It's almost an unconscious instinct. The moment the Monteiro sisters start singing, you just automatically pause in your tracks to listen to their melodious voices. And at the end of their performance, it's almost a given that there will be calls for an encore.
“ Music, especially singing, has always been in the family. Our mother and grandmother also love singing. In fact our mother has her own choir too,” says Shanice Monteiro who is 22 years old and the elder of the two. While Shanice plays the guitar, Sherize, 20, plays the keyboard. Both of them have completed Grade 5 in their respective instruments at Kala Academy.
“We used to sing at school for the small singing competitions and for the church choir too. But it was only on the request of the priest at Stella Maris Chapel ( Miramar) that we performed together for the first time for a Father's Day celebration,” recalls Sherize. “ Our first public performance together however was for the programme organised by the Don Bosco Past Pupils Association when the relics of Don Bosco came to Goa.”
Since then the two of them have performed together at a few events like the Free Street Movement and the recent Grape Escapade. Shanice has also sung along with percussionist Carlos Gonsalves and his band. Also, last year, the two of them along with their mum Sylia recorded a few songs at Colin D'cruz's Jazz Studio, which were an instant hit on Youtube. “ We did three songs for the recording - ABC de Coracao, which was a dedication to our grandmother as it's her favorite track, Jesus what a wonderful child, which is a Christmas carol and another Portugese song Minha Luz,” says Sherize. In fact unlike many youngsters their age, the sisters enjoy performing the old evergreen tracks. “ We love to do songs from different genres and languages “ some Konkani, a few in Portuguese. We even performed a Latin number at the Grape Escapade,” says Shanice. “ We do however enjoy doing more of the oldie goldie songs and do a lot of country. While the pop songs of today are okay for just listening pleasure, we like doing the older tracks because these are what we have grown up listening to and are also more ideal for putting different voices.” “ Plus we enjoy ballroom dancing and these songs are more apt for this type of dancing,” Sherize pips in.
However, the sisters admit that with their studies and work timing ( Sherize is doing her second year medicine while Shanice is working in Chartered Accounts) it is difficult for them to find time to practice. “ Our practices usually happen only after 12,” chuckles Shanice. “Our mum is our biggest critic. She stays up with us and points out our mistakes making sure that we are perfect.”
Although the two of them are yet to think up a name for their group, they admit that they will like to record their own music sometime down the line.
