On a high note!

Fresh on the music charts, the latest release is her first collaboration with music director Harris Jayaraj. Jonita's recent version of his famous hits 'Vaseegara'/ 'Zara Zara' acted almost like a teaser to audiences, leaving them craving for the pair to work together. The remake paved the way for this much-awaited Harris-Jonita combo. Jonita has lent her vocals for 'Hey Amigo' alongside Leslie Lewis for Suriya - starrer film 'Kaappaan'. Penned by Vairamuthu, the song already has 250,000 views in less than 15 hours.

The song boasts a fusion of Spanish Indian sounds and is sure to become the party number of 2019 especially since the music is upbeat and mentally stimulating.

No stranger to Tamil-music lovers, Jonita can sing in several languages including English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi and Bengali.

Excerpts from an interview:

This is your first collaboration with music director Harris Jayaraj, how was the experience?

Harris sir has an amazingly unique personality and it was fun working with him in the studio. I feel his quirkiness really came through in this song!

Which is the best song you have ever released and why?

As far as playback goes, 'Kahaan Hoon Main' from the film 'Highway' will always have a special place in my heart. Not only it is the first solo song I lent my voice to for film, but it was one of the most rewarding recording experiences I had. In the process, I learned so much about myself as a singer and I'm forever grateful for the experience.

An instrument which you want to learn and why?

Not too long ago, I would go around saying that I wanted to learn how to play the bansuri, piano, violin, and guitar before I die. Although I might not make that statement anymore, I still think it would be great if I could accompany myself on the guitar! It would definitely help me experiment with songwriting as well (smiles).

How often and for how long do you practice?

Every day is different. I try to get in an hour of 'riyaaz' daily but it's not always possible. Sometimes there's only enough time for a quick warmup before a show or recording.

If it wasn't for your music career, what you would be doing right now?

If I wasn't able to pursue music full time, I would probably be working in corporate banking in Canada. During my post-secondary studies, I was an intern at CIBC World Markets for four months.

If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?

One of the things I would like to see change is the impact of power and money being higher than that of talent and hard work.

Who are your musical inspirations?

I get inspired by a variety of sources! I believe there is something to learn from almost everyone. Some artists who I've learned a lot from, just by listening to them, are Asha Bhosle, AR Rahman, Sonu Nigam, Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, Bruno Mars. The list goes on and on.

What are your fondest musical memories?

That's a loaded one - I'm sure most of my fond memories in life involve music in one way or another. All the milestones in my career - like my first viral cover video, first playback song in Bollywood, getting discovered by AR Rahman, etc are all fond memories.

What kind of music do you listen to today?

I listen to songs suggested by friends from around the world which vary in genre. I like to be inspired by new music and there's always something new to learn.

What is your favourite song to belt out at the bar/in the car/for karaoke?

'Killing me softly' by Lauryn Hill / The Fugees. It's my all-time favourite!

What are your future projects?

I'm currently working on some original content and exploring the independent music space. Looking forward to releasing some new music later this year, as well as a few more covers on my YouTube channel. There are a few film songs and concerts also in the pipeline.