She’s a self-described closet Bollywood addict, a straight-A biology student, and had once harbored an obsession with heavy metal – Tina “TablaGirl” Sugandh may be a pop idol but her inner self is a straight-up dhol-banging nerd!

“You know how you’re just supposed to see the good Bollywood movies, like ‘Chak De India?’ Well, I’ll see all of them, like the really stupid ones!” said Tina. “My cousins from India won’t even go see some of them with me.” Desi Hits! caught up with the dhol-beating Desi chick once again for an exclusive interview. Tina’s in New York at the moment recording the last notes of her new album “TablaGirl” – set to be released in early 2008.

Amid rumors that Tina had been dropped from the Sony BMG label, Desi Hits! gave her a chance to set the record straight and give us the exclusive, hard facts about the release of her new album. “I was not personally dropped from Sony BMG,” said Tina. Her new album, however, will most likely not be released through Sony. Tina revealed for the first time that she is transitioning to a new label, and expects to be officially signed to Razor and Tie Records “as soon as I clear up a bunch of legal issues with this whole transfer. If it didn’t involve other people I would tell you everything,” said Tina in explanation for her cryptic responses. “But since it does I’m trying to be a bit protective about it.”

For those of you who have been living under a rock, here’s some Desi Quick Hits about Tina: She is the industry’s most prominent female tabla-player, as well as a pop-rock-Desi fusion artist. Tina’s claim-to-fame is her contribution to such movie soundtracks as “Ice Princess,” “Raise Your Voice,” “Christmas with the Kranks,” and “Around the world in 80 Days.”(Buy the hit single “There Is No Alternative” at the Desi Hits! iTunes store now!...just click here!

Following the success of her movie singles, Tina struck out on her own and is now releasing an album centered around traditional, organic Indian sounds – and, of course, tabla in every track played by the virtuoso herself.

Tina has switched management a couple times, searching for the right fit for her heavily cultural sound. Before Sony, she was with Hollywood Records – proof that a Desi artist can hold her own on a generic pop record label. “Hollywood Records was amazing to me, they provided me with everything I needed,” said Tina. “I got to work with producers who produced Shakira and Nelly Furtado – all those guys. We felt it just wasn’t the right place for us. Hollywood Records is more mainstream pop.” Tina is anything but mainstream pop – her new album features classical Indian instruments including the dholak, sitar, and tabla.

In a burgeoning Urban Desi industry of Indian MC’s, R&B artists, and Hip Hop producers, Tina is one of the few contemporary second Gen artists with a pop sound. Tina said she is a staunch music nerd and has promised to never go “street.” For that we are thankful. Way to rep the good Indian girls, Tina! Click Here to Check Out Tina's Artist Page!