Songs of the desert

Hailing from a very conservative Rajput family in Rajasthan, Rajnigandha Shekhawat-Mahudawala excelled in music from her days at the Maharani Gayatri Devi School in Jaipur. Her early exposure to royal folk music came from the dholan and dholis (traditional folk musicians) who performed for her family. The picturesque dunes, the beautifully built forts and palaces, the mysticism of the endless deserts and the flavor of Rajasthani folk tales…. all this and more is captured in her debut album Soul of the Desert, as per a press release issued by Times Music which has presented it.

Ghoomar — Symphony of the sands, a very popular song from Rajasthan, is sung at weddings and other celebratory occasions. Kevdo — Fragrance of the dunes, has haunting rhythms while Moriya — Whispers in the winter night, describes how the call of the peacock at midnight cuts across the heart like a dagger reminding one of a lover. The singer has fused age-old tunes and lyrics with contemporary arrangements and modern sounds to add to the eclectic fusion and cross the language barrier to reach out to a larger audience for her exotic and passionate music.

Married to Navroz Manek Mahuda-wala, Rajnigandha says that her move to Bombay seven years ago was a "life-changing experience.” She had to face much opposition and overcome many odds to get where she is, including "the plunge into uncharted territories by leaving a well paying job with The Times of India and taking up singing as a full-time career option.” The CD of Soul of the Desert is priced at Rs 195 and the cassette at Rs 65. For further information contact: rajnigandha@gmail.com or telephone 98201­59655.