Esha's Talk Published at TED.com

Ever since the release of my first album, ‘Beautiful’ in 2016, I have been working really hard to spread a message of healing through music. In addition, it’s been important to me to address the stigma behind neurological disorders and mental illness. 

As a person with Tourette Syndrome, I struggle daily with the symptoms and consequences of the disorder. I feel certain there are many people around the world who feel the same way and I want to put forth an alternate way in which they might find healing. I found a way to soothe my symptoms through music. Ever since my diagnosis, music has held me up through my best and worst days

This past year, I was invited to present a talk about my healing experiences with music. I am so very honored and grateful to announce that my TED-Ed speech, ‘Compose Yourself’ has been selected for inclusion on the official TED Website. This is a dream come true! I can’t thank TED enough for giving me the platform to share my story and spread my message.

A video of my speech has been uploaded on the website and is now viewable at this link: 
go.ted.com/eshaalwani

In addition to thanking TED, I would like my to thank my Team for helping me reach this point. And of course all of you for supporting me and encouraging me to keep pursuing my music. I’m so excited to be able to share this with all of you. I hope that it inspires healing in your life and that you can find some importance in the message. 

I’d like to extend a special thank you to Saint Andrew’s School and my 9th grade advisor Ms.Lisa Winer, for giving me the very first opportunity to talk about my syndrome on a TED platform.

Please share this video with your family and friends, (I hope that they too can find something in the talk that speaks to them). Leave a comment to let me know your thoughts! 
Thank you for all the love and support. 
Stay Beautiful, 
Esha xx

This talk was presented at an official TED conference, and was featured on the TED home page. View video below or direct link- go.ted.com/eshaalwani 

LIKES & SHARES are appreciated.

Esha Alwani began writing songs when she was six years old, shortly after being diagnosed with Tourette syndrome. And she noticed something amazing: whenever she played music, her involuntary tics suddenly went away. Listen along as Alwani explores the power of music and delights the audience with an ethereal performance of her piano ballad "I'm Not Loving You (My Mask)."

Music Is My Therapy

Music Is My Therapy (Facebook.com/eshamusictherapy)

When I was seven years old I was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, a neurological disorder that causes me to make involuntary movements and sounds. I had a hard time coming to terms with the fact that I was ‘different’. Little seven year old me hardly understood why I couldn’t control my eyes from clenching and my arms from flailing around. I couldn’t concentrate, I couldn’t sit in a desk, and I couldn’t take a test without disturbing everyone in the room.

However, it was during this time, that I began to realize the effect that music had on me and my Tourette. Music quickly became my best friend.

Since before my diagnosis, my mom and I would write poems together every night, but it wasn’t until after my diagnosis that they started holding a real importance in my life. Initially, I wrote about princesses, puppies, and trees, but as I experienced more through my diagnosis, the topics became deeper. Eventually they turned into songs. I found that when I did something music related, my symptoms would lessen and quite often disappear. Writing songs started becoming more than just a hobby to me; it became my medicine and it became my therapy.

I realized that writing gave me the perfect opportunity to get out all my emotions and express how I was feeling and what I was going through in a way that people would want to listen. At the age of twelve I wrote ‘Beautiful’, a song about true, inner beauty. The song was not a place I was at, at the time, but it became my mantra. It was a song I wrote for myself, to remind myself what beauty really was.

As I’ve gotten older and have written more songs, I realize that my Tourette is actually a blessing in disguise. With the help of music I’ve able to better understand that this disorder I have, is just a small part of me. I’ve started understanding that there is more to me than my diagnosis. I’ve begun to see myself as a talented, smart, beautiful young girl who can heal herself through her music.

My parents, seeing my dedication and eagerness to make change and share my music, took me to Nashville to record my first album Beautiful. This album is a personal diary. Each song on the record is about my struggles with Tourette Syndrome and the things that it has taught me. I hope that through my music, people who are in similar situations will feel understood and empowered.

I always thought my Tourette would hold me back but in the end it was what started this whole thing that made my dream come true. I was five years old when I made microphones out of cardboard and sang karaoke to an imaginary crowd of people. Flash forward 11 years and I’m living the dream I never thought I would achieve. Today If you ask me what I’m most grateful to have in my life, I’ll say my Tourette Syndrome and I’ll mean it. It’s made me stronger, it’s taught me my greatest life lessons, and it is the reason I am where I am today.

I started ‘Music is My Therapy’ page in June 2015. Up till now, it’s simply been the part of my music career that donates sales of CD’s to foundations like the Tourette Association of America and the Autism Foundation of Aruba. Now, It’s time to give the idea wings.

I’m creating this official Facebook page in hopes that it will inspire people experiencing life challenges to find what they love and let it save them.

Music affects us all and for some of us with personal challenges, we might find that it is magical and therapeutic. I would love to hear some of your stories about the healing power of music in your life. If you would like to share your experiences please send it to me by email on musictherapy@eshaofficial.com

This was the beginning of my story; I hope you can make it the beginning of yours.

