Karishma Deo is a singer and songwriter from Vancouver who’s blooming music career has given her the opportunity to perform at the Juno Awards, open for artists like Neha Kakkar and Sonu Nigam, and now, perform at the 5X Festival Blockparty this September!

“I am so honoured to be part of the lineup of amazing artists that are performing at the 5X Fest Blockparty,” she said in an interview with 5X Press.

“This opportunity means so much more than I can express through words, and I will definitely make this my best performance yet.”

With two singles and a debut album on the way, Deo is a stunning example of how following your dreams and working hard can go a long way.

She’s been training in music since the young age of 10 and went on to graduate from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. 

Currently, Deo is a BBA student at Simon Fraser University, and has simultaneously amassed a huge online audience that is eager to hear her sing.

Deo is practically TikTok famous with 1.7 million likes on her signing compilation videos, and over 90,000 followers.

Taking inspiration from artists such as Alicia Keys, Ariana Grande, Kehlani and Shreya Goshal, Deo has crafted a unique and vibrant sound that is unlike others in the industry.

She connects to a wide audience through music by singing in Hindi, English, and Punjabi.

“I was raised with Indian and Canadian music influences, and as such have grown to love both cultures and music,” she said.

“Expressing myself through multiple languages makes me feel more connected to both sides of my cultural upbringing.”

In 2018, alongside other artists, Deo got the opportunity to accompany R&b artist Daniel Caesar for his performance at the Juno Awards in Vancouver.

A year later, Deo’s first original Hindi song "Sansani” came out, and in 2020, her first original English track "Jhumo to the Rhythm” was released.

Jhumo to the Rhythm was also her first original composition, and she says the experience of songwriting and creating her own songs helped her find her voice.

“It may be cliché to say, but every project I’ve worked on is close to my heart because they’ve helped me to grow into the person and artist that I am today,” Deo said.

She has also performed at concerts for Bollywood singers like Neha Kakkar, Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan, Sumeet Tappoo, and Atif Aslam.

“These experiences and the memories attached to them are invaluable,” she added.

We asked her what message she has for other South Asian artists.

“There will always be something in your path that might scare you when following your dreams, and that is inevitable,” said Deo.

“However, when you want to pursue something with your entire heart and have the courage to overcome obstacles and naysayers, then you will undoubtedly achieve your dreams.”

Currently, she is working on her first album and posts tons of music-related content on social media.

Deo has an impressive cache of songs and will continue to make the city proud. Be sure to catch her live at the #5XFestival Blockparty later this September!

Get your tickets here.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

About the author: Manisha is a writer and reporter with previous radio and television experience, who is passionate about connecting audiences to the stories and voices that matter to them most. Check her out on Instagram: @exclusivelymanisha