Dr. Rabinder Malik & Kelly Atkins

After meeting several times over Zoom with Rabinder, Kelly was so moved by his experience, career, travel, and talent that she thought the whole world needed to hear the story of this amazing man: “I couldn’t think of a better gift than a place to showcase the many lives of Rabinder Malik.” Kelly invites you to get to know Rabinder — present and past — through stories of his life, singing, career and family. www.rabindermalik.com

Dr. Rabinder Malik has enjoyed a 40-year long, distinguished career with the United Nations Organization, working with WHO and UNDP in India and Indonesia, and for the last 20 years, from 1976 to 1996, with the United Nations University (UNU) in Tokyo, Japan. Dr. Malik decided to stay on in Japan after retirement and has now lived here for 44 years, half of his life, and feels well adjusted to life in Japan. Dr. Malik has been living in the City of Urayasu for the past 40 years, where he has been participating actively in the community activities. In 2005, the Mayor of Urayasu City gave him a special Award for his activities in promoting harmony between the Japanese and foreign residents of the city. 

Dr. Malik has been leading a very active retired life and has been teaching courses on International Relations at a number of universities in Japan. He has also undertaken several other interesting assignments: (1) A semester as a Visiting Professor at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, USA; later on, he also served as the Resident Director of their Study Abroad Program in Latvia.  (2) A semester teaching a course at the University of South Florida in Tampa. (3) Adviser/Lecturer on board the “Ship for World Youth” (SWY) Program, sponsored by the Government of Japan. (4) Director of the Tokyo Centre of the IES Study Abroad Program in Japan for students from American universities. 

As a long-term Indian resident of Japan, Dr. Malik is actively engaged in promoting social and cultural relations between the peoples of India and Japan and is serving as President of “Discover India Club” in Japan. His abiding hobby is singing, and he found many similarities between the traditional folk music of India and Japan. He got attracted and for many years has been learning to sing different genres of the Japanese folk music referred to as “ENKA” and “MINYO”. He has won many awards while singing on stage and television. He also joined a Trio called “OYAJI GUMI” with his music teacher and they issued a CD. Dr. Malik says he feels happy to have joined the Artists & Elders and is looking forward to working with Kelly Atkins.

Kelly Atkins has actively performed, written, recorded and toured (nationally  and internationally) for over 20 years, including as singer, songwriter and  keyboardist for the critically acclaimed Indie Rock band 20 Minute Loop,  Deputy Director, core member and frequent musical director of the world renowned Kitka Women's Vocal Ensemble, songwriter, arranger and singer for  the indie folk band Little Gems, harmony singer for The Bye Bye Blackbirds (“Top shelf rock and roll for the thinking man and woman”), singer and  songwriter for the electronic duo Rondo Brothers, and back-up vocalist,  keyboardist and flutist with scores of artists, including Dan the Automator (Gorillaz, Deltron 3030), Chali 2na, members of Hieroglyphics, Jonathan Segel and Victor Krummenacher (Camper Van Beethoven), indie singer-songwriters  Scott Garred (Super XX Man) and James Combs, award-winning folk musician  Kyle Alden, Angelo Moore (Fishbone), and many others. 

Kelly has over twenty years of experience as a session vocalist, arranger, song  doctor, producer, and songwriter, with works licensed for television and film. She also takes great joy in helping others find their voice by providing voice  coaching services for all age groups. Most recently, she performed in Shotgun Players' 2018 theatrical production of  Iron Shoes, and acted as co-producer of numerous musical releases, including  most recently Scott Garred’s 2020 Scott Songs Vol. 2, Kitka's 2018 Evening Star and 20 Minute Loop's 2017 Songs Praising the Mutant Race.