“I’ve been doing this since I was five – I couldn’t have done it overnight,†said Tina Sugandh about the classic, organic sound of her new album TablaGirl, which took two and a half years to put together. “I wanted that live, heartfelt sound.â€
Tina Sugandh’s artistry will be fully unleashed at her New York concert this Thursday, July 5, where she will debut new tracks from TablaGirl such as the steely “Jao†and the heart-tugging “You Without Me.â€
During her performance, each instrument will be played live and Tina will play many of the instruments herself.
“Every ancient Indian instrument you can think of is on this record,†said Tina.“We got the world’s best players on the dhol and the dhola and bansuri and the Indian violin.â€
Every track, of course, features Tina’s signature tabla.
“Oh yeah, there’ll be tabla,†laughs Tina. “And no one’s allowed to touch it but me!"
According to Tina, the album was a “struggle†with the American label she has signed with.
“American labels usually try to get you to do the pop sound – the typical, mainstream pop sound,†said Tina. “I had to tell them that ‘Hey I know what I’m doing, let me take this all the way. Let me make it REALLY different and Indian.’ That’s a scary thing for a label to say yes to.â€
As one of the few Indian artists who has broken into the American mainstream (her single “There Is No Alternative†is on the Ice Princess Soundtrack), Tina has fought to maintain her identity.
She has proven that, despite those flowing locks and come-hither eyes, she is in fact a headstrong career woman with the balls to turn down several UK and India record deals so she could hold out for what she really wanted – an American label.
“There is SUCH a need for a mainstream Indian artist in America,†said Tina. “I’m so happy with this record because it’s not a compromise – these aren’t just American songs with some dhol beat over them.â€
Three years in the making, her New York concert is not only a thank you to fans, but it is proof that this tabla girl marches to the beat of her own drums.
Look for Tina’s new album Tabla Girl this winter!
Should Tina go mainstream or stick with her Indian base? YOU tell us! Want to comment on this article? [ Sign in ] or [ get a FREE account ] at Desi Hits! (You get access to free MP3s and other stuff, too).
I really like Tina's music, probably partly because it doesn't sound like every other song in the world (You know what I'm talking about). I have liked every single one of Tina's songs i have been able to find.
I love Tina! And not just because she has my name. She's the girl role model I have been looking for. She dresses sassy but is sweet. Like a true modern desi Bollywood Girl. I love her song Bollywood Girl. It's our anthem! All my friends love to party to Tina's songs. She's like one of us. GO TINA! WE LOVE YOU!!!
Dil - you are too funny! Tina she's OK - but she's been around the world and she can't find her grammy!
The little comment box is deceiving... sorry I wrote so much!
I like Tina's music primarily because it's Desi (with English lyrics since it's probably her first language and what she's most comfortable with) with more Rock/Alternative as opposed to the more known Urban Desi sounds that use R&B, HipHop and/or Rap. It's just something different and it sticks out in my music selection. My hypothesis is that we haven't seen so much of her because she's tied down to a label but things are harder to advance/negotiate with since she is every aspect of her music (singer, writer, musician etc.) While being signed is a huge achievement I don't feel it's really worth it unless you can establish the you are an accomplished artist(or group) by yourself and are not dependent on the namesake of a label. I agree with Neil-- the internet is a fantastic "do-it-yourself" platform especially for rising/non-mainstream artists. As for her image: who cares? Her music is good, and as far as I know she's not in the modeling industry. Plus she isn't being offensive to anyone (at least that I'm aware of) so I don't see it as a problem.
I like her songs "Break Me" and "Bollywood Boy">>> It's blowing up in the UK>>> Tina Baby I'll be your Bollywood dream. right now i dream of you at nite but if you meet me you be dreamin of me. dontyouwishyour@boyfriendwashotlikeme.uk.com
I like her songs "Break Me" and "Bollywood Boy">>> It's blowing up in the UK>>> Tina Baby I'll be your Bollywood dream. right now i dream of you at nite but if you meet me you be dreamin of me. dontyouwishyour@boyfriendwashotlikeme.uk.com
Good girls rule! I don't think it has anything to do with being a virgin or not - that's so arbitrary. I think a good girl loves her family and is a nice, smart person who is kind and speaks and dresses like she has some self-respect and hasn't been damaged by the ridiculous men who look at you like you're a juicy peach or something - I hate that. I don't think you'll ever see TablaGirl in a thong, that's just not classy and Tina is. I've seen her in 3 concerts in CA and NY and gotten her autograph and when I met her she seemed really nice and spoke well (not like a thug) - a musician with a good command of the English language?! Imagine that?! Must be that pre-med stuff she did before music. Enough rambling from me. I just want to say I like her and I like her music and I really, really, really think the US NEEEDs her to be FAMOUS. I neeeed her to be famous. Desi-girls growing up in the US need her to be famous. Her songs aren't about throwing up in bars. They're actually about something real from an Indian girl angle (or a good girl angle since the US and Indian culture's seem to be so opposite sometimes). Aaaah - OK - I am sooo done rambling. My apologies! Goooooooooooooooooooo Sugandh-girl!
