MATHAI - Born in Queens, NY, Mathai is the first generation of her family (who hail from India) born in the United States. She was only 3 years old when she started singing, primarily in church events and at the age of 10 her family moved to Dallas, TX. Over the next 9 years, Mathai would attend Coppell High School where she maintained her status in the top 10% of her class throughout all four years. Subsequently, she earned a scholarship to study Nursing at Texas Women's University, and worked hard for a 3.98 GPA. Mathai had always been driven towards the medical profession and, growing up in a South Asian family of medical professionals; there was never any other expectation for her career path.
Never thinking music would get her anywhere, singing was always considered more of just a hobby for Mathai. Classically trained in jazz during her childhood, Mathai started developing her unique vocal style around the age of 16 with a sound reminiscent of such artists as Billie Holiday, Norah Jones, Nelly Furtado and Adele. During the winter of 2010 she had the opportunity to perform during the popular AMTC convention in Orlando, FL where she was discovered by two entertainment executives, and soon thereafter took a break from school to move to Atlanta and pursue her music career.
Her parents, who were once completely against her decision, are now warily but lovingly supportive after seeing how people reacted to their daughter's talent during the blind auditions for NBC's hit television show, The Voice Season 2. There was a definite calling to their daughter to share her gift with the world.
NORWOOD is one of the hottest emerging Pop artists in the ATL and can be found rockin' venues that have a knack for discovering great talent. With his phenomenal voice and dynamic stage show that includes lots of dancing, he is often compared to having the combined talent of Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson.
Since the launch of his professional career in February of 2009, Norwood has already performed on TV, Radio, Pre-game Concert for the Atlanta Braves, Opening Act for the legendary B.B. King to a sold out crowd at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre, and was named Macy’s Rising Star of 2009. He was a featured performer along with American Idol finalist, Mandisa and Country Superstar, Josh Turner at the 62nd Lighting of Macy’s Great Tree which was televised on Thanksgiving. In September of 2011, he had the honor of performing at the Pre-Party for the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles and ended the year with a bang as a featured performer at the famous Atlanta Peach Drop which is the largest New Year's Eve celebration in the southeast.
In 2012, Norwood released his hit singles: "Record Spinner," "Gravity," and "Speechless." These dynamic, edgy and hard-hitting pop tunes were produced by Namaste Studios whose resident producers have been recognized for working on the top albums of today with an impressive client roster that also includes Justin Bieber, Tricky Stewart, Jessica Simpson, Elton John, Katy Perry and The Dream just to name a few.
2013 has already been a jam packed year to include being nominated for a GA Music Award for the second year in a row. Fans are invited to vote at www.georgiamusicawards.com before June 1, 2013 - genres have been combined so you’ll find Norwood under “Best R&B Male”.
RILEY - The first thing you notice about Atlanta-raised singer/songwriter Riley is how self-assured she is at sixteen. Her vocal virtuosity is undeniable too. But neither trait marks her as an outlier, not among what a new book calls Alpha Girls: talented, highly motivated, and self-confident.
She’s also not the first teenager to write her first song after school on her neighbor’s laptop. But few of those compositions hook big-time collaborators and Elton John’s management company. From that first effort, she was a natural at taking something specific, like a classmate’s lack of self-confidence on the guitar (a boy, naturally), and making the creative leap to a universal theme. “We all feel a little broken on the inside.” That’s a rare knack.
Riley was recently presented the 2012 Bill Lowery Horizon Award by the Friends of Georgia Music and the Georgia Senate Music Industry Committee. Governor Nathan Deal presented the award at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and she performed on live TV in the award show. Riley continues to write and record in Atlanta, Nashville, New York and Los Angeles for her forthcoming debut album.
