It is still a few hours to daybreak. But the Srivalli household in HB Colony resonates with music as Nikhita Srivalli,begins her riyaz at 4 am.

The 26-year-old singer was recently in the limelight for her song ‘Yeda Poyinado’ recorded with Bollywood singer Kailash Kher for Aravinda Sametha Veera Raghava . The song hasgarnered over 41 lakh views on YouTube.

Born in Visakhapatnam, Nikhita’s only musical connection in the family was her great-great-grandfather who was a violinist and a Carnatic vocalist.

Her penchant for music was noticed by her mother who observed how the two-year-old Nikhita would hum along with the songs on television.

At the age of six, she won a local singing competition. And that was the beginning of her musical journey.

Embarking on a musical journey

Nikhita was formally introduced to formal Carnatic music when at the age of eight she enrolled at the city-based music academy, Sangeet Janakulam. “Unlike today, in those days there weren’t many music academies in the city and it was difficult getting into them. Hence, making it to Sangeet Janakulam was an achievement. They enrolled me in their five years course where I was taught the basics of Carnatic music,” she says.

After completing her course at the music academy, Nikhita started training under noted Carnatic vocalist Mutnuri Jalajakshi and she continues to learn from her. Nikhita spends most of her days juggling between her studies, vocal training and her duties as an assistant professor at the Shankar Mahadevan Academy where she teaches music online to students across the world.

The singer who sings bass makes it a point to attend all music concerts in the city, a habit that was passed on to her by her guru. She believes that ‘every performance by a singer teaches something new’. “Earlier there used to be regular performances only in Kalabharathi auditorium. However, the mushrooming of several music academies across the city has increased the frequency of concerts. We get to hear the stalwarts of Carnatic music,” she says.

Nikhita is currently pursuing a PhD in music from Andhra University. She believes that music concerts not only help students of music but also develop a culture where classical music is appreciated. “It is necessary to introduce the younger generation to this genre of music and what better way than music concerts to imbibe in them a love for classical music,” she says.

Claim to fame

Nikhita has participated in several music competitions and has performed in concerts at Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kuwait. However, 2014 was a turning point when she participated in a popular Telugu talent show, Super Singer - Season 8. Selected out of 5,000 participants and competing against 18 contestants, Nikhita secured second place in the show. It made her a popular face in Telugu households.“The show was a novel experience for me as it encouraged me to go out of my comfort zone and sing film songs. My singing improved during the six-month-long show as I received regular feedback from the judges and even the music directors of the industry,” she says.

Little did she know then that the talent show would open the doors to her as a playback singer. The song ‘Yeda Poyinado’ brought her into the limelight. “Music Director Taman was looking for a bass voice and someone suggested my name as I had sung a bass song during the finale of the talent show. I was asked to send samples of my singing.

The very next day they summoned me to Hyderabad and we recorded the song,” she says.