Raise the Sail

You think your in-laws are bad? Try living with them.

Rafta Rafta is playwright Ayub Khan Din’s take on the 1963 play “All in Good Time” by Bill Noughton. The story centers around newlyweds Atul and Vina who decide to move in with his parents to save some cash. However the thin walls and crowded house leave Atul feeling a little… impotent. Unfortunately the entire family knows about it leading to his mother-in-law to aptly state “There’s no new planting in the Shalimar Gardens”.

The play originated in London and is now showing in New York until June 28^th. Catch it while you can!

www.thenewgroup.org

Hot Stuff

Singer, Songwriter, Producer, Dancer, Actress and devoted daughter, Shaheen Sheik is a more than just a triple-threat. She’s a one-woman multi-talented extravaganza. After taking a hiatus to be with her family, Shaheen is back with a new CD aptly titled “Revolution”. The Desi Dish caught up with Shaheen to discuss her new album, life, love and the pursuit of happiness.

The Desi Dish: I really enjoyed the album it was incredibly refreshing. What inspired the title "revolution"? It suggests some sort of life change.

Shaheen: Definitely a life change. Musically, I put away my guitar and produced this album by myself. So, big change there! Personally, I began to stand on my own two feet again. “Rock Candy” (her first album) was based on a big long bad break up. So here I was, single, in charge of my destiny and I wanted to showcase that in my music

The Desi Dish: So it was a stylistic and a life change as well. What made you decide to produce it on your own?

Shaheen: On “Rock Candy”, I co-produced it with Jay Ruston and he taught me a lot in terms of production and how to break down a song and build it back up through arrangement and composition. But I definitely found during [the making of] “Rock Candy” that I had so many ideas that were being filtered through Jay's brain or other musicians' brains which impacted "my sound."

The Desi Dish: It’s true you hear it with so many artists, one album sounds one way and the next album comes out with a different producer and you’re not even sure if it’s the same artist! Nonetheless, that’s quite an undertaking for only your second time around. Did you find it difficult to produce an album yourself?

Shaheen: Hahah! That is a loud and clear YES! I remember when I first got all the equipment and set it up, I couldn't get any sound to come through the speakers, [I was] feeling so defeated, I called jay in a panic and asked him..."How do I get sound out of this thing?"

The Desi Dish: Omigod!!!

Shaheen: He's such a nice and patient man, he just walked me through all the cable connections until we found the culprit. I learned a lot "on the job" so to speak.

The Desi Dish: By the way how is your mom doing? (Last year Shaheen’s mom battled cancer).

Shaheen: She's doing really well now. She has more spirit in her than before the cancer. Part of it is I think facing your mortality and figuring you better live while you can because you never know what lies ahead - and part of it is the joy of retirement!

The Desi Dish: Do you think that her battle with cancer influenced your album? The album discusses a lot of serious issues like poverty and HIV but manages to stay pretty upbeat.

Shaheen: I think having gone through that really nasty break up and then faced mom's cancer, I really got it...there will always be adversity and challenges and sometimes they will be really heavy and difficult - even tragic - but through all that, you must see hope, experience joy and celebrate what you do have. Life is a gift. I'd be insolent if I didn't count my blessings in every thing I did - including my music. That's why this album discusses things like poverty and AIDS and prostitution, but in a hopeful way.

The Desi Dish: I love that attitude. I definitely got the sense that the album is a celebration of life, the good and the bad.

Shaheen: Yup! Unfortunately, we have to have the bad with the good. Can't just pick out the good parts!

The Desi Dish: I enjoyed the lyrics in the song "Coconut" a lot. Have you ever been called a coconut? Why do you think we as desis put each other down like that?

Shaheen: I never got called a coconut to my face, but I'm sure someone has said that about me somewhere. My cousins in India call me an “ABCD”. Which is effectively the same thing, I think. Honestly, I think we have this intra-community prejudice because we're feeling insecure about something or jealous. Isn't that usually the reason one puts another down? It generally is the person slinging the mud that has the issue and not the person on the receiving end. In my humble opinion.

The Desi Dish: So true! I wonder if desis who are considered more “traditional” are threatened by those who aren’t perceived as such. Which brings me to my next question did you ever feel pressured to follow a more traditional path, i.e. medicine or business?

Shaheen: I think in my family, it wasn't so much an overt pressure. My folks never said you have to be a doctor or a lawyer, etc. But I think it was definitely there in a subtle way. In the sense that my folks didn't really sit me down and say, "You can be anything in the world. There are so many options out there. Let's try to figure out what will fulfill you and inspire you lifelong!" Hahaha! I didn't really think I had options until i picked up a guitar and figured other people did this for a living, why couldn't I?

The Desi Dish: I think many of us know that feeling. You just assume there are certain possible careers and you don’t realize what else is out there until it smacks you in the face! Although music is a more recent venture for you, dance has been part of your life since a young age. How is your dance career going? And does it influence your music? And lastly what are your plans for the future?

Shaheen: I'm very active with my dancing. i have a solo showcase on June 22 here in LA. My first solo show in 11 years! Acting is also a great outlet and I have two films slated to start this summer that I'm involved with, but they are in the nascent stages still. I feel very excited to be able to pursue all these creative avenues. They definitely help round me out as an artist and keep me sharp and challenge all the different aspects of being an artist. It's like exercise. My artistic muscles need the exercise!

The Desi Dish: Do you have any plans to tour?

Shaheen: We're working on it. I'd like to do a 10 city US tour and then head to India. I also have a show in London in July, at the Bedford. It's an acoustic show so I feel excited to be able to pick up my guitar once again!

A musician, dancer, actress, songwriter, and gorgeous, now that’s what we call desilllllicous!!!! For more info on Shaheen and upcoming dates visit her website. http://shaheensheik.com/

Check Ya Later

The Desi Dish is on vacation! When we return on May 21st, look for interviews with hot rising stars like Shaheen Sheik, the latest desi European flavor, art, fashion and more!

Gubernatorial Goodness

In case you missed it the first time around, watch Bobby Jindal on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.