Stay Beautiful,

Esha xx

Esha - Island Temptation Magazine

Recently so many amazing opportunities have crossed my path.

Since the release of my second EP ‘Dangerous’, I’ve been busy with a press conference that officially launched the EP, radio tours, my debut concert at Aruba Summer Music Festival, and lots of promotional meetings! Aruba had been extremely supportive of my music, and has given me many amazing chances to share my music and my message!

One of my most recent interviews with the local Aruban magazine, ‘Island Temptations’, was featured in their July edition! The article is written by a dear friend of mine, who understands me and understands my music, so I feel like it definitely captured the message I was trying to get across!

I’m so excited for my upcoming shows at Manic Monday on August 28th and Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival on September 16! I look forward to seeing some of you there!

Read the interview below. Thank you for all your support and love!

Stay Beautiful

-Esha xx

Facebook - @eshamusic

Instagram - @eshamusic

Website - eshaofficial.com

Esha - Aruba Summer Music Festival July 1, 2017

The week before the show was full of preparation, dress rehearsals, and final touches. After four months of eating, sleeping, and breathing Aruba Summer Music Festival, I finally got to see the stage two days before the actual performance. As I walked onto the stage and looked at the empty space ahead of me, I tried to picture what the venue would look like at night with spotlights, bright screens, and thousands of screaming fans. However nothing I pictured in my mind lived up to the actual beauty and experience of the real night.

I spent all of Saturday fidgeting and looking at the clock. I can safely say that it was the LONGEST day of my life. Even though part of me was nervous about being on such a big stage with so many people watching, the other part just wanted to get on that stage and have some fun! 

When I reached Harbor Arena on the big night, I was wearing a thick sweater despite the Caribbean heat. My heart was racing and my ears were pounding as I climbed up the stairs to the stage wings. I waited in the wings for what felt like an eternity but was really only about 5 minutes. 

Suddenly I heard my intro video play and every cell in my body shook with excitement and nerves. I heard the introduction of my song “I Don’t Need You” and the supportive cheers from the audience. I stood in my position, the spotlights went on, and I sang the first note of my song. 

To be honest, everything from there to the final bow of my show was a blur. I remember important key points like the audience putting their flashlights in the air. I remember seeing familiar faces in the crowd, but not exactly registering them until much later. I remember the feeling of singing to 8,000 people and hearing them sing back to me. I remember finishing my set and hearing my island cheer for me. 

I’ve been alive for 15 years and I am lucky to have experienced many amazing and thrilling moments in my life, but out of every experience I have ever had so far, none has ever compared to the one I had on July 1, 2017. It wasn’t just about being able to sing before well respected artists like Maluma and Zion y Lennox and it wasn’t just about the number of people in the crowd. The night was amazing for me because I felt like everything I had worked for for the past few years was fitting together so perfectly. 

Everyone who has supported me along my journey and anyone who has criticized me helped shape me into the confident and dangerous person I was on stage and I can’t thank you all enough. I am eternally grateful for the people who have encouraged me and given me opportunities that have taken me places I only dreamed of.

            I pray that this show was just the beginning of a wonderful journey that lies ahead for us! Thank you for having faith in me.

Stay Beautiful xx

- Esha

eshaofficial.com

Instagram - @eshamusic

Facebook - @eshamusic

Producer - kimcopelandproductions.com

Management - copelandtuckergroup.com

International Day of Yoga

Happy International Day of Yoga! 

To celebrate this day, and mark the importance of chanting energy as a tool to awaken peace on our planet, I was invited to lead the chanting of the peace mantra. I gratefully accepted knowing that this would be an excellent way for me to connect with my Indian heritage. However, not only was I able to share my culture and connect with my cultural roots, I was able realize first hand how powerful chanting can be.

Chanting the mantra helped me feel peaceful yet energetic and aligned me to my goals, a valuable resource during my busy days preparing for upcoming festivals. I encourage you, especially today, to find some time for yourself and allow yourself to be peaceful! In a world where our lives are so busy and hectic making time to find peace and giving yourself the chance to connect with your surroundings is a practice worth trying. I am extremely grateful to Prana Aruba for helping me find my peace. I hope this video can help you find yours! 

Stay Peaceful and Stay Beautiful, 

-Esha

In Celebration of International Day of Yoga June 21st
There are different practices of yoga that can cultivate enlightenment of the being. Mantra chanting is a beautiful way to uplift your own frequency and the field around you. 

Peace Mantra featuring Esha and Yogakids Aruba

There are different practices of yoga that can cultivate enlightenment of the being. Mantra chanting is a beautiful way to uplift your own frequency and the energy field around you.

This mantra serves as a beacon of Light to the world. For the children, people, plants, planets, galaxies, the entire universe and cosmos.

