Aaradhna Jayantilal Patel (born 20 December 1983), better known by the mononym Aaradhna, is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, and musical recording artist. She made her musical debut in 2004 featuring on the single "Getting Stronger" with the group Adeaze which peaked at number one on the official New Zealand Singles Chart.
Early years Aaradhna is a New Zealander of Samoan and Indian descent. Her father Jayanti Patel is an Indian from Navsari, Gujarat, India and her mother Sia'a Patel is Samoan from the villages of PapaSataua, Falealupo-uta & Auala. Aaradhna is the eldest of five. She first showed singing aspirations at the young age of 11, singing along with her mother to traditional Samoan and country songs. She would try to imitate the songs she heard in Bollywood movies that she and her father watched and also went to festivals that her father performed at. Aaradhna began writing her own music at the age of 11; she entered her first talent quest at the age of 13 making it into the finals. She joined the school choir at Porirua College had got kicked out for rebelling, but went on to form a five-piece girl group called "Lovera".
Career Her debut album I Love You, entered the top 20 RIANZ and has various songs featured on feature films including the top 5 single "They Don't Know" featuring New Zealand hip-hop star Savage on Sione's Wedding and had also had another feature on the movie It's a Free World with her original song "Faith". Aaradhna released a club-inspired song alongside Australian producer, DJ & artist Paul Mac in late 2006 titled Love Declaration. The song features on Mac's album Panic Room. In Australia the single reached No. 31 on the local charts.
2008–present Her album Sweet Soul Music, a throw-back to the soul classics including The Jackson 5 cover "I Want You Back" was released on iTunes and various music stores in New Zealand on 14 February 2008 coinciding with Valentine's Day.
In 2011 she began working on her third studio album under Dawn Raid Entertainment. She released the single "Wake Up" in August 2012, and the album Treble & Reverb was later released in November. It was a finalist for the 2013 Taite Music Prize.
Patel's fourth studio album titled Brown Girl was released in July 2016. The album explored her own experience of casual racism in New Zealand. The album debuted at number one in New Zealand and also cracked the albums chart of Switzerland.AARADHNA – BROWN GIRL (ALBUM)- Charts.org.nz In November 2016, the performer gave away her hip-hop award at the 2016 New Zealand Music Awards, believing that she had "been placed in this category, because I'm brown". She opined that "you can't give a singer an award for Best Hip Hop artist".
Discography
Studio albums Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications NZ AUS I Love YouReleased: 8 May 2006 Label: Dawn Raid Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download 13 —RMNZ: Gold Sweet Soul MusicReleased: 14 February 2008 Label: Dawn Raid Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download 17 — Treble & ReverbReleased: 9 November 2012 Label: Dawn Raid Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download 14 — RMNZ: Platinum Brown GirlReleased: 22 July 2016 Label: Dawn Raid Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download 1 73 RMNZ: Platinum Sweet SurrenderReleased: 15 November 2024 Label: SIAATNT Formats: Digital download — — "—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released.
Singles As lead artist Title Year Chart Positions Certifications Album NZ"Down Time" 20063 RMNZ: 2× Platinum I Love You"I Love You Too"5 RMNZ: Platinum"Wake Up" 201212 RMNZ: Platinum Treble & Reverb"Lorena Bobbitt" —"Great Man" 2013 —"Brown Girl" 2016 — RMNZ: Gold Brown Girl"She"2023—Sweet Surrender"Mango Tree" 2024 — "—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released.
As featured artist Title Year Chart Positions Certifications Album NZ"Getting Stronger"(Adeaze featuring Aaradhna)20041 RMNZ: 3× PlatinumAlways and for Real"They Don't Know"(Savage featuring Aaradhna)20053 RMNZ: 5× PlatinumMoonshine"Love Declaration"(Paul Mac featuring Aaradhna)— Panic Room"Spin1"(Che Fu featuring Aaradhna)200620 RMNZ: GoldHi-Score - The Best Of Che Fu"Turn It Around"(David Dallas featuring Aaradhna)2009— Something Awesome"With You in My Bed"(Isaac Aesili featuring Aaradhna and Buff1)— Eye See"Music (Makes the World Go Around)"(Frisko featuring Aaradhna) 15 "Say Yeah"(P-Money featuring David Dallas and Aaradhna)2010— Everything"Like You"(Monsta featuring Aaradhna)2011—Pacific Coast Highway"Is That Enough"(Sons of Zion featuring Aaradhna)2017 — RMNZ: 2× PlatinumVantage Point "—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released.
Other certified songs Title Year Certifications Album "Bring It On Home to Me" 2008 RMNZ: Gold Sweet Soul Music "I'm Not The Same" 2012 RMNZ: Gold Treble & Reverb "Forever Love" 2016 RMNZ: 3× Platinum Brown Girl
Notes
References
External links AudioCulture profile
Samoan Bios: Aaradhna Aaradhna on Bandcamp