18-year-old Suchetha Satish is a multilingual singer who can sing in 150 different languages. The young music maestro who believes in her motto of ‘Music Beyond Borders’ was recently in the limelight for establishing a Guinness World record for singing in 140 languages at the Concert for Climate at COP 28 held in Dubai.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we interview young musical talent and get to know more about her life and work.
India's musical heritage is enriched by exceptional women singers, who have inspired artistic brilliance while shattering stereotypes and paving the way for future generations of musicians. Indian music is enriched by exemplary artists such as Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Shreya Ghoshal, and Kavita Krishnamurthy, each adding unique hues to the genre.
Adding a gem to this phenomenal list of talented musicians is Suchetha Satish. Born in Kerela and brought up in Dubai, Suchetha is an Indian singer, who broke the Guinness World Record for her harmonious singing, showcasing the power of unity and determination in a collective effort. She holds the Guinness World Record for singing in 150 languages, making her a valuable addition to the vibrant music industry.
At a very young age, Suchetha became the epitome of determination, hard work, and talent which garnered her this success. She has so far received global recognition for her singing skills and melodious voice. Suchetha established a Guinness World record for singing in 140 languages on 24 November 2023 in an event titled Concert for Climate at COP 28 held in Dubai. It was a nine-hour-long concert that was focused on raising awareness about climate preservation.
A Serendipitous Start to Multilingual Singing Career
Suchetha Satish was born in Kerala but later her parents shifted to Dubai when she was less than two months old. She was raised there from schooling at the Indian High School Dubai to now at Middlesex University where she is pursuing digital media and communication. Her maternal family has a musical background whereas her elder brother Dr. Sushant Satish also sings. “I started learning music at the age of four. I began with Carnatic music and then went on to learn Hindustani music and Western vocals as well,” says Suchetha about her singing journey’s beginning.
At some point, Suchetha was drawn towards music of different languages as well. She says, “At the age of 10 I began learning songs in different languages. Once a family friend who happens to be Japanese visited us in Dubai. She sang a Japanese song which fascinated me. A few days went by and I learned the song, recorded it, and sent it to our friend. She was surprised and noted that I sounded like a native Japanese speaker.”
Suchetha then got motivated to learn songs in different languages. “I went on to learn a Tagalog song, an Arabic song, and that's how the numbers kept increasing,” she adds.
However, Suchetha enjoys exploring various other hobbies. Other than singing, Suchetha likes to try her hands at instruments such as the keyboard, guitar, and ukulele. The young musician also enjoys trying out a little bit of composition and making tunes. She believes in music therapy and aims to pursue it in the future.
Awards & Recognition of Suchetha Satish
A hobby that began at a young age has today transformed into a world-class talent. Suchetha is a Guinness World record holder for singing in 140 languages. Singing at the Concert for Climate at COP 28, she sang in 140 languages to symbolically represent the 140 nation heads who had been invited by the UAE for the COP.
In 2021 Suchetha achieved her first Guinness record for singing in 120 languages for over 720 minutes at a concert.
At the age of 12 in 2018 she set her first two world records. One was for the most languages sung in a concert in 102 languages. The second was for the longest live singing concert by a child, who sang for over 615 minutes.
She also holds the Global Child Prodigy Award 2020 where Suchetha was one among the hundred child prodigies from around the world who were chosen.
She is also a winner of the Ujwala Baliyam Puruskayaram, which is by the Kerala government.
In 2014, she won the Sheikh Hamdan Award, which is a prestigious award of UAE for academic excellence and extracurricular activities.
The list of Suchetha’s accolades is truly spectacular.
When implored about her source of inspiration, Suchetha says, “Throughout the whole journey my family’s support has been the most important for me. I believe that if you have been blessed with a talent that you would like to develop or carry forward, you require a strong support system for that. My father Dr. TC Satish, my mother Sumitha, and my brother Dr. Sushant Satish have been my biggest support, and of course my grandparents as well,”
Words of Caution for Youngsters
Suchetha showcases maturity far beyond her age and believes that people need to utilize their skills for socially relevant issues, such as COVID awareness or spreading awareness against tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. As someone who has been practicing these skills since childhood, it's beneficial. She emphasizes the dangers of societal influences, particularly among youth, and the easy inclination to indulge in tobacco, alcohol, and drugs for personal gain, highlighting the need for betterment. Suchetha believes that music, sports, or art forms are sufficient for obtaining a high, without relying on tobacco, alcohol, or drugs, and advises wise choice.
She also has a message for the young readers. Suchetha says, “Suchetha says, “I urge people to follow their interests and passion. One must work on it so that you can make the best out of it. And I believe in using my skill, which is multilingual singing, for socially relevant issues. Like for example, the concept of raising awareness about climate change and the need for climate preservation.”
Future Plans of the Young Maestro
Apart from pursuing music therapy, Suchetha wants to continue learning songs in different languages and pursue playback singing. She also writes and composes independent songs in different languages. She has released two original songs in the Bhutanese language which are doing quite well. She aspires to be an international performer.
With such diverse singing talent with significant determination and dedication, Suchetha mentions, “Follow your dreams and passion! If one works sincerely and has self-belief, there is nothing in this world that can stop you from accomplishing what you want! Results automatically follow once the process is right!”
The future for Suchetha seems quite bright and musical already.
