Princess Anisa releases chutney song in TT

Anisa said, “I have every chutney song released in Trinidad. The music is so exciting, it just makes you move.” She says that she has been singing these chutney songs at several shows in New York and other countries around the world. She idolises Raymond Ramnarine of Dil-E- Nadan as well as the singers form the band JMC 3Veni.

Anisa graduated from the University of Houston in Texas with a BSc degree in Psychology, and is currently in school for her MA degree in Mental Health Counselling. She started singing at 17 years old with Terry Gajraj and the Supertones Band back in 2000. “I used to dance chutney and Indian music before that, so I have always been around the music industry,” she stated.

After a car accident she was unable to continue dancing and she tried singing. This art quickly became a passion. Her goal is not to “make it to the top” but to sing for the love of the art.

“I want to continue using music to help people around the world, for fund-raisers, and to encourage others to get involved in music, as well. Chutney is not just a style of music but also a culture, a tradition. It preserves our West Indian culture for yet another generation. This is something that’s very important to me,” she said. In terms of what inspired her to attempt singing, she says, “Although my mother is not a singer and is too shy to utter a note in public, she still has an amazing voice, and I grew up hearing her sing me to sleep, or even while cooking or cleaning the house. She has also been my ardent supporter and has always encouraged me to live out my dreams.”She also gives credit to Gajraj, who gave her the first break. She also praises her boyfriend Avinash Singh, who encouraged her to get into music.

This front line singer said she recommends music to others. “It’s such a passionate art, allowing you to express your own thoughts, feelings and ideas in your own unique ways,” she said.

She has been following the music of the late Sundar Popo as well as Kanchan, Anand Yankarran, Rasika Dindial, Destra Garcia and Alison Hinds.

She admires the artistes of TT for preserving the culture and adhering strongly to the dialect, the traditions, the food, the music, the festivities, and the overall way of life, noting that in the middle of all of that, Trinidad has still managed to make progress as a country, bettering the lives of its people without compromising its traditions or culture.

Although she is not a very religious person, she claims to be very spiritual. “I come from a Muslim family, but grew up around Hindu friends.

I’m one of those who go to masjid for Eid and mandir for Diwali. I believe in prayer, we just have different ways of praying, but I believe they all go to the right place when you have the right intentions in your heart,” she explains.

If she had to live life again, she would not change anything. “I have learned from my mistakes and they have made me a strong person, my ill-treatment from others made me a more caring and giving person, and all the opportunities I have had in life are all things I am so grateful for,” she said.

Despite many setbacks in life Anisa has been able to achieve many goals. She has faced financial problems and could not complete her degree on time. Family issues have caused her parents to divorce.

Through it all she has been able to draw strength and stayed focused. She accomplished her education and was able to excel in music.

She won three categories in the third annual West Indian Music Awards including Best Singer. Her band Supertones is the only West Indian-based band to perform on Broadway.

Anisa is grateful for the music saying that it helped her to connect to her Indian fore-parents.