Ranjini

She's been compared to artists like Aaliyah and Mya, but her unique vocal flavor puts her in a class all her own. A native of Richmond, Virginia, Ranjini first started singing at the age of five. She was classically trained in the Indian school of music by her mother, also a musician. Dancing came to her almost as early as singing did. Since she was six, she has been trained in an Indian dance art form known as Bharatanatyam.

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Ranjini first started singing at the age of five. She was classically trained in the Indian school of music by her mother, also a musician. Dancing came to her almost as early as singing did. Since she was six, she has been trained in an Indian dance art form known as Bharatanatyam.

She's no stranger to the stage, having performed in Canada, India, and throughout the United States. But she didn't just want to stick to the Indian arts. On her own, Ranjini learned how to play the piano by ear until her parents decided to formally seek out a piano teacher. Ever since, the piano has been Ranjini's primary instrument. She also plays an Indian stringed instrument called the veena (an ancestor of the sitar).

Growing up, listening to artists like Brian McKnight, Stevie Wonder, and Whitney Houston, among others, she naturally gravitated towards pop/R&B in developing her own vocal style. Dealing with the pressures from Indian society to follow a more practical career path, this girl decided to follow her heart, her love for music.

Defying all odds, she fell under the mentorship of Quincy "Q" Patrick, CEO of Qwilite Entertainment, who was instrumental in the launch of industry mogul Clive Davis's J Records by writing the label's first two gold records. He has composed hits for some of the hottest names in the music industry: Alicia Keys, Usher, Joe, Luther Vandross, Babyface, and countless others. "Q" has taken Ranjini's artistry to a whole new level. At the pivotal age of nineteen, she decided to put her college career at NYU on hold to whole-heartedly pursue her dream as a recording artist.

And the sacrifice has already begun to pay off as she has tasted success with her first two singles "This Guy" and "MusicBox" both achieving smash hit status on BBC radio in Europe. Her remix of Akon's 2007 hit single "Don't Matter" created a huge buzz within the U.S and abroad and her current remix of Ray J's "Sexy Can I" is increasingly heating up the airwaves, clubs, and mixtapes.

After honing her craft as a singer, songwriter, and performer, Ranjini's sweet, sultry voice combined with that authentic Indian flair, puts her in a league with the hottest female artists of the new millennium.