Solveig’s Strength Through the Years!

Solveig was many amazing things, but was not defined by any labels or expectations, neither did she want to be treated like she could not make own decisions or forge her own path either. I remember her saying emphatically when we first met in ’93, (actually it was ’91, but that’s another story) “people seem think because I have this long blonde hair and nails and am singing ballads that I am some sort of porcelain doll without the ability to think for myself”, she thought that was ridiculous. After ’93, Solveig’s music style changed and she embraced her true musical calling through writing, composition, music that was more complex with poly-rhythm, odd time signature, complex harmony, and a diverse music plateau in which she drew from to create amazing works – our albums may say ‘The AK Project‘, (even though I wanted ‘The SK/AK Project’) – the music we did was Solveig’s heart and passion all the way! I knew from the instant I met her that she was not only beautiful inside and out, but she was strong on every level, and now our daughter’s carry that beauty and strength.

Solveig also absolutely loathed hypocrisy – she was always about people being present, and excepting her for who she was and for the choices she made. Solveig’s philosophy was always clear, and I remember once at a show she was chatting with the band and our friends about people through her life and said that her view was, “don’t show up at the nth hour after the fact when it’s too late, be here for me now, accept me as I am, accept my choices. I am all about my family, so love me, love my husband, love my kids…respect my space and respect who I am, and not what you think I should be”, I can hear that conversation as clearly as though it were yesterday, and that philosophy never changed. I was so proud of her.

Solveig did not live by anecdotes or platitudes either, nor did she allow anyone to keep her from living her life in the present. Solveig did not dwell in the past or allow anyone to drag her backwards but she grew from her experiences and lived her dreams as she wanted, with me, my girls, my family and friends, supporting all her choices with pride and respect.

Solveig did not judge, nor did she let anyone to judge her, she was proud of her faith choice and her name – she didn’t allow negative roots to to enter our home or lives, she did not hide her heart and moved our family, the girls and me, her work, faith, her music – all of it – forward .

Solveig’s heart was free and passionate and she loved being a mother, and in addition to being an incredible wife to me, she was even more if that can be conceived, so much more, as she was a true light in my life and our children’s and to all those who were with us each and every step – her light shone over us then and still does now.

Solveig nurtured our children into the amazing young ladies they are and was always, always supporting every decision they made – she wanted them to live their lives and enjoy their moments without judgement and encouraged them to fulfil their dreams to the fullest. We always told our children that no matter what their dreams were, and even if they change what they want along the way, we were there always to support them without judgement and with unconditional love.

Solveig taught me and our girls love, patience and kindness – her lessons are a beacon for us and even though physically not here, she is still here in love and light – we are so blessed, so blessed.

All our family and friends that were present at all our special times of life, from our wedding, our daughter’s passing, every birthday, celebration, holiday and every event in between, and right until she left us physically, she was so protective of them and so grateful to have such loving people in our lives who actually were with us all the way and knew us. Our home was, and still is filled with light and love because of Solveig – we will never forget, your light shines eternally.

Band picture of Azim and Solveig Keshavjee
Band picture of Azim and Solveig Keshavjee

Gallery

Happy Birthday Solveig!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful Solveig!
A picture of us at one of many, many birthday celebrations through the years. Solveig absolutely loved celebrating birthdays and holidays and showed so much love and kindness – she made celebrations even more special – Solveig just knew what was perfect every time. Her smile just melts my heart every single time and always has, and will.

Today would be my beautiful wife Solveig Keshavjee’s birthday…Happy Birthday to my sweet, beloved Solveig, you are never forgotten…ever! ❤️ We love you so much!

Solveig always loved celebrating birthdays and lived life to its fullest. Our family gatherings were simply amazing and will be continued just as she had done and would want for us.

Today is also the day where we laid to rest our daughter 19 years ago…she is now with her Mum and smiling at us, and shining light from above.

I cannot begin to explain how hard it has been without my Solveig, only the love of a soulmate and our children can understand this, the pain is immense, my heart aches and I miss her more than I can ever express, every day is a challenge…every moment is a challenge, but I am so appreciative and so immensely grateful for all the love and support that my daughters and I have received from family, friends, colleagues, and from so many people around the world. I invite you to visit the rest of this blog, and all the links that I am doing, that will be updating all the time, which shows the incredible life that Solveig and I were so blessed to have. There are links and a private gallery of family/friends videos, pictures, music/video we did live and in the studio, demos, and much more (please private message for login).

