SURYA LIGHTS RHYTHM NITES: Girl power

Kathmandu:

Sensational Indian pop singer Akriti Kakar and DJ Carlotta Lackman are here to party with Kathmanduites on December 1 at Yak and Yeti, and with Pokhaelis on December 2 at Hotel Shangrila. The occasion is the Surya Rhythm Nites brought to you by Surya Lights, the 84 mm cigarette from Surya Nepal.

Akriti will be performing a Punjabi number, some English songs and popular Bollywood tracks, whereas Carlotta will be playing in-house numbers, but adds she will be feeling the pulse of the crowd and playing accordingly.

“Tomorrow, the show must be a hit and everyone should go home satisfied,” says Carlotta, who is the first female resident DJ in India’s east zone.

Akriti, who found the Nepali people warm and welcoming on her first visit (this being her second), says, “For a singer what matters is a real good crowd. I had it last time and I hope it will be the same this time too.”

“This is my first international visit besides Bhutan. I hope people really like my music,” expresses Carlotta adding she is fascinated with our beautiful Kathmandu.

Talking about her musical career, Akriti says that it was her mother who inspired her to be a singer, and she started learning classical music when she was just five.

She says she is really blessed because she didn’t have to go through hardships to be what and where she is now, and adds her talent and belief paved the way for her.

“I never wanted to start my career as a remix singer as all credit goes to the item girls. People don’t care to know about the singers. But I am not disappointed — my first song Rangeela re was really appreciated. Very soon I am going to release my original album. Just waiting for the right time,” says this bubbly singer who has already done playback singing for films like Dus, Rocky and ChupChup ke.

After her success in the music would, would Akriti venture into Bollywood?

No such plans right now, she says as she is enjoying her musical career and dreams one day to be a “versatile singer”. However, Akriti did not completely close the door on Bollywodd saying if roles really close to her personality and musical life come her way, she would give those a second thought.

Carlotta is a multi-professional. She is a DJ-cum-fashion-choreographer-cum-dancer. But she says she always had a passion for music. Combining her two loves — dancing and music — hence, DJ-ing.

But how difficult was it making it as a female DJ?

“At first it was really hard to get accepted as a female DJ. Men don’t want a female to intrude upon their crowned profession. But I made my own way because I had my heart in it,” says Carlotta.

She warns that if a girl wants to be a DJ, there’ll be hell to pay, but “if one has dedication and self-belief, then no one stop you”.