User:Mathaimusic/sandbox

 Mathai (Muh-TY) Born on November 27, 1992 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 to raise the family in a safer area and better school system.

During 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 to 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 (U.S.). They realized that there was a definite calling on their daughter to share her gift with the world.