Lanisha And Delisha Impresses the UK’s Indian Community by Beautiful Song
Nelson Mandela once said, “If you speak to a man in a language he understands, it gets to his head. “If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart,” said the two Goan sisters, Lanisha and Delisha Vaz, during the 75th Republic Day celebrations at the High Commission of India in London, UK.
On January 26, 2024, Alfred Rose’s Konkani song Ami Soglim Ek was performed for the first time during the official Republic Day celebrations.
In a candid interview with Gomantak Times Digital, the sisters and their parents discussed their love of Konkani and how social media is encouraging people to learn about their heritage.
As children, we loved watching Tiatri.
“Our parents instilled in us a love of our mother tongue, Konkani.” Aside from the tiatr from Goa, there were many Konkani programmes in our parish and society that catered to the interests of Dubai’s large Konkani-speaking community,” said Lanisha, 20.
Her father, Pascoal Vaz, is quick to step in. ” Lanisha and Delisha were mostly excited to watch the Tiatr, which came from Goa, so they could see their favourite artists perform.
At the same time, DVDs and Konkani telefilms were becoming increasingly popular. Most weekends, we watched those DVDs together as a family.” He adds, “It was because Clayton Antonio Barreto, who works as a social secretary to the High Commissioner, proposed my children’s names to perform at the High Commission of India in London, UK. “He always wants to promote Konkani,” he explained.
Pascoal was overjoyed when Bollywood actor Boman Irani complimented the girls on their beautiful singing and explained the song’s message of unity.
The Vaz sisters are performing for the second time at the Indian High Commission in London, United Kingdom.
AMI SOGLIM EK is about unity.
Alfred Rose’s song “Ami Soglim Ek” was appropriate for its lyrics about India’s cultural diversity and the people of the Konkan region.
Delisha described the song as follows: “The tune was optimistic and lively, making it engaging for the audience to enjoy and participate in. The song’s message is simple and timeless: we may come from different states, speak different languages, be Christians, Muslims, Hindus, or Sikhs, but at the end of the day, we are all Indians. The song was written and performed by the late Alfred Rose, a Goan legend and melody king. Delisha is currently pursuing A-levels.
It’s all about balancing studies and music.
Lanisha and Delisha, who were born and raised in Dubai and are now residents of the United Kingdom, have been performing since the age of six.
“We used to spend more time learning music when we were younger, but now we have to balance our studies, other responsibilities, and music.” On weekends, we spend the afternoons practicing and singing our favourite songs. “We also make time for recording, mixing, and video editing for our YouTube channel, Lanisha Delisha Music Production,” Lanisha explained.
Their favourite singers are Babe Peter, Alfred Rose, M. Boyer, Remo Fernandes, Chris Perry, and Lorna.
Social media has created a Konkani vibe.
Pascoal commented on Konkani’s growing popularity, saying, “I’ve noticed a rise in love for the language due to social media content, influencers, and artists who promote the language through relatable content and songs. Young people are now interested in performing for khel, commercial theatre, and singing competitions.” There is a lot of young talent making waves on YouTube and other platforms.”
Lanisha and Delisha began their musical journey at age six and have completed Trinity College London music exams. They play a variety of musical instruments, including the violin, keyboards, guitar, trumpet, trombone, ukulele, and French horn.
The Vaz sisters are award-winning singers who perform in both Konkani and English.