I know someday without a doubt that I shall be reunited with my beautiful Solveig again, our story and journey doesn’t end here as true love never ever dies…love is eternal. 

Solveig: A devoted, loving, amazing wife and mother.

A devoted, loving and amazing wife and mother, I see her in our girls everyday, in the way they laugh, love, smile, care, have faith and I also see that they have her wisdom, courage, kindness, fortitude, strength and big, big hearts as their mother taught them…and as she taught me, to be the best that we can. Our girls are so much like their mother that you can see it in the way they look and act, in everything they do – Solveig is still here through our girls, they are her legacy – our biggest blessing. One of our daughters is following in her footsteps and is in music at university, just like Solveig did, and my other is following her dreams like Solveig did though academia. My daughters will always know that Mama (that’s what they call her) will always love them, and will always be holding them close.

Solveig’s love for our children was nothing short of spectacular, a fierce ‘Mama bear’, a protector of the family – she always inspired our girls to follow their hearts no matter what their dreams were. Solveig supported them in every way – nurturing, loving and encouraging them to be who they wanted to be without judgement and with honest, unwavering, unconditional love always – our children are her ultimate song of love.

https://solveigkeshavjee.home.blog/gallery/

Solveig and Azim (Our Story, Our Journey…)

Stay tuned for our story which will feature our life story and Solveig’s professional work over the past 26 years (1993 to 2018) from in the studio, on stage and all the humanitarian work she had done! Solveig’s vocal range and power were absolutely remarkable – we started in ’93 working together on various projects and each year her vocals became even stronger than they had ever been before – musically and lyrically Solveig was unmatched!

Click here for our music (from the 90’s on) which includes mp3’s, videos, playback, songs in other languages, and more: OUR STORY

‘Zarah’ (Solveig Keshavjee)

Solveig Zarah Keshavjee's 'Z' pendant and heart pendant.
Solveig’s cherished pendant with the initial Z for Zarah and a heart pendant given with love.
Solveig Z. Keshavjee
Solveig Z. Keshavjee (Work Badge)

Solveig personally chose to add the name ‘Zarah’ legally to her full name in the 90’s based on her new faith and practice. Solveig’s full married name is ‘Solveig Zarah Angelique Maria Keshavjee’, although she went by Solveig Zarah Keshavjee. An extremely faithful and religious person, she was kind and caring to everyone, she practiced faith regularly and ensured our home kept up – she literally led us – no slacking!

Fondly remembered as Zarah to many that loved her in the community worldwide, a name she was so proud of, she always signed off as ‘Solveig Z. Keshavjee’! All her certificates, and designations that she worked so hard to achieve all are awarded to: Solveig Zarah Keshavjee OR Solveig Z. Keshavjee (please see the family gallery for pictures).

A believer in equality, fairness, and absolutely an independent free thinking woman, strong in her views and opinions and steadfast in every way, she was quite simply the strongest woman I have ever known…our daughters carry her strength and wisdom and all her characteristics…to look at our daughters is to still see Solveig right now – our daughters are a true blessing and are our legacy now and for the future.

Solveig Keshavjee’s music journey

Solveig Zarah Keshavjee creating magic in our studio!
Solveig Keshavjee creating magic in our studio!

Solveig’s vocal range and power simply were unmatched! From when we started as of ’93 working together, her vocals became strongest they had ever been – musically and lyrically from then on she was unmatched!

Coming shortly will be Solveig’s music journey which will feature her professional work from her leaving her ‘Solveig-Angelique’ days and forging a powerful new journey over the past 26 years (1993 to 2018) from in the studio, on stage and all the voluntary and humanitarian work she had done!

Please visit the rest of this online memorial in memory of my beautiful wife and mother of our daughters, Solveig Keshavjee…(Solveig Zarah Keshavjee) taken much too soon, always loved, and never forgotten. Now in God’s hands, her light continues to shine and will always shine brightly. True love never ends because that love is eternal

Solveig Keshavjee, dedicated in loving memory

ALWAYS LOVED, NEVER FORGOTTEN!

1963 – 2019

Solveig Zarah Angelique Maria Keshavjee

Azim and Solveig Keshavjee. One of many beautiful moments captured together!
Azim and Solveig Keshavjee
(Solveig Zarah Keshavjee, née Nikischer).
One of many beautiful moments captured together!

I have never used websites or social media for personal matters as I am a very private person as are my family, but the outpouring of love and friendship that has been shown to me and my family has been so immense I feel I need to write, and to share a love that can only be described as pure and everlasting.

