Biography
Najma, born Najma Akhtar, has swiftly climbed into the top ranks of Indian music. England served as her birthplace, yet she has stayed deeply connected to the pop and film music traditions of her family’s homeland. Tracks from her debut release Qareeb in 1987 appeared in Hanif Quereishi’s film Sammy and Rose Gets Laid. Her 1988 album Ghazals By Najma presented her own versions of the classic Eastern poetic style, and in 1996 she issued Forbidden Kiss, an album devoted to songs by Indian film composer S. D. Berman.
Western audiences have likewise embraced her abilities. She contributed harmony vocals alongside Robert Plant and Jimmy Page for their 1994 MTV Unplugged performance of “The Battle of Evermore” and joined several dates of their No Quarter world tour. Additional partnerships include work with Jah Wobble, Andy Summers, Carol Grimes, and Maartin Allcock. One track she created with Jah Wobble, titled “Raga,” was featured in Robert Altman’s film Pret a Porter.
Although she earned a degree in chemical engineering, Najma never considered music as a profession until she won an Asian song contest in 1984. Soon after that victory came her first recording appearance on the inaugural WOMAD/RealWorld compilation. Her audience has expanded steadily since then. In 1991 her second album Atish climbed to number four on Billboard’s world music chart. Her third album, Pukar (Calling You), sold more than 50 thousand copies in Japan alone and later reached North and South American listeners through Miles Copeland’s Mondo Melodia label.
Western audiences have likewise embraced her abilities. She contributed harmony vocals alongside Robert Plant and Jimmy Page for their 1994 MTV Unplugged performance of “The Battle of Evermore” and joined several dates of their No Quarter world tour. Additional partnerships include work with Jah Wobble, Andy Summers, Carol Grimes, and Maartin Allcock. One track she created with Jah Wobble, titled “Raga,” was featured in Robert Altman’s film Pret a Porter.
Although she earned a degree in chemical engineering, Najma never considered music as a profession until she won an Asian song contest in 1984. Soon after that victory came her first recording appearance on the inaugural WOMAD/RealWorld compilation. Her audience has expanded steadily since then. In 1991 her second album Atish climbed to number four on Billboard’s world music chart. Her third album, Pukar (Calling You), sold more than 50 thousand copies in Japan alone and later reached North and South American listeners through Miles Copeland’s Mondo Melodia label.
Albums
Singles
