Reshma (centre) after a recent performance

The name's Reshma Taufiq but she is making a mark-with the promise of hitting bigger times-simply as Reshma. Reared in Boston, the 24-year-old pop singer is edging her way into the rough and tumble of mainstream American music.

Reshma's debut album Ecstasy Supreme-English pop with eastern ragas-is slated to hit the market by January next year. Though still an Indie, she is hoping to snare a big label by the time she launches.

A graduate in science from Boston's Tufts University, Reshma doubles up as an engineer in her day job at a software house in Manhattan. In addition, she packs variety by her ability to sing in English, Hindi and Spanish. The singer was a finalist for MTV's Real World New Orleans season and has been invited to this year's MTV Music Video Awards.

Apart from the impending launch, Reshma is also looking forward to working with her relative, music maestro A.R. Rehman. Ask her about singers she draws inspiration from and pat comes the reply: Sade, Lauren Hill, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. "They (Lata and Asha) have this incredible range and have stood the test of time. This can't be matched by any American singer," she says.

-Anil Padmanabhan

Timeless Melodies

LEELA HMV; Rs 55

It catches you by surprise for Leela comes after a long hiatus. After creating memorable melodies for Prem Geet, Saath Saath and Arth, singer-composer Jagjit Singh returns to Bollywood with some more soothing compositions in conjunction with lyricist Gulzar.

QUALITY CONSCIOUS: Singh

In spite of the number of albums Singh churns out each year, there has been no compromise on the quality. The secret could be his style: simple and endearing, that comes to the fore here too. Feel Jaag ki kati, Tere khayal ki and Dhuan uttha hai tug at your heartstrings. Equally, Gulzar's lyrics lift the songs to a new plane. The Shantanu Moitra-composed Champi dhoop ke saye, sung by Shubha Mudgal, is different for its western classical chorus accompaniment.

The music in the film is a reflection of the South Asian expatriate's ties with the homeland. And it is beautifully brought out in the Punjabi song Mavan te dhiyan by Jaspinder Narula. The musical arrangement is different-electrical guitar with cymbals.

This one is surely for all Jagjit Singh fans.

SWAR SHIKHAR
Virgin; Rs 75
Live concert recordings of Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. Enjoy the feel of rains with raga miyan ki malhar and des.

DEEWANGEE
T-Series; Rs 50
Ismail Darbar recreates the magic of Devdas with a mix of melodies by Sonu Nigam, Kavita Krishnamurthy and others.

VIGHNAHARTA
Times Music; Rs 65
Vijay Prakash sings bhajans and stotrams in praise of Lord Ganesha. Soothing music by Sharang Dev, son of Pandit Jasraj.