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| ISHTAR � ' THE VOICE OF ALABINA ' IN INDIA ! Born of an Egyptian Mother & a Moroccan Father (Now settled in Paris), ISHTAR is the Lead Singer of the Group ALABINA ( Featuring LOS NINOS DE SARA ), the most popular World Music group in France. Ishtar has not only traveled and sung all over the world, she was also a part of the French/African Group KAOMA, which sparked the Worldwide � LAMBADA � phenomenon . Recently in India for the �Femina Miss India�, the sensuous singer came down to New Delhi to perform at the �Floats�, Park Royal Hotel and also sign autographs at Planet M . That�s when our DJ Jazzy Joe caught up with the �Beauty with a Brain� for a Heart-to-Heart ! Some juicy excerpts � JJ � Tell us, What does �Alabina� mean ? Ishtar � In �Arabic�, it means � God is Between us �. JJ � How would you define Alabina�s music ? Ishtar � It�s a creative blend of traditional instruments with modern rhythms � a �Fusion� of Egyptian, Flamenco and Modern music. The song �Alabina� for example, happens to be a very old track mixed with modern rhythms and the flamenco touch by �Los Ninos De Sara�. JJ � Who are �Los Ninos De Sara� ? Ishtar � Apart from being the rest of Alabina , TONIO, COCO, SANTI and RAMON are not only cousins to the �Gypsy Kings� but also cousins to each other ! JJ � How has �The India Experience� been so far ? Ishtar � Well, I was invited to perform at the �Miss India Show� in Mumbai and it was a fantastic show � Indian women are really very beautiful ! Since I was here, I decided to have a trip around the country ( Pune, Mumbai, Delhi and Jaipur ) and promote my Album �Sahara�, out on Sony Music. And..it has been so exciting ! Frankly, I was a bit worried whether people would like our music but they all responded so well that now I would like to come back and do a big concert in India soon. JJ � Anything you�ve liked about India ? Ishtar � First of all, the people��they may have so many problems of their own, but they have been so warm and receptive to me and my music. I�ve even been asked to do a song for a new Hindi movie ! This just shows that music has no boundaries. In fact, two songs from my new album also feature Indian instruments as such new �Fusion� is a big rage in France ! I also love Indian food�.especially the �Curries�. Even in Paris, I go to this Indian Place not only for the food but also to pick up new recipies which I can then try at home. I�m also looking forward to picking up some Spices from Jaipur on the way back. JJ � So, Music is not the only Passion ? Ishtar � The Biggest but not the only one ! As I said, I love to cook and taste all types of cuisines. My other hobbies are Reading, Writing and Interior Decorations � I�m looking forward to picking up some good stuff for interiors from Jaipur. JJ � On a �Serious� note, how does Ishtar look at �Life� ? Ishtar � A beautiful, although short, experience which serves as a � School for our Soul �. I feel a lot of us end up looking for the short term pleasures, instead of Love and Acceptance of the self and others. And, one should not be afraid of tough times and pain. They only prepare us for a better future. I�ve seen a lot of people lose their heads and friends because of fast success. Take life as it comes & you will have no regrets! JJ � Any message for upcoming singers ? Ishtar � No matter what anyone says��.believe in your dreams, work to achieve them and they will come true ! Money can only give you pleasures, but love, care and understanding will give true happiness. JJ � And�..What does � ISHTAR � mean ? Ishtar � It is the name of the � Goddess of Love and Fertility � in Persian Mythology ! Well, no wonder we have all that Love, Music and Life packed into a beautiful body � suitable for a Goddess. And hey�.if you take the �R� at the end of � ISHTAR � and put it at the beginning, you get � RISHTA � � Persian for �Relationship�. So Ishtar, here�s wishing that Alabina�s �Rishta� with India will keep on growing ! THIS IS AN INTERVIEW OF ISHTAR, THE LEAD SINGER OF THE GROUP 'ALABINA', TAKEN & WRITTEN BY DJ JAZZY JOE . THIS INTERVIEW ALSO APPEARS AS ABOVE IN THE MARCH ISSUE OF ' BLAH ! ' MAGAZINE . FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS, MAIL TO [email protected] |
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