There is no surprise that many might bristle at the rise of Rihanna’s rock star status. While her talent as a singer-songwriter is non pareil, her standing as a female star with reach, power and influence over such a large audience does not always sit well with many. Yet, the times, as Dylan said, are a-changin’. The weekend, Amplify Showcase will bring to the city stage a women-majority line-up of breakthrough artistes.

Among the line-up is US-based singer-songwriter Sanjana Shukla AKA Sheherazaad whose latest EP Qasr blends jazz structures with Urdu lyricality. “People often attribute the lyrical influence to ghazals, but I rarely listen to ghazals,” says the singer who grew up on a steady diet of Indian musical influences from film to classical. Her EP, Qasr, that released on March 1, is a synthesis of these unique influences.