Homepage Neelam Blue Diamond,songwriter,Music Director & Bollywood playback singer

Neelam Blue Diamond

Original female multi-lingual singer, songwriter, Composer, lyricist, Producer & Music Director as well as Bollywood playback singer in the voice of Lata..Opera trained in the UK

Based in London,UK, offering original multilingual vocals on recordings, Bollywood playback singing, lyrics, voclas and original pop & classical songs for films

ORIGINALS:- 1. 'O Maya' ('Dear Maid' / 'Dear Temptation') 179kb Wav (see lyrics below) 2. 'Peace on Earth' 172kb Wav 3. 'Mai Hu Pardes Mein' ('Confused in a foreign land') 155kb Wav DEBUT CD 'AZAADI-FREEDOM' 4. 'My Love is Eternal' 712kb MP3 5. 'Azaadi Kaha Hai' (Where is the Freedom my friends) 714kb MP3 (see lyrics below) 6. 'Mai Mahi Labdi Phira' (Looking for the right man) 714kb MP3 7. 'Freedom To Share' 714kb Wav COVERS:- 8. Rasika Balma Wav 9. Ehsaan Tera Hoga Wav 10. Love Has Its Ways Wav

BACKGROUND

'Neelam' is a blue diamond in Hindi and Urdu; The name Nilo originates from 'Nilofer' - in Urdu, a lotus flower or white water lily and denotes a symbol of purity, truth and beauty; 'Nyla' is an ancient Egyptian princess.

Neelam began her musical career as a child singing hymns with her mother in the temples of Jallandhar, North India where she was born. She acquired her writing skills from her father who trained in Law and languages in Pakpattan and Malika, now Pakistan. She was a finalist in the BBC song contest in the UK with her song 'Mai Hu Pardes Mein (I'm in a foreign land)' which she performed live at the Royal Albert Hall. She writes in Hindi Punjabi and Urdu and is gifted with a sweet playback singer quality voice. Her self-produced version of her original English pop song 'Peace on Earth' came in the top 10% of all 550 entries in the Great British Song Contest 1998/9 that selects top 25 songs for UK entry into the Eurovision song contest. Her styles vary from eastern bhangra to ghazals (semi-classical songs) to film music to western styles. She produces using a mixture of sounds such as tablas, dhols, sitar, guitars, keyboards, drums and orchestra. She also has the ability to produce short melodies and classical orchestral pieces suitable for jingles, TV theme tunes, educational & music programmes.. CLICK HERE TO SEE LATEST VIDEO

She learned classical Indian music at London's Bharitya Vidya Bhavan. Her vocal training in opera by Jane Humphrey (AKA Jane Bolam) at the Blackheath Conservatoire of Music added strength and range to her voice. She sings Urdu, Hindi, bhangra and English songs with native accents. As well as singing and writing her two CD's 'Azaadi-Freedom' and 'Hello-Namaste', Neelam also produced them.

The CD 'Hello-Namaste' uses live sitar, tablas, dilruba, drums, bass and guitars.

Neelam has the ability to write simple yet meaningful lyrics. She writes from eastern and/or western perspectives naturally and interchangeably. Neelam varies her style depending on the subject from 3 beat waltz for a sad song to her favourite and spiritual 7 beat to the popular 4 beat songs for cheeky and humorous dance songs. She has a particular interest in peace, spiritual love, human nature, children, philosophy of life and death. Her versatility is unique and ideal for film songs.

As an India born female writer, raised and graduated in the UK, Neelam's lyrics are radical when compared to the predominantly male perspectives of the East. She writes, almost with a sixth sense, to any situation or theme presented to her. Neelam invites commissions to co-write with world-wide Film Producers and Music Directors. One collaboration is a Hindi song 'Upar Jana Hai' (Got to go up), to the song 'Go with the Flow'. Neelams collaboration with Benjamin Zephaniah mixing Indian with the Raggae style. Other collaborations with Baluji Shrivastav include "O Maya" and more recently with French producers Tony G & Soul Match and Magoo records.

Neelam has composed several instrumental pieces of music suitable for live orchestras and music festivals. The composition 'Millennium March' is 5 minutes duration and is particularly suitable for a film theme tune. Neelam composes short pieces of music suitable for TV and jingles. She would particularly like to co-write Hindi lyrics and sing in Hindi with other male singer songwriters such as Robbie Williams & Simply Red, to co-write songs for musicals (e.g. with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber), and write English songs for female singers like Aretha Franklin & Mariah Carey.

BIOGRAPHY

*** ORIGINAL SONGS Sung, written, composed and produced by Neelam (see samples above)

1A 'O Maya' (Dear Temptation) (music also by Baluji Shrivastav) - Live classical Indian instruments, About the dilemmas facing the life of a dancing girl of Lahore,
2A 'Peace on Earth' - Live version uses live tablas and sitars to a pop beat.

