Najma

Genres:	World Music
Descriptive "tags":	world • india • indian • female vocalists • asia • fusion
Decades Active:	1980s • 1990s • 2000s

Biography

Najma Akhtar, 18 September 1962, Chelmsford, Essex, England. Akhtar began singing in 1984 having recently qualified as a chemical engineer. Winner of the Asian Song Contest held in Birmingham, England, in that year, she recorded an album in India in 1986 before releasing Qareeb, her international debut, a year later. Recorded in England, this album featured a selection of Ghazals (traditional eastern lyric love poems) put to melodies written by Akhtar and accompanied by a combination of traditional Asian and modern western musicians, including saxophonist Ray Carless. Qareeb was widely acclaimed and introduced western listeners to Akhtar’s pure, soaring voice. Songs from the album were used for an international fashion show and in the film Sammy And Rosie Get Laid. Over the next two years Akhtar sang throughout the world, including performances as part of the WOMAD 1989 tour. In that year, Atish (meaning ‘fire’) was released. It drew on a broader...

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