Nilusha Dassenaike is a singer and composer who weaves her South Asian spirituality and musical roots into her songs. Her unique voice is highly sort after and has taken her all around the globe performing on some of the world’s most prestigious stages.

Born in Sri Lanka and raised in Melbourne, Nilusha relocated to New York City in 2017. She performed extensively with the Resistance Revival Chorus and became the vocal arranger/music coordinator for the ensemble. She has had several residencies at Carnegie Hall, and also performed at The Barclay Centre for Oprah’s Book Tour, The Apollo Theatre for Harry Belafonte’s 93rd Birthday, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (with Jim James), The Lincoln Centre for Women in the World Summit for Hillary Clinton, Jazz at Lincoln Centre, National Sawdust, Rockwood Music Hall, Rockefeller Centre, Summer Stage at Central Park, Spotify and TEDx NYC.

She has also performed background vocals for Harry Connick Jnr, Hugh Jackman, Tina Arena, Angelique Kidjo, Amanda Palmer, Natalie Merchant, Deva Mahal, Meshell Ndegeocello, Rhiannon Giddens, Rita Ora, Tones & I, Dannii Minogue, Jessica Mauboy, The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Emma Donovan, Vika & Linda Bull, Genesis Owusu, Bliss N Eso, Missy Higgins, Dami Im, Electric Fields and many others. Her notable virtual performances include the Biden/Harris Inauguration in 2021 and Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s– Honor Her Wish.

New York City is where NiCo Electro, her co-led electronic, downtempo, cinematic, pop project with programmer and producer Colin Snape began. The duo has released three singles and have many more releases scheduled for 2024.

Nilusha has also released four albums to critical acclaim, The Lotus Verses, which reflects the unique coupling of Sri Lankan folk music, contemporary jazz and extended vocal techniques. The award-winning album Tales To Tell, which received the Premio Internacional award at the Cuban Music Awards (Grammy equivalent) in Cuba, Moments in Time and Afterglow which featured Mike Stern (Miles Davis Band).

A passionate teacher with over 20 years of teaching experience, she has taught at some of Australia’s leading Universities and Colleges and has now launched her own transformative and integrative method of voice, body and soul, which combines singing and mindfulness through embodied presence.

She has a Master of Philosophy in Traditional Sinhala Folk Music and is currently in Melbourne with her partner Colin Snape and their dog Chechi.