Believe in yourself and your talents! with Devi Ji
“Music itself is a lot of joy. So you should definitely enjoy music, love music, and flow with the music.” -Devi Ji
Being able to reach your goal brings satisfaction, but the journey itself can also be a gift. This week, Devi Ji, a famous Hindi Pop, Folk, & Bhojpuri singer, graces us on the show with her music and her story.
She has traveled to many countries for her performances, Moscow, Qatar, UAE, Thailand, Mauritius, etc. She has performed more than 75 albums and hosted many shows on Big Ganga, Mahua Bhojpuri TV channels.
Listen in as Devi sings one of her most popular songs, and her advice to aspiring musicians.
What is your #1 challenge when achieving your goals? Share it in the comments.
Highlights:
03:51 Art- Its Nature
05:29 Facing the Challenges
07:35 Singing is a Happy Moment
09:31 Devi Sings!
11:53 Advice for Musicians
14:21 Don’t Forget to Smile
18:01 Devi’s Wish
Watch it live:
Quotes:
03:53 “Art is very natural. When you have art, it comes naturally.” -Devi Ji
05:30 “Challenge is part of life, and I take it as fun.” -Devi Ji
07:38 “When you are an artist and you bring out your art, it's one of the happiest moments.” -Devi Ji
08:29 “What you give is what you receive. If you want love in your life, you should start first by giving love.” -Devi Ji
12:48 “Music itself is a lot of joy. So you should definitely enjoy music, love music, and flow with the music.” -Devi Ji
13:32 “Do anything with your heart, it is more powerful.” -Devi Ji
13:51 “Even if someone is just new to singing, take pride in that.” -Abishek Sharma
14:51 “If you want something, you should try and do your best, but you should not be disappointed if the result is not according to you because sometimes the result is not in our hands.” -Devi Ji
16:49 “If I'm not happy. What is the point of anything?” -Devi Ji
Connect with Devi:
TRANSCRIPTION:
Abhishek Sharma: Hi everyone, this is Abhishek from shakethecosmos.com. I'm really excited about my guest today, Devi Ji.
Devi Ji: Thank you.
Abhishek Sharma: And we are going to have a great show. So if you're going to be watching right now, hit that subscribe button, hit that follow button so you can follow along for these new episodes. And so today, I'm excited to talk with Devi Ji in Rishikesh. Devi is a popular singer in India. She has over 75 albums, many awards, both regional and national. And I met her in Rishikesh, India, which is the yoga capital of the world. I was there and I'm listening to some of this music, and I'm just feeling very relaxed, very fun. And this is just amazing. And then we got to know each other a little bit. And I get to learn so much about art, about life from Devi Ji. So I figured, I now share some of it with you guys. Thank you so much for being here.
Devi Ji: Thank you so much for inviting me to your platform. Thank you so much.
Abhishek Sharma: So excited. So let's jump into it. So what we're going to be talking about is we're going to be talking about music, Devi Ji's music. And if we're lucky, we'll get to listen to a song from Devi Ji. And then also her goals, how does she work this magic? And maybe she has some advice for young artists. And if you're watching, you know about goal setting, and then we'll close so we'll get into it. So let's start from the beginning Devi Ji. What inspired you to get into singing? What was that feeling?
“Art is very natural. When you have art, it comes naturally.” -Devi Ji
Devi Ji: Actually, I believe that art is very natural. When you have an odd, it comes automatically, and comes very naturally. So when I was even very small like maybe five, six years old, at that time, I didn't know what inspiration, what is better to learn. But I started singing just naturally. I was in school, and my music teacher thought that I could sing well so they came and they started teaching me. So I'm from Bihar, Bihar is a state in India. So that is like that. So I think the music came to me very naturally.
Abhishek Sharma: Wow. So it's just natural. You've had some good great teachers also that have guided you.
Devi Ji: Yes, yes. When I was in Bihar, my home place was Chhapra. So there, I was learning from some teachers. After that, I came to Delhi and I learned from [inaudible] Sangeet Mahavidyalaya. It's a very famous Institute. And then I also learned classical dance.
Abhishek Sharma: Wow. We're surrounded right now with all the awards here that Devi Ji has as well. So if you're watching the video, tell us where you're from. Are you from Bihar? Are you from the US? Where are you watching? Leave a comment, and where are you from? And wow, so you have these teachers? I'm sure there were some challenges as well on this journey of singing, what would you say were some challenges?
