Vocalist, composer, pianist, and artist, Elika considers herself a world citizen; her parents are from Iran, she was born in the US, raised in Kenya, and now lives in China. Elika’s love of music began when she was a child growing up in Africa. In between she has lived in Israel, the U.S. and Hong Kong. Her music beautifully expresses the diverse cultures that have been a part of her upbringing, blending and reflecting the influences of this varied background, drawing upon classical Western structures but incorporating instrumentation and styles from Iran to Ireland and China to Spain.
ABOUT
Elika studied classical piano from the age of five, and its influence can be heard in the stunning instrumental pieces that she began composing when she was in college. It was at the same time that Elika began singing and setting the Baha’i Writings to music. The enchanting “Melodies of the Nightingale”was the end result by Elika and two close friends, Michelle Brown and Fiona Doomun-Rouhani. This debut CD and launch into a professional music career was followed a few years later by a solo follow up titled “Melodies of the Nightingale for the Family” produced by Paul Meredith.
‘The Divine Mystery’ is Elika’s 11th and latest album which includes eleven songs and a booklet in honor of the centenary of the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The lyrics to ten of the songs are from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and the eleventh is an arrangement the well-known poem “Hold Thou my Hand”, written in His honor. Two of the pieces on the album set to music recently translated prayers of ‘Abdu’l-Baha.
All the lyrics are printed in the booklet, which features a beautiful photograph of the Master and includes a brief introduction to His life. Professional photographs of Holy Places in Haifa and Akka associated with the life of the Master are elegantly placed throughout the booklet. The product comes packaged in a gold chiffon bag so that it can be given as a special gift, and each booklet includes a unique download code to be used to download the music. I hope that this album and booklet will be given as a gift to friends, colleagues and neighbors to celebrate the life of ‘Abdu’l-Baha.
Elika released her 10th album titled ‘The Exalted One’ in 2019 in honor of the bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb. The album consists of 11 pieces from the prayer and writings of the Báb. She collaborated with producer Daniel Badi Rinaldi from Colombia.
In 2017 Elika released a most special album titled, ‘The Ancient Beauty’. This CD is especially created in honor of the Bicentenary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh. The 11 songs on the album set the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh to music with piano, cello, santour, guitar and voice. The album cover has a beautiful laser cut rendering inspired by the inner gate at the entrance to the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh and the album includes a short written introduction to the life and mission of Bahá’u’lláh.
‘Meditations for the Fast’ is Elika’s 8th release. The pieces on this album set passages from the Baha’i writings to beautiful melodies that uplift the soul and enchant the listener. The words are from prayers and writings revealed by Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha especially for the Baha’i fast, a time dedicated to personal reflection and meditation.
‘Infinite Bounty’ was released in November 2014. The album showcases gems from the ocean of Baha’u’llah’s Revelation set to enchanting melodies and ethereal harmonies, blended with diverse instruments and styles inspired by New Age, World, Pop and Middle Eastern genres. It includes collaborations with six outstanding musicians from around the globe. This album is accompanied by a hard cover book adorned with stunning, ocean-themed photographs.
Elika’s previous release is ‘Edge of Forever’, a collection of songs in diverse styles such as Latin, World, New Age, Pop, Middle Eastern and a little Rock. The music depicts the soul’s desire to transcend the limits of the material world and to soar in the spiritual realm. This album reflects a wider ranger of Elika’s musical influences with original lyrics for most of the songs. In January 2012 Elika released a piano instrumental CD of her original compositions entitled ‘Glimmerings’. Some of the pieces were composed over 10 years ago and others were created on the spot as she was inspired to play what came to her heart.
Elika has also completed a fourth CD called ‘Birds of Love’ on the theme of love and marriage. It comes with an elegant book of quotes on love, each hand-made with a slightly different pattern of gold silk fabric. Each page of quotes includes a traditional Chinese painting of two birds.
Elika’s third CD ‘Fire and Gold’ blends eastern and western musical styles and features a number of languages including English, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese. Elika’s music is inspired by the lyrics of the poetic and profound treasures of the Baha’i writings that cover deep subjects such as life, love, family, difficulties, the soul, afterlife, spirituality, and the progress of humanity. Accomplishing the near impossible, Elika takes these deep and complex subjects and creates music that is sophisticated and yet breathes with simple, heart-warming melodies and soaring harmonies that swell over the lyrics in elegant, diverse waves lifting the listener to ever higher realms.
Elika’s CDs have been sold in more than 25 countries and streamed in over 70 countries. Their stirring melodies and soaring harmonies have inspired people all over the world.
An artist as well as a musician, Elika loves to design and create beautiful items that bring joy to people and enhance their spiritual experience. Her current projects include making prayer beads from Chinese water pearls with matching Chinese clasps, silk prayer book covers, beaded bookmarks and hand made specialty cards using her original pieces of art as well as traditional Japanese paper with quotations from the Writings of Baha’u’llah. You can experience these on her shop.
Elika’s greatest hope is that her music and art will bring joy and upliftment to people around the world.