We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sonia Keshwani a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sonia, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Music is a field where there’s no substitute for learning. While you might be born with some natural talent, without practice and guidance, it’s difficult to fully develop that potential. I began my formal music training later in life, in my mid-20s, after I got married and moved to the United States. This experience taught me that there’s no set age for learning—you can start at any time, no matter where you are in life. I am deeply indebted to my gurus for helping me cultivate and enhance my vocal prowess.

I strongly recommend classical training to build a solid foundation, followed by focusing on vocal dynamics and expression. Equally important is seizing every opportunity to perform in the early days, whether it’s on a small or large stage. Each performance helps you get more comfortable and confident, creating a valuable feedback loop for your growth as an artist.

The biggest challenge in learning is the belief that you need to go all-in to make progress, but that’s simply not true. Every small effort matters. Just because your schedule doesn’t allow practicing for hours doesn’t mean that 15 minutes of riyaaz won’t make a difference. Small, regular steps can lead to significant growth. Never underestimate the cumulative effects and power of consistency!

Sonia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

A Senior Product Manager at a tech giant during the day, I am an 𝗲𝗺𝗰𝗲𝗲-𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻 based out of the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I often joke about my dual profile as – PM (Product Manager) in the AM, and AM (Anchor Musician) In the PM.

Over the course of my journey, I’ve had the privilege of performing and sharing the stage with several icons and maestros like 𝗔.𝗥. 𝗥𝗮𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗻, 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘆, 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝘂 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗺, 𝗔𝘁𝗶𝗳 𝗔𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺, 𝗞𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗞𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁. I’ve released several original songs, including a recent single with singer 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗮𝗻 that holds a special place and pride in my heart. Additionally, I’ve worked on numerous cover songs have amassed millions of views across my social media platforms.

As an anchor, I’ve been the official host for AmPowering 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀/𝗠𝗿𝘀. 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀/𝗠𝗿𝘀. 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 in Washington, Oregon, and Canada for the past 10 years, and have hosted several large-scale events in the U.S., including the 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗳 𝗔𝗹𝗶 𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗮𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗝𝗮𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗶, and recently, The 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗹 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲.

I’m honored to have won the 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 award at 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 2019, 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗰𝗼𝗻 2019 and the 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 at the 𝗔𝗺𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 2021. Being on stage is where I truly come alive, and I thrive on the energy of the audience. I’m deeply grateful to my family and friends, who have been instrumental in my journey.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 is my ability to blend storytelling and communication as both an emcee and a product manager, while also being a trained musician capable of creating melodies with my voice. This unique combination makes me stand out. Additionally, my relentless passion and determination to keep moving forward distinguish me. I strongly believe in the power of “showing up” wherever I see a calling, without fixating on the outcome. I trust that destiny and divine timing will take care of the rest. As they say, 80% of success is showing up…

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻: Music has been a lifelong passion for me. After relocating to the U.S., I began performing with local bands, which marked the start of my journey in the performing arts. The countless hours spent rehearsing with like-minded individuals helped me build a strong community here. As life became more demanding, I transitioned to offline productions due to time constraints, which unexpectedly led to the growth of my online presence and further boosted my confidence. From that point on, one opportunity led to another, and I couldn’t be more grateful to the universe for guiding me on this journey.
I’ve never adhered to a rigid five- or ten-year plan—I’ve always trusted my instincts and let my passion guide me as it naturally evolved.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me as a singer and musician, the most rewarding experience is the audience’s response, applause, and appreciation. It’s a unique and profound connection with those who engage with my music. Every profession has its own advantages and challenges, but artists are fueled by a passionate drive that often surpasses financial rewards and material gains. The satisfaction we gain is indescribable and unparalleled, offering an immersive experience unlike any other field. During COVID, we saw how artists played a vital role in uplifting everyone’s spirits. Ultimately, no matter your profession, art is something people turn to for enriching their lives!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

What the public often sees is the glamour and sparkle associated with this profession. What’s less visible is the countless hours of hard work, skipped meals, erratic schedules, missed personal events, and sleepless nights. Each song and project is a true labor of love. While the world appreciates the final product, as artists, our passion lies in the demanding and often unseen process of creation. This intensive aspect is not always understood by those outside the creative field. Many assume that being in the spotlight is effortless, but maintaining that visibility requires tremendous effort. The stage is an act… people remain unaware of what happens behind the scenes, and intentionally so! There could be fatigue, tears, fire-fighting, technical issues, you name it… as artists, we mask these challenges in order to provide an experience that evokes the intended emotional response from the audience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://soniakeshwani.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soniakeshwanimusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soniakeshwaniofficial/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SoniaKeshwaniMusic