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Indian Shakira in the making
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Xenia Ali's `Meri Ada' is an impressive debut album with a bit of everything thrown in.
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SHE IS one of the first pop artistes from the Kashmir valley - she began her musical career by singing ghazals and geets in family and friends get-togethers. She trained under Pandit Sharma, who hails from the same place as Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma. Put your hands together for Xenia Ali, who has just released her debut Indi-pop album titled `Meri Ada' (Times Music; CD Rs. 99).
According to Xenia, music is her escape from fighter jets and bombers and war, into a world of peace, love and tranquillity. This is evident, as the central theme of all her songs seems to be love and peace.
Xenia's musical influences range from Diana Ross and Asha Bhosle to Abida Parween - and is evident in the album as it has a little bit of everything thrown in. Raju Ali, brother of Lucky Ali, is the composer and Xenia, Assad Ajmeri, Raju Ali and Rishabh Bhatt have written the songs.
The title track of the eight-song album is one of those `catch me if you can' ones where a raunchy voiced Xenia is in top form. Very energetic and a bit rustic, Meri Ada is powerful and infectious. Xenia reminds you of Shweta Shetty's vocals at times. The sound of the electric guitar is impressive and the tabla and flute accomplishments, which pop up in the middle make for good listening.
Gulposh is supposed to be an ode to the Kashmir valley. It has a folksy rhythm and gives you that déjà vu feeling when you hear it. It is one of those songs sung in mehfils and features classical Indian instruments alongside unique-sounding `punkish' accomplishments.
Chhore, on the other hand, is comparatively slower, with a sweet, melodious rhythm. But, after listening to the track a couple of times, one gets the feeling that Xenia's voice is not made for such slow songs.
Ishq has an Arabic flavour to it, and is featured in two versions - the remix version, with some `trancey' accomplishments thrown in, is very energizing and danceable. In fact, both the versions are going to be featured as videos.
Jaane Jaan is just about average, where the vocal sounds proceed too slowly as compared to the instrumental accomplishments.
On the whole, an impressive debut album with a little bit of everything thrown in - some romantic ballads, up-tempo dance numbers, Arabic flavour. Well, she is all set to become the Indian Shakira!
A. VISHNU
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
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