Jun 4, 2013

neil-pranjivan
Vancouver, BC - Langara student Neil Pranjivan is a finalist in the 2013 MuchMusic Coca-Cola Covers competition. The winner will be announced at the MuchMusic Video Awards (MMVA) on June 16th in Toronto, and will earn a Singles Deal with Sony, a video, and other opportunities in the music industry.

Pranjivan, who is from Surrey, BC, is a student in the Continuing Studies Digital Music Program and was excited when he received the news. “The first few people that knew I made the top three were my family. Knowing that I’d be going to the MMVAs, I just had to tell my parents, and they were pretty shocked,” said Pranjivan. “I wasn’t able to sleep for weeks because all I could do was keep thinking about it.”

Deborah Holland, Digital Music Program Coordinator, added “We are excited to see Neil enter the next phase of his career where I'm sure he will be successful. He is an excellent example of the high calibre of work our DMP students continue to produce."

Now in his last term of studies, Pranjivan credits the DMP program for improving and expanding his creativity. “The teachers have been absolutely amazing and I thank them for all the pointers and advice they have given me in this past year.” He dropped his accounting studies and enrolled at Langara when his cousin recommended the DMP program. “It amazes me how much talent there is in this class. I wouldn’t be surprised if all the students become successful in the music industry.”

“I knew that this was the program, and also that what I wanted to do for the rest of my life was to make music for the rest of the world to hear.”

Pranjivan, who describes his music as “sentimental, but also fun and enjoyable,” entered the contest with a rendition of Frank Ocean’s Thinking About You and considers his style a mix of hip-hop, RnB, and jazz.

“It means the world to me, not only as an Indo-Canadian breaking into this genre of music, but as a kid who has been dreaming of an opportunity like this for years”, said Pranjivan. “Things are now starting to unfold, and the experience has been amazing.”

Regardless of the contest outcome, Pranjivan plans to complete his studies at Langara, continue making music for people to enjoy, and realize his dream: to sell out a concert in Madison Square Garden.



Photo courtesy of Neil Pranjivan.



Learn more.

Mark Dawson
Communications Officer
Communications & Marketing
T 604.323.5702
mdawson@langara.bc.ca