“Challenge is part of life, and I take it as fun.” -Devi Ji
Devi Ji: Yeah. I think the challenges are part of life. And I take it as fun. And actually, when I started my music journey, I started in 2002. So that time, the situation was different. Now, we have a lot of platforms where you can project yourself. We have social media. But that time, there was music company only, and you had to go and ask to release your albums. So it was a little bit challenging. When you're new, the company doesn't believe that you can make business of it. Because in commercial music, you have to prove that your product is sellable. So although I was a good singer, but the company could not believe that I can also make business with it. So it was a little bit challenging to convince them. But I was keep struggling and my father really supported me a lot. He was with me. So at one one time, I got a chance to sing in the music company, and my first album, [inaudible], was full of traditional songs. It broke all the records, it was full of business. And then the journey was so easy. I got a lot of invitation from big company like T-Series. I signed so many albums for T-Series. So the journey became a little bit easier. And then also, I got good payment for my stage shows. So it is like that.
Abhishek Sharma: Wow. There's a lot of persistence here that you've had to do. And you've had good role models, like your dad, and other teachers that have helped you. I've always been on the other side, what is the feeling when you're singing? You're delivering these amazing songs. Guys, if you're watching, check out Devi Ji's, some of these videos. I mean, people are just dancing and loving. But what are you feeling when you're singing in this zone?
“When you are an artist and you bring out your art, it's one of the happiest moments.” -Devi Ji
Devi Ji: I think it's a great feeling. I think when you are an artists and you bring out your art, I think one of the most happy moments I can say, when I sing, I feel so great. And I see the reaction, especially when I'm on the stage, people also clap. Sometimes, people start dancing, and we have a lot of reactions. Sometimes, people come and they start kissing me. Some girls come, they hug me. So I think it's a very charismatic environment, I would say.
Abhishek Sharma: Wow, yeah. I think what you're saying also is, so people are coming and hanging out with you at the stage. But I've also heard you say, give people what you want, and you will get what you want.
“What you give is what you receive. If you want love in your life, you should start first by giving love.” -Devi Ji
Devi Ji: Yes. I have noticed in my life that what you give is what you receive. So if you want love in your life, you should start first by giving love. And I have seen that I simply love people. When I see people, when they are in trouble, I try to help. And I see that I give love and I receive a lot more love from the universe.
Abhishek Sharma: And it's something really profound. I've been thinking about what you've said because I find it also helpful for me, as I'm working on new ideas. And then I take a step back, like what is it that I should give to people? And then, what do I want? And so thank you for making me think about that.
Devi Ji: Thank you so much.
Abhishek Sharma: I'm not gonna wait any longer. I want to hear you singing, if you have a popular song, I would love to be part of it.
Devi Ji: Okay. I think one of my most popular songs. Thank you. https://youtu.be/W9SXIBchZHs
Abhishek Sharma: Thank you, thank you so much. I can feel the energy. I think the room is full of energy now.
Devi Ji: Thank you.
Abhishek Sharma: For those of you listening to the song, it's about love. And then also bringing love on this super fast train from India, it's called Rajdhani. I think this is just amazing. Thank you so much for sharing that. You've talked about your own struggle and how you were beginning your career, and I'm sure there are people watching who are also, whether they're artists or singing, would love to hear what advice would you have for someone who's just starting out? And what would you tell them?
“Music itself is a lot of joy. So you should definitely enjoy music, love music, and flow with the music.” -Devi Ji
Devi Ji: Yeah. I will say that if you're connected with music, if you are born with the talent of music, you are blessed because music is an amazing thing. It gives you a lot of fun. It gives you a lot of joy, and you feel enhanced when you're surrounded by music. So if you're doing music, it is already, I think it's a big thing. It's a wonderful thing. And I would say that if you want to make career in it, there is no fixed thing I can advise because I cannot tell you how can you be popular, how people will like you. It's also a chance, it's luck that some people are popular, people start liking them. So I think when the new boys and girls are doing music, they should focus to enjoy music because it doesn't matter. It is your career or it is not your career. But music itself is I think a lot of joy so you should definitely enjoy music, love music, and flow with the music. And if it is become your career, it's very good. But if even if it doesn't become your career, it's good for your life. So be with the music.
Abhishek Sharma: Wow. And I think this idea of luck that plays a role as well. At the same time. I think we were talking earlier how you said, when you're presenting and when you're in front of audience show that it's coming from your heart.
Devi Ji: Yeah.
Abhishek Sharma: And so maybe that helps also with it as well.
“Do anything with your heart, it is more powerful.” -Devi Ji
Devi Ji: Yeah, yeah. I would say that you should have music talent. And yeah, do anything with your heart, it is more powerful. Even if you cook with heart, it's amazing. So I think if you're singing, you should sing from the heart. I think it's more powerful.
Abhishek Sharma: Totally. And also since taking pride like in your heart. Like you just said, even if someone is just new to singing, take pride in that. Like, hi, I'm doing this.
