Najma

Najma Akhtar's raw talent and innovative reinvention of traditional Indian music has not only gained recognition of Western record buyers, but also musical heavyweights like Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and Steve Coleman. With a voice that soothes as it burns, Najma stunned audiences with her performance on the MTV "Unplugged" Robert Plant/Jimmy Page special.

At the age of 17, it took Najma some earnest persuasion to gain the consent of her conservative Muslim parents, but she developed her voice into a sensual phenomenon that takes on a markedly original form. Najma brings Indian music to new heights with her own dynamic fusion of ghazals (traditional romantic songs with poetic lyrics) and Western music. Chattering call-and-response tabla rhythms and complex contemporary arrangements provide a compelling landscape for her mesmerizing songs.

— Courtesy Calabash Music