3A 'Mai Hu Pardes Mein'(I'm in a foreign land) Live music in a bhangra beat makes light humour of the dilemmas faced by individuals from two cultures. Sitar & Tablas by Baluji Shrivastav

4A 'Aja re Aja mere Raja' (Come to me my Prince)- This girl is not shy about her bodily desires.

5A 'Tum Jeete Raho' (Live well, but please leave me alone) - There is no resentment if freedom is the other alternative.

1B 'Azaadi Kahan Hai Yaro' (Where is the Freedom my friends?) - HINDI - Looks satirically at the idea of political freedom being totally remote from the trappings of human nature of any land.

2B 'Mai Mahi Labdi Phira' (Looking for the right man) - PUNJABI - To Punjabi Bhangra style with its inherent light humour about the difficulties faced by females in trying to find the right man.

3B 'My Love is Eternal'- ENGLISH - In GAZ style with a hypnotic 7 beat song in English about love being an act of giving.

4B 'Freedom to Share'- ENGLISH - Same theme and same music as in Azaadi kaha hai.

*** COVER SONGS

ENGLISH Phantom of the Opera, Any Dream will do, I Don't know how to love him and many others

FRENCH La vie en rose

HINDI (OLD LATA CLASSICS) .... Rasika Balma,Ye Sama,O basanti,Ye zindagi usi ki hai,Lag ja gale,Teri aankhon ke siva,Zara si aahat,Yun hasrato ke daag, Hai isi mein pyar ki,Ehsaan tera hoga mujh par,Tera mera pyar amar,Tere bina zindagi se koi,Na koi umang hai,Naam gum jaaye ga, Mere naina sawan bha do,Is mod se jaate hain...

HINDI (NEW BOLLYWOOD FILM SONGS) .... Tu wada na tod,Didi tera dewar diwana,Akhiya milaun,Kuch na kaho,Kehna hi kya,Tujhe dekha to ye,Mere khwabon mein jo, Dekha hai pehli baar,Dil tera aashiq,Tu mere samne,Agar zindagi ho,Mehndi laga ke rakhna....

PERFORMANCES

Performed 'Mai Hu Pardes Mein' on new Satellite channel 'Channel East' programme 'Fusion East' (Asian Top of the Pops) with 7 children dancers**Performed 'O Maya' on Channel East's 'Fusion East' (Asian Top of the Pops) with two dancers**The Crypt Brixton Songwriters Showcase**RNIB London Charity show with Baluji Shrivastav**Conway Hall London**1,000 crowd Main stage at the Greenwich Anti-Racist Festival**Sega Dance Festival Sutcliffe Park **600 Punjabi crowd Diwali **Charity performance **1,000 crowd Newham Festival **Conway Hall, London **Songwriters Showcase Fairfield Halls **200 crowd Bexley High Commissioner of India, Dr Singhvi **Charity performance Holy Trinity Church **500 Muslim crowd Waltham Forest Theatre **100 South Indian crowd Mandeer restaurant **500 Muslim crowd Croydon performed ghazals **200 crowd Hindi film songs Tycoon, South Ruislip ** 95 Guest appearances with various Asian bands **Finalist in BBC Asian Song Contest with 'Mai hu pardes mein' performed at Royal Albert Hall

RECORDINGS

Remix album - Bollywood **Recording 'Hello-Namaste' album with Baluji Shrivastav **Co-wrote 'Upar jaan hai' to Benjamin Zephaniah's 'With the flow' **'Mera Pyar tere liye' **'Peace on Earth' for Great British Song Contest with a second hearing **'Red Red Robin' Charlton Atheletic theme Braindead studios plus other 'sessions' **Recorded Azzadi- Freedom CD...'My Love is Eternal', 'Freedom to Share', 'Mai Mahi Labdi Phira' and 'Azaadi kaha hai yaro' **Backings on Alaap

TRAINING

Greenwich Community College RSA in Music (Recording Engineering, Making it in the Music Industry, and MIDI) **Vocal training by Jane Humphrey, Blackheath Conservatoire of Music **Recording Workshop, Introductory course **Own Studio set up - digital 8T recorder, Korg N364, PC ,Sampler **Recording Workshop, Cubase **Classical Indian music at the Bharaty Vidya Bhavan, Kensington

COVER SONGS

Hindi Film songs - Especially 60's and 70's - Lata Mangeshkar songs Asha Bhosle songs ** Semi-classical Ghazals Ghulam Ali, Jagjit / Chitra Singh, Pankaj Udhas, Mehndi Hassan, Yesudas **French songs La Vie en Rose, Jeune Fillete, If You Love Me (really) ** Andrew Lloyd Webber Phantom of the Opera, I don't how to love him, Don't cry for me Argentina, Close every door

ORIGINAL SONGS

*** ORIGINAL HINDI LYRICS (& ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS)

AZAADI KAHAN HAI YARO - (WHERE IS FREEDOM MY FRIENDS)

Chorus:Pyas liye pani, bhukh liye dana (For thirst water, grain for hunger);Dharti hai ghar, sans hava se (Earth to live on, air to breathe); Azaadi kaha hai yaro, (Where is our freedom); Tikana kaha hai yaro (Where's our home, my friends?)