“Even if someone is just new to singing, take pride in that.” -Abishek Sharma
Devi Ji: Yes. They should be happy that God has given music to them, because not everybody can sing. So I think it's a blessing.
Abhishek Sharma: Yeah. So now, let's get even more deeper into what like, let's say you have a goal that you want to achieve, how do you think about something like that in your career or in your life?
“If you want something, you should try and do your best, but you should not be disappointed if the result is not according to you because sometimes the result is not in our hands.” -Devi Ji
Devi Ji: Yeah. I think it's good to have some ambition and some goals, it makes you alive. You proceed for that and you get excited. So I think I also have some goals in my life that I should be a better singer, I should have more fame. So definitely, I want it but everything should be with smartness, and I think with balance. If you want something, you should try and you should do the best, but you should not be disappointed if the result is not according to you. Because sometimes, the result is not in our hand, I suppose. Even for some job, a person want to be something, suppose a person want to be an IAS Officer, his in India, it's a big job. But lots of people fill the form, and only some seats. They have like, suppose 10,000 people are filling the form, and 10 people will get selected. So if everybody has the goal to become an IAS Officer, they want to be, make only 10. It's not mean you're useless or you are not good, but this is a situation. So I think people should have a goal and you should proceed for that. But it should be in a fun way, in a happy way. And it should be like a game.
Abhishek Sharma: Yeah. I think it's so true. Like a lot of these. And I think about a lot of things we try for, there are people who succeed, there are people who fail or who don't get it.
Devi Ji: Yes.
Abhishek Sharma: But it's about this idea of accepting that.
Devi Ji: Because sometimes, it's not possible. Although you're very talented, but the seats are less. Lots of people are running for the same thing. How can we first when the 10,000 people are running and everybody has to be first, how can be everybody will come first? There's the situation? So try for the best, and ready for the worst. And then also, smile. Smile is the most important thing. You have a big way, we should always value the bigger things.
Abhishek Sharma: Why do you say the smile is such a big, big, big thing?
“If I'm not happy. What is the point of anything?” -Devi Ji
Devi Ji: I think for me, it's the most valuable thing. If I'm not happy, what is the point of anything? If I'm very rich, I have a lot of, maybe I have a lot of fame. But if I'm not smiling, I think it's useless.
Abhishek Sharma: I feel it's very simple but very powerful. Because it's an easy test, like, hey, have I smiled, tada, did I smile? It could be like 6:00 PM and maybe have an even smile. So it's a good way to just check in.
Devi Ji: Yeah. And you should always feel blessed. You are breathing, and your health is fine, your hand is working, you're not suffering, you're not in hospital, so there are so many reasons to smile.
Abhishek Sharma: Yeah. Wow. If you're watching right now and you are struggling with something, what is your number one challenge with your goals? Like, if you're trying to get something, leave a comment, send a message, DM on Shake The Cosmos, I would love to hear that as well. All right, so okay, so as we're wrapping up here, we'd love to hear what are some new things that you can share? Like what are some new things you're working on, a project or something.
Devi Ji: Actually, we have a beautiful Ashram in Rishikesh. Rishikesh is a very famous place for spirituality, and I am lucky that I'm having a beautiful ashram there, where we met. So I want to develop that, I want more and more people to come. Already people from all over the world come there. There is a lot of music, there are a lot of meetings, they are people meet and we eat together. So this is a place we are trying to provide peace, happiness and love. So I want to do more good in that. And otherwise, I want to do more music and doing a lot of shows. And because of the COVID, I was a little bit distracted. I was not doing so much shows. So now, my shows have started so I wish that I get more and more shows, I get more popularity, I get more and more love from the people. That is my wish.
Abhishek Sharma: Wow. Well, I second the ashram, and pure in Rishikesh, you know what? Anywhere in--
Devi Ji: That the ashram called Devi Music Ashram. And if any of you want to come, you can come, it's a wonderful experience.
Abhishek Sharma: Yeah. I stayed there and had a wonderful experience. I had amazing views of the hills and the great delicious food every day. I think I barely ate outside. I eat inside the Ashram most of the time. So really amazing, healthy food, as well as music programs, as well as talks. I enjoyed the talks from your dad. So totally, again, we'll include that information as well in the description so you can find the Ashram. But let's say you know, how can people get in touch with you though?
Devi Ji: They can follow me on Instagram, that is Devis, D-E-V-I-S, .melody, where they can find me on Instagram. Also, I have a page, Singer Devi, so if they type on Facebook, Devi Singer, I think they will get my page on Facebook. They can connect with me there.
Abhishek Sharma: Awesome. And if you're listening, I'll include that in the description so you can just click and contact Devi Ji and get in touch.
Devi Ji: Yes, thank you so much.
Abhishek Sharma: Thank you so much for sharing your art. Namaste.