We had the good fortune of connecting with Rita Shukla and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rita, how do you think about risk?
Risks are important in order to get your life moving so you don’t get stuck on the same patterns and lifestyle that you had before. All changes are difficult to adapt in the beginning, but as long as you’re following your dreams and what you believe, and it’s a change that is going to improve you to be the best version of yourself, then it’s necessary. In my life, taking the risk of leaving everything behind in Brazil: family, friends, and good financial stability, in order to come to LA to study Musical Theatre, was the best choice I could’ve made, because not only I’ve evolved as a person, but also many other doors have opened for me so far, that have brought happiness and fulfillment into my life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a singer and actress from Brazil. I first came to LA to study Musical Theatre at AMDA, College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts, and since I’ve graduated from there, I mainly have worked with music. One of the biggest challenges I’ve encountered in the way, was being away from family and friends, and having to adapt to a new country and culture. But with time and persistence everything is possible, and here I am still. Since I’ve graduated from AMDA, I’ve been the lead vocalist of a few bands, but since 2018 I’ve been the vocalist of Volti Cabaret, an original indie rock band in Spanish, formed also by Nel Pastel ( guitar), Dee ( guitar, and keys), Dane Hoffman (bass), and El Rockeño (drums). We are in the process of recording our EP with the great producer Ted Perlman who’s recoded, toured with and worked with the greatest artists such as Whitney Houston, Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Burt Bacharach, and Joe Cocker. Hopefully we’ll be able to finish it sometime soon, so that we can release our EP still this year, after the world recovers from this pandemic.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, for sure I would have to take them to see the California beaches and nature. So I would start with taking them to visit some of my favorite beaches: Manhattan, and Redondo beach, and also walk on the pier and check the little gift shops there. I would also take them to see Venice beach, and Santa Monica, including the pier and the 3rs Street Promenade shops. And then we would head to Malibu, my favorite places of all. And there we would grab some food at the Paradise Cove Beach Cafe while enjoying the beautiful beach view. Some of the other places I would take them is to see the touristic places in Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Rodeo Drive. I would also go hiking with them at Griffith Park and Runyon Canyon. I would definitely take them to two of my favorites Brazilian restaurants Pampas Grill at the Farmers’ Market, and Bossa Nova in West Hollywood. For a nighttime hangout I would take them to go bar crawling at my favorite rock n’ roll bars at Sunset Strip: the Viper Room, the Whiskey a Go Go, Roxy and Rainbow. And not to forget, I would take them to have some fun times at Universal Studios and Disneyland to end the trip with the best entertainment.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, I couldn’t definitely be where I am at today without the love and support from my family. And the opportunity of studying theatre and music with the best instructors whom I couldn’t be more humble from learning from throughout all of my educational and college years. So I would like to give my biggest shout out to my first theatre instructor Helcio Henrique, all my professors from PUC-SP in Brazil, from where I graduated in theatre, specially Antonio Rogério Toscano, Cassiano Sydow, Lucila Tragtenberg and Miriam Rinaldi. Also so many other amazing teachers who I’ve learned from so much in LA: Dr. Christine Gengaro,Mary Amorosia, Adriana MchPhee, and Lori Stinson.

Instagram: Instagram.com/ritashukla
Facebook: Rita Shukla
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgrSqnljEvtiIU4cLeWFMEQ
Other: My band Volti Cabaret: Instagram.com/volticabaret Facebook Page: Volti Cabaret

Image Credits
Nel Pastel, Dee, Dane Hoffman, and El Rockeño