Lord Murugan's spear is her weapon of choice

British-Tamil Singer Susheela Raman tells FYI why she named her new album after a Hindu God's Weapon, and what Rajasthani folk musicians have in common with Jimi Hendrix

London-based singer Susheela Raman has always believed in keeping her Tamil roots alive. "Everyone wants to feel a connect with their ancestry.

I have always felt so Indian, and it matters a whole lot to keep in touch with my roots, all the while keeping the Brit in me alive," says the singer, who's in the city for the launch of author William Dalrymple's new book Nine Lives.

The curly-haired, music powerhouse whose debut album Salt Rain was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2001, has since then released four albums that went on to win critical acclaim and fans from all corners of the world.
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Her new album Vel, which has been named after the divine javelin/spear that Hindu deity Murugan carries, will be an unique mix of Tamilian beats, Rajasthani folk music and European ideas. Inspired by the deity himself, the album promises to engage listeners with its folk-rock feel.

"Vel is also a Tamilian war cry, and our music has also been influenced by Rajasthani and Bengali music," she says, quick to disregard any misconception that she favours ancient Tamil music, saying her music is universal, and her brush with Rajasthani folk music on this album is a testament to that fact.

"During my visit to the Jaipur Literary Festival last year, I met a group of Rajasthani folk artists and even ended up performing with them.

They have such direct energy they are passionate and project their voice in a powerful way," says the artist, who after watching the folk artists perform found a new connection, one that linked their music to her rock influences.

"When I was young, I grew up listening to rock. Jimi Hendrix was a regular. And when I perform, I exude that kind of energy and that's why the Rajasthani artists and I gelled so well together, because our energy levels we so much in sync. It was a match made in heaven."

What makes Susheela cool

Raman's version of the 60's Hindi film song "Ye Mera Divanapan Hai" was used by Mira Nair on the soundtrack of her film, The Namesake.

Her albumu00a0 33 1/3 has covers of songs by Bob Dylan and John Lennon.

She rendered her own version of Trust in Me from the classic Jungle Book, where Susheela had to sing like Kaa, the snake, on her album Salt Rain.

To watch Susheela Raman sing Trust in Me, log onto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOuV0zTsj2w