New single by NRI teen, Sonu Nigam

Juggling between academics and music, 17-year old Shannon writes songs to spread a message

She’s the daughter of the renowned singer Kumar Sanu, but she’s carved a niche for herself in the music industry. 17-year-old Shannon K is set to release her latest single ‘OMT’ with Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam.

Shannon made a name for herself in the US with her anti-bullying song ‘Give Me Your Hand’ which received immense love and support from Hollywood stars like David Arquette, Chrissie Fit, Ed Westwick and Kelley Jakle, to name a few.

On a mission to make her presence felt in Bollywood, Shannon co-wrote the latest song with her sister Annabel K. She sheds light on how both the industries work and her future plans as a psychiatrist.

You are an artist who likes to have a strong message in your songs. Where do you get the inspiration from?

I travelled the globe at a very young age and my experiences and interactions with people have taught me a lot. I write songs from that point of view. Apart from that, I realised that your life isn’t always perfect, so my lyrics are from what I have seen and faced in life. Having said that, I do write fun and light-hearted songs too which have been inspired by my personal experiences. I try to be as versatile as possible.

You worked with Sonu Nigam recently. What was that like?

It was a pleasure working with him. He’s an incredible human being and an extremely talented artiste. I’ve been a fan of his work since childhood. I was really anxious when I met him at LA studio (even though I’ve met him before), but this time, it was different because he was singing my song which was co-written by my sister, Annabel. I sent Sonu Nigam the song when he came to LA for a personal visit. He loved it and came on board.

You’ve already made a name for yourself on the international charts. Why the focus on India specifically?

India is my root and I belong here no matter how far I live. Besides, I always wanted to collaborate with the amazing artistes in India.

What’s it like working with your dad, Kumar Sanu, and your sister, Annabell?

I don’t work with my father very often; I just collaborated on a single with him. I work a lot more with Annabel and it’s great. We fight, we laugh, we make fun of each other and we get to spend a lot of time together because we co-write songs. She’s an immensely talented songwriter and a very loving sister.

We hear that you want to become a psychiatrist to help teens. Why do you think it’s important to choose that career path when you can make a difference through music?

Music is my first love and I will continue making new music. I’m still a student so I have chosen psychology as there are many teens who need to be led in the right direction. If I become a psychiatrist and be able to help at least a few of them, I will be satisfied. I have seen how my dad has helped many people selflessly and that’s what I want to do as well.

Tell us about your other upcoming projects.

I recently sang in the remake of ‘We Are The World’ where I was the youngest artist. Apart from that, I have signed up with a makeup and jewellery line. My singles will also be releasing next year and I’ll be performing live around the states as well.