Esha Radio/TV tour for release of "Dangerous"

Promoting my second album ‘Dangerous’ has been a fun and amazing experience. I am so grateful to all the radio and TV stations that invited me to share the album’s first single, “Until I Let Go,” and helped me promote my new album to their listeners and viewers. I’m so lucky to be able to share my music with not only my home, Aruba, but also all of you across the world. Thank you so much for all your support! You can listen to my new single on Spotify, Apple Music and Youtube, or you can purchase it from the iTunes Store and Google Play. You can get a "real" cd at CDBaby.  I hope you love it as much as I do! 

Stay Beautiful,    Esha xx

Nos Mainta TV . Telearuba

Nos Mainta TV . Telearuba

Blue FM 107.5 with Guisette Croes (Esha and producer Kim Copeland)

Canal 89.9 FM with Ivo Yanez

Power FM 101.7 with Rubin Garcia

Blue FM 197.5 with Guisette Croes

Top FM 95.1 with Mark Maduro

Bo Guia 88.9 FM / Jerrino

Music producer Kim Copeland / Esha

Cool 98.5 FM Morning Show / Esha, Dangerous

Magic 96.5 FM 

Fresh FM 104.3 with Daphne / Esha, Dangerous

Esha to Nashville Feb 2017

This week, I will be in Nashville, Tennessee, recording my second EP. I’ve been working on these new songs since the release of ‘Beautiful’ and I’m really excited to share them with you soon.

The past few months have been busy with song selection, writing, last minute touch-ups and instrumentation, and I can hardly believe that it’s time to go back to studio for the final recordings. This EP has a different attitude to it and I’m really excited to capture that in studio.

Usually when I write songs I write them in the privacy of my room. But with this EP, my producer Kim Copeland and I, wrote songs in places that would inspire us- like the beaches in Aruba! It was a new experience for me, but helped me become a bolder writer. 

 I can’t wait to share my new music with you. I hope you’ll love it as much as I do! Stay tuned for updates on the EP! Thank you all so much for your support.

   Stay Beautiful

   - Esha xx

Follow me @eshamusic  and check out my music video.  The more often it is viewed the better ranking I get at YouTube.  View Esha's VIDEO                

Esha and Kim Copeland

Feature in Destination Magazine

Team Esha sending congrats to our rock star for her inclusion in the 2017 Destination Magazine.  Quite a major accomplishment and we're super proud!  Be sure to pick up a copy next time you're flying.  Great story on her new music and her music video.

Download: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/beautiful-ep/id1097790937

Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/4vfgcWcptMcmhNrVBSv2mF

Video: https://youtu.be/g7-KGm5uBco

Follow Esha:

http://www.eshanow.com/

https://www.facebook.com/eshamusic/

https://www.instagram.com/eshamusic/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/ESHAalwani?lang=en

From Esha 1/1/17 - Resolutions

With the end of 2016, it’s now time to sit down and think about what we did this year and how we can strive to be better in 2017. Every year my family and I sit together just before the new year and write resolutions. While I have my major resolutions like working to be a better musician, student, and person, I also have some smaller ones. 

1. Cut down on Sour Patch Kids: I must admit; I’m a Sour Patch Kids addict! Whenever I go to the movie theaters this is my treat (or whenever I’m bored, hungry, or basically any time of day), and it doesn’t matter how many times I tell myself I won’t finish the packet, because I always finish the packet! And so, that’s why this coming year in 2017, I’m going to challenge myself to eat less Sour Patch Kids. Believe me this will be a challenge.

McDreamy

2. Spend more time reading and less time longing for McDreamy: For those of you who aren’t aware of the existence of the one and only Derek Shepard, he is one of my favorite doctors on the TV show “Grey’s Anatomy”. Even though I’m a couple seasons behind and still catching up, binge watching in 2017 isn’t going to do me any good. I need to start a new book. Maybe the writer of Grey’s Anatomy also wrote a book… I’ll have to look into that.

3. Couch to Cardio: This is something I put on my resolution every year, and always fail to do, but this year I’m positive I can accomplish it. I’m going to get off my couch and get some exercise. Even though I much rather sit inside and spend time playing my piano, I know that putting aside a few hours a week to exercise is important. 

These are three resolutions that I’m going to try to accomplish in 2017! Do you have any resolutions for the New Year? I’d love to hear them! You can comment them below! 

Have a Happy New Year and Stay Beautiful!

-Esha xx

FOLLOW ESHA : 

https://www.facebook.com/eshamusic/

https://www.instagram.com/eshamusic/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/ESHAalwani?lang=en

GET ESHA's MUSIC

Download: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/beautiful-ep/id1097790937

Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/4vfgcWcptMcmhNrVBSv2mF

Video Fan Diary #2

Pop singer/songwriter Esha went to Nashville in September to record a music video for her song, Yesterday.  Of course there are always many more fun things to do while in town.  Check out her fan video to share in all the excitement

Kudos to : Corner Music  

Kim Copeland Productions

Push Focus Productions

Sunday Gigs at Cuba's Cookin

Check out this message from Esha about her upcoming gig(s) at Cuba's Cookin'.