Verse 1:Pyasa na koi reh jaye, (Let no one go thirsty); Bhukha na koi mar jaye,(Let no one die of starvation); Sabhi ke hai suraj, dharti asma (The sun, earth and sky are for everyone); Kabhi na hum bhulaye (Let us never forget that)

Verse 2:Sukh kharida nahi jata, (Happiness cannot be bought); dukh bheja nahi jata, (Sorrow cannot be ignored); Khushiya dete hum, dukh bante hum (By giving happiness and sharing pain); Har jeevan guzare (Let us live our lives)

Azaadi yaha hai pyaro, (Our Freedom is here); Thikana yaha hai pyaro (Our home is right here my loving people); Azaadi Kahan Hai Yaro

*** ORIGINAL PUNJABI LYRICS & (ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS)

MAI MAHI LABDI PHIRA (Trying to find Mr Right)

Chorus: Mai mahi labdi phira, (I'm looking for a man); Jo dil da sacha hove, (With a true heart); Jo gal da pakka hove, (Who keeps his word); Jo khul ke mainu pyar kare, (And loves me loads)

Verse 1: Mahi, chota ho ya mota hove, (I don't mind if he's short of fat); Dil da na khota hove, (As long as he is reliable); Mera hove, x4 (and he's mine)

Verse 2: Mahi, Doctori ya chaukari karda, (Whether he has a status job or not); Bus mainu sukhi rakhda hove, (I don't mind as long as he keeps me happy); Sariya rata laike, x3 (Every night); Sare din, (every day)

Verse 3:Mahi, sau dekhe lambe sajde, (I've seen hundreds of smart guys); Dujiya de piche pajhde ne, (But they keep running after the other girls); Mai ki kara,Haye ki kara,Dus ki kara,(Please tell me what I should do?)

*** ORIGINAL HINDI LYRICS & (ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS)

O MAYA (Dear Maid or Dear Temptation) One dancing girl of Lahore against the wealthy, corrupt and intoxicated male audience, with only a maid at her disposal (commonly having the name Maya, which incidentally also means temptation)

Chorus 1 O maya mehmaan bula (Oh maid call the guests)

Verse 1:Sooni galiya bula rahi (The quiet streets are calling); Chamakte tare kehte (Twinkling stars beckon); Neelam ko chahene wale aayo (Those wanting Neelam are invited) �.HO; Lambi raat ab shuru huyi (The long night has begun); Mai aur meri saaz saji (My stage and I are set); Chupke chupke milne wale aayo (Only comers in hiding are welcome)

UK MUSIC REVIEWS

1. 'MAKING MUSIC' April 2000 (page 19)

'I lost the paperwork which accompanied this CD, so I have no information but what the music and sleeve tell me. The Asian influence is clear (there's even a picture of Neelam playing a sitar on the back cover) and, though I have severely limited knowledge of this genre, it sounds like a fairly conventional take on the style. Unlike cornershop, for instance, who mix traditional music with indie rock, or those who take the bhangra/dancehall route, Neelam opts to highlight the trancey, exotic elements of the syle (though she occasionally sings in English). Accomplished, polished and refreshingly different to the demo norm.'

2. 'THE MIX' April 2000 (page 101)

'TM:Full-on and genuine Indian music complete with some beautiful sitars and tablas, but vying to get a bit mainstream with programmed elements and live drums. Neelam says she wants to break into the mainstream, but sadly, to do this, she might have to water the whole thing down a bit. My gut instinct? Stick to what you do best, 'cos you really do it well. SAM: It needs more work on the vocals. SIL: It is well-recorded and sonically well produced, yet my experience of this type of music and its market is unfortunately non-existent, and therefore I am unable to comment. Although lyrically I haven't the foggiest what it is about, it has a strong hypnotic feel that is ironically soothing. LUKE: I'd like to teach the world to Singh (d'oh - Ed) SIMON: Close favourite, simply for effort and the fact that this girl sings with her heart, even though she's not really that good at it. This is traditional Kabali music (sitars, tablas and so on). It is really hard to do the music well, and I have absolutely no idea what it's doing here. Here's a good idea: if you've never heard it before, go to a local Asian music shop, spend �10 on cassettes of this music and get inspired.'

