“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.” 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.” 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.” 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.” 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.” 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!