Canada: Young Songstress, Composer M'lorean Dahlia in YouTube Music Video Contest
Daijiworld Media Network - Canada
Canada, Nov 11: For Dahlia Fernandes, a 25-year-old Toronto based singer and songwriter, sure the talent runs in the blood. Dahlia is the granddaughter of the late Freddy Barboza, famous Mangalorean actor, composer and lyricist in Konkani tiatr.
Freddy's daughter and Dahlia's mother Edna Fernandes currently resides in Toronto and owns a major gourmet pickle business named "Ednas Pickles" that may ring a bell to many. Music was exactly where she always wanted to be, she realized at the age of seven years after singing her solo song, "From a Distance" by Bette Midler in front of a huge crowd. In fact she wrote her first song when she was ten years old.
However, she accidentally found out she could compose a song when she was 20 years old. Her sister bought herself a Steinway, which initiated young Dahlia to try her hand at piano. A self-taught she has
not learnt instrumental music formally. Soon she began composing a new song every week and there has been no looking back ever since.
"Every song is a glimpse into another story I get to tell and that can be interpreted in so many different ways. If I can move you, provoke a single thought or touch your life for a single second that would make
me a success" says Dahlia.
Early Life and Musical Journey
In her formative years, she lived in India and Dubai and came to Canada in 1998. She was not sure of acceptance for her music and talent. But soon opportunities poured in including the honour of singing the National Anthem for UN dignitaries for International Peace Day at City Hall, a ranking into Mississauga's Top 25 Future Stars as well vocals on the title track Suburban Ghetto of local Toronto Rap artists, Tha Woodsmen.
It was also around this time she bagan performing at a number of venues including the Brandy Tree Lounge at the Westin Prince Hotel as well as a lead vocalist with the band Lady Kane at Alleycatz. In 2008, Dahlia entered into a local singing competition that landed her in the Top ten and an interview on Omni Television, CBC Radio and the Toronto Sun.
Collaboration and Learning
But having realized that her love was not for singing covers, she began working with her friends, Anant Persad and Marco Dela Cruz who being seasoned musicians were able to help produce the numerous songs she had been sitting on for so many years. She is currently working on her new CD, samples of which are available on her website, www.dahliafernandes.com
Currently being trained with talented vocal teacher, Shannon Gunn, who inspires her to grow and develop technically as well as artistically, Dahlia draws from her own song and "jumps into her future" as she
pursues her music career.
About the YouTube Contest
Dahlia is participating in a YouTube contest that is giving away a Music Video produced by TLA Productions and you can help her win by simply clicking the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMiaJ8MAiNs