Musician, composer, and activist based out of New Delhi, India, Pragnya Wakhlu is a strong believer in using the power of music to promote positive change. Inspired by the many important issues she’s passionate about, her latest song and video, ‘Burning Fire’, is a perfect example of her talent, and her drive to help others.
Her dedication to music and people led Pragnya to leave her job in a US company and return to India, in order to make a difference in that society. Once there, she also started writing and performing with her band, and is now one of the few independent women musicians and guitarists on the Indian Independent music circuit.
Pragnya released her debut album, ‘Journey to The Sun’, to a worldwide audience in 2012. The album received a number of music award nominations across the globe, most notably the prestigious Global Indian Music Awards (GIMA) nominations (touted as the Indian Grammy awards) for “Best Music Debut” and “Best Pop Album”, 3rd place award at the Indiego Music Awards (South East Asia) for the “Best Female Vocalist” and nominations for “Best Pop Song” and Best Genre Bending Act”. She is also a two time nominee for the “Best Female Vocalist ” category of the Jack Daniels Rock Awards organised by Rolling Stone India.
Pragnya’s music videos for ‘Rise’, and ‘Burning Fire’, have featured on TV on VH1 and MTV India, while her work and press articles have found their way to being featured in leading newspapers and magazines, including Rolling Stone India, Femina, New Woman Magazine, Radio And Music, Score Magazine, and many more.
Pragnya has performed over 300 shows across India and internationally and has been featured at some of India’s most prominent venues and music festivals. Perhaps most notably, she performed at the Divas of Rock and the Kasauli Rhythm and Blues Festival organised by Rolling Stone. Pragnya has also been nationally and internationally recognised.She is a recipient of the Women of Purpose category at the SHE Talks Awards, We are the City Rising Star Award” (UK) (2016) and was a speaker at the International Women in Stem conference in Dubai.
Not only holding a notable list of achievements in the music world, she has played a part in many fundraising efforts – including participating in music concerts for disaster victims, breast cancer awareness, teaching AIDS workers and patients tools to alleviate stress and partnering with the Genesis Foundation and other non-governmental organisations to organise charitable events.
The Burning Fire music video was exclusively premiered by Rolling Stone Magazine. It captures the emotional experiences of the Tibetan people, conveying the love, unity and closeness connected to the song’s bones.The song aims to bring awareness to the oft ignored and very critical issue of self immolations in the Tibetan community and their struggle to preserve their identity . Showing the resilient, pure, undying spirit of the Tibetan character who are children, religious fixtures, and every day heroes and members in the community, this multi-generational portrait is backed by the soothing soprano of Pragnya as well as her assisting background vocals. Everyone pictured is standing strong, regardless of their experiences and derivations.
Find out more about Pragnya Wakhlu on her official website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Soundcloud.