In the coming days I will add pictures and beautiful memories of my beloved and beautiful Solveig – there was not a single day that passed in our 26 years together where we did not say to each other, ‘I Love You’ – every text, email, phone call, everything ‘love you’, ‘I miss you’. We were together ALL the time and we found joy even in the smallest of things and had so much fun. Most people need time away from each other, we always needed to be with each other, she always said, “I can’t sleep at night if you’re away somewhere”…I felt and feel the exact same. She was a pillar of the community and so respected by all. Solveig never stopped giving, caring or loving all those around her and was a fierce protector of our family.

For those that didn’t know her personally beyond music, Solveig Zarah Keshavjee, née Nikischer was a mentor, leader, caring friend, long-time manager of procurement at Algonquin College, (my Mum and her worked together at the college for many, many years) a religious educator, RE principal, and champion for all those that needed help and a dear and valued respected member of the community. Solveig remembered everyone, their birthdays, anniversaries, special occasions – nothing was ever forgotten – she made everyone feel adored.

Solveig of course was an artist and vocalist like non other I have ever seen in my life, the music she wrote that we did together and recorded, as well as past works are simply stunning – I was in awe every time of her ability, power, range and pure and immense talent. In all the years I have known Solveig, her performances were pure perfection at EVERY single show – every one of them!

Many think she was in my band…it was quite the opposite, I was the lucky one to be able to be in groups with her for 26 years. Solveig fashioned the bands into what they became, and she led the way with power and strength – EVERY time I went on stage with her I was in awe and star-struck and like it was when we first met – simply in love and so grateful that she chose me.
When I would look over and see Solveig watching me play guitar, either in the studio or on/off stage, she had this look when she watched me that made me feel like an absolute rock star…she pushed me to be the best musician I could ever be. I am so privileged that we recorded albums together – her vocal and my guitar are moments that are ours alone…so grateful…..we have a story that is so special.

I remember Solveig saying when I recorded her vocals on our last album that she loved how we worked together on all our projects and that recording and working with me was so much fun, so easy and without pressure or judgement and that she had never had that experience in any work before in any project – she felt free to create how she wanted to and to write how she wanted….I was so humbled and was so grateful…I knew that I was working with the greatest vocalist and song writer I had ever known – it was me that was so immensely grateful – an honour to be in her presence – I feel blessed to have all her lyrics and new lyrics that she had finished…and a never before heard demo which I will release at some point in her honour.

A devoted, loving and amazing wife and mother, I see her in our girls everyday, in the way they laugh, love, smile, care, have faith and I also see that they have her wisdom, courage, kindness, fortitude, strength and big, big hearts as their mother taught them…and as she taught me, to be the best that we can. Our girls are the so much like their mother that you can see it in the way they look and act, in everything they do – Solveig is still here through our girls, they are her legacy – our biggest blessing. One of our daughters is following in her footsteps and is in music at university, just like Solveig did, and my other is following her dreams like Solveig did though academia. My daughters will always know that Mama (that’s what they call her) will always love them, and will always be holding them close. Solveig’s love for our children was nothing short of spectacular, a fierce ‘Mama bear’, a protector of the family – she always inspired our girls to follow their hearts no matter what their dreams were. Solveig supported them in every way – nurturing, loving and encouraging them to be who they wanted to be without judgement and with honest, unwavering, unconditional love always – our children are her ultimate song of love.

Solveig would say to me everyday how much she loves us and will always love us like no other love that could be expressed – we knew that she did, she showed us daily and we did, and will still do, all we can every single day to show her just how important and blessed we are that she is ours and we are hers always and forever – that is eternal and will never be undone.

We are a private family and have held that close and she fiercely protected us. She was immensely close to my brother and my sister-in-law and all our family, she is missed so much. Solveig’s heart so filled with love for her friends and family and all those that knew her…a blessing to us all.

I cannot believe she is gone, a life without my sweet Solveig…I can’t breathe and I am devastated…I find it even hard to type these paragraphs through my tears and heartache, I am inconsolable…Solveig was more than I could ever articulate in to any words, only my heart can say it…but I will continue to write more over the next while, and show our amazing life together through love, words, music and song.

To all of you, my friends and my family that are missing her so much, know that she loves…yes loves, not past tense, you all, and is watching us and smiling and still protecting us with her love and smiles. I know I will see her again, she is my soul mate and there will always be only Azim and Solveig.

I love you, I miss you,,,
Azim