3. 'SOUND ON SOUND' MARCH 2000 (page 244)

'Neelam is an Asian singer and musician who is trying to cross over into the mainstream without losing her ethnic identity. The production is heading in the right direction, with fine musicianship on display, such as the tabla and sitar from Baluji and other guests. However, the elements that will make it cross over, namely the drums and bass, aren't brought to the fore in the mixes. Dub bass has worked very well for artistes like Natasha Atlas and it works here too, but it's just not mixed loud enough on the first two songs. The decision to use a real drum kit is something of a handicap too and, although drummer Robert Glasner acquits himself well, this is really a job for a good beat programmer. With the material on tape, a remix producer could probably sample what's needed to turn this into a punchy, contemporary-sounding production. Unquestionably the mixes are rather limp at present, but the songs are strong so it's worth trying another production style.'

ASIAN REVIEWS

1. 'THE SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA' New Delhi Entertainment section 8 AUGUST 1999 (page 16)

'Be English, sing Indian' Mohua Chatterjee meets Neelam Chaudhuri from London who'd like to sing for A.R.Rahman and write for him too. In London of the late 90s, it is no longer the discos and youngsters' joints that rock to the tune of Punjabi-rock or bhangra-rap. It is the opera-going upper crust of the English society which is seeking its musical moksha through Indian classical, light classical and Hindi film music. "These days it is common for a Jagjit Singh performance to be attended by greater number of 'propah' Englishmen than the usual Asian crowd," says Neelam Chaudhuri. "And Indi-pop is not really a part of this culture wave. East-west mix is passe," says the Jalandhar-born-singer-composer from London. "Now the time for proper Hindi songs, often hits from new Bollywood films and ghazals, even for the English."

Neelam is in India to try her luck at playback singing for Bollywood. "But I'm really interested in writing songs for composers like A R Rahman or Hariharan," says the pharmacist who has taken the stagename Neelam Blue Diamond.

Neelam is very much part of London's Indian music fever. Growing up in the city since she was nine, she has always been singing at home, "and for some years now, in live performances in London." But she never lost her link with India "for, it is my dream to sing and write for Hindi films."

Trained in opera singing and Indian classical vocal, Neelam performs a variety of styles that range from opera numbers to ghazals and Hindi film songs. There are also the songs written by her - in Hindi, Punjabi and English. The Blue Diamond performer is also "fluent in French, which gives me another edge over the other Indian performers in London," she adds.

Chasing her dream, the NRI comes armed with her debut album 'Azaadi-Freedom'. "The CD was brought out on the 50th year of Indian independence," Neelam says. The theme number in Hindi 'Azaadi Kahan hai yaro, thikana kahan hai...'also talks of freedom from hunger and want. "India's got its freedom from British rule but it must be followed by freedom of the mind and thought," cautions the songwriter.

But, hemmed in the comfort of a first world nation, how much does she know or identify with the Indian independence? "I have grown up on stories of the partition and the independence struggle," says Neelam. "I heard them from my mother whose family came from what is Pakistan today. For me freedom is not just a political concept,it means freedom of the mind, which few enjoy even there", says the singer who wants to belong to both worlds. "I have the advantage of being able to work with musicians and composers both there and here. If I can make it, it will be because I understand both the music. Neelam is confident.

2. 'EASTERN EYE 5 Sept 12 1997

MAINSTREAM By Kan Ali Blue Diamond-Neelam Azaadi FreedomThe style is called Gaz, which up until now I thought was the name of a drunken Geordie footballer. But this, I'm happy to pronounce, is a few million miles away. It's classical Indian music as we know it, but the reason it finds itself on the mainstream section is because, well its got a charty poppy bounce that never allows you to feel sombre in the same way 'serious music does. But to Neelam the music is anything but flippant. With lyrics written in dedication to world peace, municipent loce, children and the environment - you could be forgiven for thinking this will be a heavy number to swallow. But it's not. It floats along through hypnotic tablas and enchanting strings. In musical precision, it's almost geometrical - in listenability, it's almost perfect. Write to us if you want a copy. Rating 3 peppers

3. July 1997 India Link International

4. Asian Entertainment Guide with ASIAN TIMES 9 May 1996

5. Asian Entertainment Guide with ASIAN TIMES 11 July 1996

UK LOCAL PRESS REVIEWS

1. Kentish Times 25 Sept 1997

2. News shopper Aug 1997

3. The Mercury Aug 1997

Enquiries (no spam please) - EMAIL:

ARL London (UK)

Neelam Blue Diamond/ ARL is a member of PRS (UK),BAC&S and MCPS (UK)

LINKS:Earth Vibe Music http://www.earthvibemusic.com

Multi-instrumentalist composer Baluji Shrivastav www.baluji.com;

Neelam's latest collaborations with Soul G & Tony Match www.magoorecords.co.uk

This site was updated on 25 October 2005