she is talented but she's been on the scene for ages and not made it anymore than anyone else - Only Jay sean really did but he dropped the ball - let's see if he can make a come back and take the US by storm as he did the UK.... As for desi girls - there is hotter out there. Kaz from the sona family is talented!
she is talented but she's been on the scene for ages and not made it anymore than anyone else - Only Jay sean really did but he dropped the ball - let's see if he can make a come back and take the US by storm as he did the UK.... As for desi girls - there is hotter out there. Kaz from the sona family is talented!
well I think the good girl image is stupid because look at her pictures!!! she doesn't look liek a good girl to me - she could almost be in a thong and if she is not - the way she looks at the camera you know she wants you to wonder what she looks like in a thong! she is sexy she should just admit it - I thinks he is hot!
well I think the good girl image is stupid because look at her pictures!!! she doesn't look liek a good girl to me - she could almost be in a thong and if she is not - the way she looks at the camera you know she wants you to wonder what she looks like in a thong! she is sexy she should just admit it - I thinks he is hot!
TINA IS SO MUCH MORE TALENTED THAN ANYONE! She plays instruments and writes and sings and dances, and doesn't just sing over a track! I love that she's got a good-girl image..I mean, she's totally into her family and she's really sweet and friendly-so what? There are enough girls dancing in thongs in their videos...she's sexy and classy and she should totally represent for us desi girls!!
TINA IS SO MUCH MORE TALENTED THAN ANYONE! She plays instruments and writes and sings and dances, and doesn't just sing over a track! I love that she's got a good-girl image..I mean, she's totally into her family and she's really sweet and friendly-so what? There are enough girls dancing in thongs in their videos...she's sexy and classy and she should totally represent for us desi girls!!
I think Tina can do it - I didn't know she got signed by sony - how come we don't see her in the mainstream then? She can do it if anyone can and BTW Thara is not desi so she cant represent us desi girls!
I think Tina can do it - I didn't know she got signed by sony - how come we don't see her in the mainstream then? She can do it if anyone can and BTW Thara is not desi so she cant represent us desi girls!
Thara has a better chance of making it as she is more "out there" she did a smart move joining with Jay Sean - he is big in the UK but as small as her in the US - you have to make it in the US to make it worldwide. when I heared that Tina was signed by Sony I thought we would see so much from her but she is probably small fry to them - better being a small fish in a big pond - same happened to Jay Sean with Virgin. I think she should go mainstream but can she break it?
Thara has a better chance of making it as she is more "out there" she did a smart move joining with Jay Sean - he is big in the UK but as small as her in the US - you have to make it in the US to make it worldwide. when I heared that Tina was signed by Sony I thought we would see so much from her but she is probably small fry to them - better being a small fish in a big pond - same happened to Jay Sean with Virgin. I think she should go mainstream but can she break it?
I have been in the music scene for a while - Tina was signed by sony ages ago and she is still doing small concerts in NYC - where is the marketing budget and new stuff - where is the PR? This is the problem with big lables they shelve small desi artists - you are better off using a platform like desi hits - my space - facebook and selling music through itunes and making it big that way.... if you are good you cn get the promotion. I think Thara had the same issue when she was signed by Dessert Storm... bad move
I have been in the music scene for a while - Tina was signed by sony ages ago and she is still doing small concerts in NYC - where is the marketing budget and new stuff - where is the PR? This is the problem with big lables they shelve small desi artists - you are better off using a platform like desi hits - my space - facebook and selling music through itunes and making it big that way.... if you are good you cn get the promotion. I think Thara had the same issue when she was signed by Dessert Storm... bad move
I don't agree. she should do it - she is really good looking - talented and combines east and west really well - maybe a bit too "indian" at times but she needs to get out of doing kiddie film songs and get with the program! Sh has the talent -
I don't agree. she should do it - she is really good looking - talented and combines east and west really well - maybe a bit too "indian" at times but she needs to get out of doing kiddie film songs and get with the program! Sh has the talent -
I am not sure - think she is really sexy and very hot but I hear she is going for the "goodgirl" image....hmmmmm I don't think she needs to be a slut but I do think that I am sick of people thinking we are all virgins! get a life.
I am not sure - think she is really sexy and very hot but I hear she is going for the "goodgirl" image....hmmmmm I don't think she needs to be a slut but I do think that I am sick of people thinking we are all virgins! get a life.
I love Tina's stuff! She should stay mainstream and rock the states! Wooooooooooooooooo!!! We need a good girl desi role model babe! I am so sick of people asking me "Are you Egyptian, Arabic, Hispanic, Italian?", no I'm Indian and proud! No one even knows what that is?! Go Tina! I loooovve your sound!
I love Tina's stuff! She should stay mainstream and rock the states! Wooooooooooooooooo!!! We need a good girl desi role model babe! I am so sick of people asking me "Are you Egyptian, Arabic, Hispanic, Italian?", no I'm Indian and proud! No one even knows what that is?! Go Tina! I loooovve your sound!