Singer, composer and session vocalist, Nilusha Dassenaike’s unique and versatile voice draws from her rich South Asian musical roots, jazz and pop. Her highly highly sort after musicality and has taken her from touring to television sets, performing locally and internationally.

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 Robbie Williams, Harry Connick Jnr, Hugh Jackman, Angelique Kidjo, Amanda Palmer, Natalie Merchant, Meshell Ndegeocello, Rhiannon Giddens, Rita Ora, Tones & I, Tina Arena, Dannii Minogue, Jessica Mauboy, The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Vika & Linda Bull, Genesis Owusu, Missy Higgins 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 five singles and have more releases scheduled for 2025.

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 voice at Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne and Melbourne Polytechnic. Nilusha and has also developed her own transformative method of voice, which combines vocal technique with embodied presence.

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