Preeti Rao’s Musical Journey, Rooted in Community, Rising on Stage
For singer and performer Preeti Rao, music has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. Growing up surrounded by devotional songs, film classics, and radio shows, her world was shaped by rhythm and melody, sparking an early curiosity and love for music. We sat down with her to talk about her early influences, her experience opening for Atif Aslam, and the lessons she continues to embrace as she navigates her artistic path. Her journey shows us how music allows us to celebrate our roots, explore new opportunities, and connect with the people and communities that inspire us!
Sanskar Savvy: When you think back to growing up with music, what do you remember most? What hooked you, even without any family background in it?
Preeti: Growing up, my world was filled with music. My mom played devotional songs on the radio in the mornings and in the car while dropping us off at school. My dad played film music all the time on our car drives. My grandma had several stacks of audio cassettes of old Bollywood songs all the way from the 50’s.
I was always surrounded by musical and artistic friends and teachers at school. So, when I think back now, my world was so full of music! My favorite memory is watching The Sound of Music as a little girl with my mom, little sister, and grandma.
Sanskar Savvy: What were the small things you did early on that helped you go from a casual singer to actually seeing yourself as an artist?
Preeti: I started my training very young, probably at 7 years old. I’ve had many amazing teachers over the years. I took part in many singing competitions, met more singer friends, and got inspired by them. My family and friends tell me that I would always zone out and hum a tune when I was by myself.
Our family also attended many concerts and music shows. When I watched the artists perform on stage, I used to dream of being someone like that. I enjoyed how they shared a connection with their audiences. As a child and young artist, I had opportunities to perform on stage shows, record playback audio cassettes, and perform in a few TV shows. For a few years before moving to the US, I was a regular performing artist on the All India Radio, Mysore.
Sanskar Savvy: When did reaching out to promoters start turning into real opportunities, and how did your community shows help you move from simply helping out to being considered as an opener?
Preeti: I’ve always enjoyed community collaborations. I’ve led and supported cultural community organizations, organized shows, and helped out with marketing, publicity, and volunteering. It was just a few years ago that I started receiving opportunities from promoters, and that has been helping me put my foot forward as an artist and performer myself. I have enjoyed opening shows for a few big artists, and I’ve had opportunities to join some other artists as a supporting vocalist.
Sanskar Savvy: How did that path lead you to the Atif Aslam team?
Preeti: One such opportunity came when I, along with a co-artist, helped promote the Atif Aslam tour in the Pacific Northwest region. Because of this, we were given the opportunity to open for Atif in Seattle. It was a large audience of around 3,000 people, and my experience singing for that crowd was incredible.
Sanskar Savvy: That night, your 10-minute slot became 45 minutes. What was going through your head, and how did you hold the stage?
Preeti: The planned performance was for 20 minutes, but it was extended to about 45 minutes. Luckily, I had carried a few extra backing tracks with me. When my performance was extended, I couldn’t be happier. I was fully engaged with the crowd by then, and we were having a blast. The shared aspect between me and everyone in the arena was that we were all there for Atif, and that common connection meant something that day. By the end of my opening performance, we were all energized and fully ready to welcome Atif on stage. I had the opportunity to sing some of my best songs on stage that day. It was such a blessing. I also received really good feedback from many people in the audience later on. They said my performance was energizing, crowd-engaging, power-packed, and included a great selection of songs.
Sanskar Savvy: Based on your journey, what’s one thing an emerging artist can do today to make themselves more discoverable to promoters, event organizers, or other important connections?
Preeti: I am still very much discovering myself and discovering my own journey. Discovery itself is a lifelong process. One thing I’ve learned in my journey so far is to keep an open mind. Say yes to opportunities if they resonate with you, even if that is not something in your “plan”, and see where it goes. There is always something to learn at every step of the process, and that learning will be valuable.
Sanskar Savvy: For artists who don’t come from a musical background or industry family, what’s the most realistic way to build skills and stay motivated while working toward big opportunities?
Preeti: I’d love to get advice and tips on this topic myself! I am an artist who is not from a musical or industry family, and I almost always feel like I may be throwing darts into the dark, not knowing what to do or how to navigate. Over the years, I have learned that your music world is already around you. The people around you, your friends, family, your social network, your connections, they are already your music world. So share your gifts with them in your own authentic way. No need to chase an outside world. Take care of your current world.
Building skills is multifaceted. There is formal training. Then there is informal training, where basically you train yourself, carefully listen to songs, and understand how they sing. Also, listen to your own singing and be your own critic. Use your current world as your feedback system as well.
Opportunities like being a part of the Kash Krew with Kash Patel Productions are a learning experience as well. To hear about different artists, how their shows are being promoted and produced, and meeting new people with common interests, it’s great!
looking ahead
As Preeti continues to grow and define her path as an artist, her journey shows that music thrives not just on stage, but in the people around us and the moments that shape us. Rooted in community and driven by a love for connection, she continues to find ways to grow and inspire through her art. With each performance and collaboration, Preeti exemplifies the spirit of Celebrate, Explore, Connect!, showing how embracing the journey can lead to meaningful impact. Follow her journey and connect with her music on Instagram and Facebook.
Celebrate, Explore, Connect!
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