Farita: on wings of song

"Though I’m young I’m in favor of our traditional views that are sometimes overlooked as too ‘hard’ or ‘irrational’ to maintain, which I think is a real shame. Our religion deserves respect rather than compromise,” says Farita.

The lady who is in the process of creating a career as a singer-song writer in the music recording industry in Australia is clear where she wants to go. "Think of the way Ricky Martin blended Latin music with pop to create something truly special. I want to bring the same dynamics to my work, something unique – something that says Farita!” she writes in an e-mail response to Parsiana. And her way is to create a synthesis of western pop music with the passionate resonance of India – a fusion of styles and cultures.

As a vocalist Farita has recorded several tracks with Cube (a writer-producer team from UK) including Boyfriend, which reached and remained number one for several weeks on the mp3.com.au charts as well as performing their track Be What U Wanna Be at a national song competition in Melbourne, Australia where she was chosen as a finalist out of nearly 150 acts. The tracks also received airplay on local radio stations, she tells us.

Wanting to be more than a vocalist for other people’s tracks and wanting something more unique to her sound, Farita approached Cube’s Dean Hopkins with the idea of bringing her ethnic side into her music with an exclusive Indian-Rhythm and Blues project. With Hop­kins’ interest in Asian culture and a common desire to write intelligent, original commercial music, the concept began to evolve with their first collaboration, Don’t Tell Me That You’re Sorry reaching second position on the mp3.com.au charts and remaining in the R&B top 20 for over a year! notes her official website www.farita.com. Their latest offering seems to be the EP Karma.

Born to Firoz and Villie Khambatta in Adelaide, Farita does not resemble the archetypal aspiring artist. Growing up in a traditional Zoroastrian family meant studies came first. Though she enjoyed singing in school choirs and even studied the clarinet on a scholarship for two years, as notes the FEZANA Journal (Summer 2006), it wasn’t until high school that Farita began to feel the desire to sing, write and perform.

Cover of the EP Karma

"High school was difficult. I was a good student academically but you know how judgmental kids are in high school. Covered from head to toe and terribly shy, you can imagine what kind of package I made, but as they say, the hurt makes you more determined to prove yourself. I guess it gave me focus and a goal to aim for,” Farita is quoted in the FJ.

Graduating as Bachelor of Business with a double major in hospitality management and marketing at Perth’s ECU (earlier known as the Edith Cowan University), Farita combined university studies with vocal coaching from Lucy D’limpio of Harmony School of Voice and Music, who encouraged her creativity and passion for music.

"My parents are very supportive now but initially they were concerned about me wanting to pursue a career in music,” writes Farita. They were worried about the lack of security in such a competitive, uncertain industry and, like all Zoroastrian parents, about the "unsavory types” their daughter would encounter. But Farita says she convinced them that "it’s up to you what choices you make. I told my parents that maybe I could be a positive role model and make a difference.” Fortunately, her reasoned response turned the scale in her favor. "My parents’ support means the world to me. I don’t think I could do this without the support of my family (which includes brothers Zyrus and Ross) and close friends,” she notes fervently.

A resident of Perth where Firoz operates a tour and charter company and Villie is office manager for a real estate company apart from a small Indian clothing business, Farita says she is an active member of ZAWA — the Zoroastrian Association of Western Australia.

The cruel reality of the music business became evident early on. Not long after Farita was signed to a record label, it became defunct. The change came when Farita was introduced to Cube. Farita and Hopkins are currently writing and recording, aiming to achieve a unique yet commercial sound — like the track Karma — described as a spicy mix of R&B/pop, with an ethnic world sound. The track was a finalist in the Urban category of respected WAM Song of the Year Competition. In March 2006 it was No.1 in "The Next Big Hit” — a New York based internet broadcast reaching thousands around the world.

2006 has also seen Farita hit the USA Broadjam Top 10 Charts including the Pop Top 10, The Production (Other) Top 10, The Female Vocal Top 10 and The California Top 10, informs the website. With new tracks and an EP from their forthcoming album on the way, Farita is looking forward to the future and sharing her music with the world.

Her live performance in New Zealand on November 18 marked her first international show. She tells us, "I like to actively participate in Zoroastrian events and I’m looking forward to performing at the 4th World Zoroastrian Youth Congress in Ballarat (Victoria), Australia in December 2007-January 2008. It’s a week long event for Zoroastrian youth to experience sunny Australia, get to meet other Zoroastrian youth, have some fun and learn about the religion as well.”

Farita’s music may be heard and bought on her website. And she has stated that she will donate a part of the sale price of each CD to the 4th World Zoroastrian Youth Congress.