"Mantra music and devotional songs have a most healing effect on the hearts and minds of humanity. It is my goal to convey that feeling of Supreme Love to all through music."
~ Anjali
Anjali, a.k.a. Angela Silva, has been recognized for her warmly, sensuous voice, and engaging performances. Her musical expression is a unique blend of Brazilian, East Indian, Latin American, and American jazz styles. Throughout her career, she has performed both nationally and internationally, working as a producer and singer on recording projects, television, and radio
“Anjali sings a sound that resonates with your heart, so much so, that you will feel like you have wings and have been transported to another dimension. Anjali makes heaven available to us through her song.”
~ Cindy Leinweber, founder of Luminesce Art Museum
An American of Portuguese, Mexican and Sephardic lineage, Anjali grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, surrounded with rich music, from Cuban son to classical sonatas. The fourth generation of musicians on her mother’s side, she displayed a passionate interest in music at a very young age and at five years old, was studying piano and composing songs on the guitar. She began formal voice training at age 15, and went on to learn such diverse techniques as opera, jazz, and Hindustani vocals. She was fortunate to train with a handful of the world’s leading vocal teachers: Claudine Spindt (SF Opera), Silvia Nakkach (Vox Mundi Project), Patti Cathcart (Tuck & Patti), Ac. Nitysatyananda Avt., and Chandrakantha Courtney.
In the early 80’s, Anjali emerged on the San Francisco music scene, and was the preferred vocalist of several jazz bands throughout the Bay Area, including trumpet legend John Coppola’s CAL Alumni Big Band. She helped form the a cappella group Street Sounds, led by Sweet Honey in the Rock founding member, Louise Robinson, and later spent one year in Japan for exclusive engagements in reputable nightclubs. Upon her return to the USA, she created her own groups, performing Brazilian and jazz music throughout the Bay Area. For nearly a decade, she worked closely with Colombian born singer-songwriter Claudia Gomez, performing Latin American music. Her working relationship with some of the finest Bay Area musicians resulted in the expansion of her musical education where she studied Brazilian and jazz guitar, percussion, composition and arrangement. Anjali sang with master musicians such as Mike Spiro, Rebecca Mauleon-Santana, and Joyce Cooling. She was recognized by some of the most prominent figures in music: Tuck and Patti, Placido Domingo, Joan Baez, Wayne Shorter and Manhattan Transfer; and performed at some of California’s noted venues and festivals including the Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Monterey and San Jose Jazz Festivals, and the Noe Valley Ministery Series.
“Powerful stuff and HIGHLY recommended!
One of the most inspiring women in song today.
I could feel the complete rise in vibration from her presence, the music and kiirtan.”
~ Deanna Bordelon, RSc.P., Creative Life Spiritual Center
In the early 90’s Anjali set out for the South Pacific Islands for engagements in major hotels. There she met with Berklee College alumnus, producer Tom Bejado, recorded several jingles, and performed the theme song for the Micronesian Olympic Games. Upon her return to the states, she began to study a distinct form of East Indian influenced compositions called Prabhat Samgiita (Songs of the New Dawn) written by mystic, P.R. Sarkar. In the fall of 1996, she performed these songs with award winning vocalist, Acharya Nityasatyananda at the UCLA Renaissance 2000 Conference in California. She would go on to teach and perform Prabhat Samgiita, earning the title for Best Prabhat Samgiita at the 2000 Ananda Kanan Summer Conference in Missouri.
“Anjali has a direct connection with Spirit that opens the heart and silences the mind. Words cannot do justice to her unique, spiritual presentation.”
~ Reverend Anne S. Gillis, founder of EZosophy Movement
In 2001, Anjali brought her special music to the Houston political activist scene, and began a new role as a workshop facilitator. There, she performed at EarthDance, Bioneers, Miller Outdoor Theatre, Houston International Festival, and The Wortham Center; opening for prestigious political activists such as Gloria Steinem, presidential candidate David Cobb, and AR founder/director David Barsamian, She spent several years performing on stage and working in the community with renowned story-teller, author PK McCary. For nearly a decade, her music has been featured regularly on KPFT 90.1, Pacifica Radio, and this year her recording, Women We Are received air play on Amy Goodman’s Democracy Now.
Anjali has been an artist-in-residence and workshop facilitator as part of the Vermont Festival of Arts, at the Ozark Retreat Center, MO and at Prama Institute, NC. As the director of culture for the Women’s Wellbeing and Development Foundation, WWD-F she has taught world music and movement at schools and community centers for under privileged children.
Anjali’s distinct vocals and arrangements can be heard on numerous recordings including Frank Harris’ Daboa - From the Gekko, (Triple Earth Records, 1998) and Claudia Gomez’ Salamandra, (Clarity Records, 1991). Songs from Women We Are (WWD-F 2006) have been used internationally in multimedia. Her children’s CD, The Fairy’s Flowers (Gurukula 2006) received recognition in the Neohumanist and Waldorf Education communities. Her solo recording, Sweet Joy (InnerSong 2004) has been acclaimed around the globe as one of the most inspiring CDs.
Anjali is also a writer, whose publications appear in Emerging Lifestyles Magazine, New Renaissance Magazine; and in a book of short stories: Fire in Our Eyes, Flowers in Our Hearts. She has most recently moved to Asheville, NC where she continues to perform and teach in the surrounding areas.
"Anjali has said it all in song - I can go home now!"
~ Michael Nagler, founder Peace and Conflict Studies Program, UC Berkeley
I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V3.6!
