Coming from a musical family, music was a part of 19 year old Fleur Dias' life from the very beginning. But it was only when she was about 10 years old, that singing became more than just a hobby - it became a passion.
“My mum always tells me that I used to hum songs before I could even speak a word!” she laughs. “ In fact my first memory of me singing was sitting on the window of my second floor apartment , at the age of 4, belting out 'My heart will go on' to my amused neighbours and passerby’s on the road.”
After winning the Voice of Curtorim at the age of 10, there was no looking back for Dias as she went on to pick up as many awards as she could including winning the Portuguese singing competition Vem Cantar for four years and second place at the Goencho Awaz in 2014. She also recently performed as part of the Santa Cecilia Choir at their performance held at the Se Cathedral, Old Goa in April.
“ The biggest crowd that I have performed in front of so far was for the closing ceremony of the Lusofonia Games which was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda,” she says
Despite this, Dias states that she still gets nervous before each performance. “ It’s natural to get scared even after being up on the stage several times. But once I'm on the stage, its just me, my microphone and the song,” she states, adding that she derives inspiration from various musicians and singers, including her own father. “I basically enjoy singing. So any genre is good! The more challenging the song, the better!” she says.
Apart from this Dias is also trained in Bharatnatyam, plays the violin and piano and is now teaching herself to play the guitar. She has also been writing her own songs since she was 12 and hopes to come out with an album of her own sometime in the near future. “ Also, Instagram covers are sort of becoming a big thing! I'm going to start posting some of my own too. Besides that, there is something else, but ill let that come as a surprise !” she says.
But Dias' music journey hasn't been without it's obstacles. “There were loads of difficult choices I had to make. But then, obstacles in such situations are unavoidable in a country like India, where “log kya kehenge?” is sort of a norm right now,” she shrugs, adding that through it all her parents have supported her whole heartedly. As of now, Dias is focusing on her degree in dental surgery but the music will continue whenever she can. “Music, has proven to me not once, but repeatedly, to be the language of the heart. Music can unite, uplift, empower, stimulate, sedate and is even known to heal. Music in every form surrounds us and I can hardly imagine life without music!” she says, and as a parting note to other aspiring singers she adds “Keep the faith. The faith keeps you going. Dare not only to dream, but dare to make your dreams a reality.”
