music produced by the
wonderful and brilliant music producer, Frank Starchack of “Frank
Starchack Music Production” located in Deltona, Florida, via DistroKids,
which are now available in Spotify, iTunes, Apple, Amazon, Groove Music,
Google Play, etc.

The two beautiful songs are:

1. I Live In Love
2. Daughter of the Earth

Just before Christmas of 2015, I released my second album, in collaboration with the amazing Indie musician/composer/producer from the Gold Coast, Australia, Daryl Holden (a.k.a. Daryl Abyss), “Support”, which is available here: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/piyaliganguly1
I enjoyed writing all the lyrics, finding the beautiful melody lines and singing all the songs to his exquisite music compositions. The album “Support”, is a collection of songs conveying the joys and challenges of the times we are living in today, presenting a unique blend of music of
different genres. Since the year 2010, I began to collaborate with a few online independent
musicians, singer/song writers, composers. These collaborations resulted in some very beautiful songs. 1998 heralds the release of my first self composed debut album, “Unborn Star”, which describes my journey from my native India through Japan to the USA. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered at Studio Crash, Philadelphia, by the talented veteran jazz keybordist, the late Dave Falciani, who was the executive producer of this album, “Unborn Star”. It was judged as a finalist in the “Best Vocal Album of 1999” category by the magazine for independent artists, New Age Voice, and was at #2 for two consecutive months in the year 1999 in the NAV charts. I also write poetry and my work has been chosen and published (audio and printed), by the National Library Of Poetry, MD, USA. Between the years 1991 to 1997, that I spent in Japan, I was interviewed by Fuji Television, Tokyo and Saison TV, Tsukuba, Japan. Many interview based articles and reviews accolading my singing prowess and performance, appeared in various Japanese magazines and newspapers. I performed at Ibaraki Intl. Assn. ‘Friendship’ concerts in Tsukuba, Hitachi, Yokohama & Mito, Japan, at the charity concert held at the Gakuin University Hall, Tokyo, Japan as well as at Kuryian Hall and Ako Studio,

Tokyo, Jpn. In 1994 & 1995, I was awarded the Judges Special Prize at the
Foreigners Singing Contest (had to sing in Japanese), hosted by TV Tokyo,
Japan, which was televised nationally. I also held a music workshop, for
members of the Intl. Children’s Bunko Assn., Tokyo, Japan. In the years 1989 and 1990, two albums were released: # 1. “Quasme” by Sonex Pvt. Ltd., Calcutta, India # 2. “FastForward” by CBS Gramaphone
Records and Tapes (India) Ltd. They fared well locally but did not make any waves. I enjoyed the process as this was my first exposure to singing in a studio and I learned much from this experience.
Between 1986 and 1988, I won first prizes (western music vocal) at various inter-college festivals in Kolkata (former Calcutta of British India), had concerts in various cities in India, and there were quite a few good articles and reviews published in Indian newspapers and magazines, regarding my
voice and performances. I am not a prolific writer, but when the words and melody flow out from
within me, I know my song is special. This has been the case of all my
songs I have written and sung so far. I love my quiet surroundings amidst the forested mountains, with my books, my spiritual studies and applying them to the best of my ability, with my songs and music, my lovely family and my friends. It would be a dream come true if my songs are heard all over the world because they deserve to be listened to and enjoyed.” -Piyali Ganguly

Piyali Ganguly has set the bar very high artistically and provided a powerful, poignant musical document of what it means to be a human being

Overall, this is a fantastic song performed by an excellent singer and performer, delivered with finesse and feeling. It is a perfect choice as a single, with its radio friendly sound and instantly catchy title hook. It will undoubtedly gain Piyali Ganguly new admirers to add to her already considerable fan-base, and consolidate her position as an authentic Delhi icon of her era.

Listen to ‘I Live In Love’ (Ich Lebe In Liebe)

Exposed Vocals Score: 

7.9/10