Pooja Angra blends classical roots with global sounds in Southampton (Image: Lee Peck Media)

I am an Indian vocalist with a doctorate in Indian classical music from Delhi University.

I have performed at prestigious platforms including All India Radio, Indian National TV, Doordarshan, BBC Asian Network, BBC Solent, Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan London, Nehru Centre Indian High Commission London, Art Asia, Southampton Mela, Turner Sims, MAST Mayflower Studios, Sage Gateshead, Milapfest and Zee London Mela.

In addition to performing, I also teach Indian classical music and run my own music school, Pooja Angra School of Indian Music.

I also work as Education and Arts Development Officer at Art Asia, an organisation that has been promoting Asian arts and culture for over four decades.

Music has always been a significant part of my life, with a family deeply rooted in musical tradition.

My grandfather was an Indian classical musician and my father, Madan Rana, a tabla player, introduced me to Indian classical music, becoming both a mentor and inspiration.

Initially starting as a hobby, I had the opportunity to learn from renowned musicians like Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty, Professor Baldev Narang and Dr Ajit Singh Paintal.

This passion for music eventually led me to pursue it as a profession.

Having been deeply immersed in Indian classical music since the age of 12, my dedication to the art form led me to attain a PhD in Music from Delhi University in 2005.

I have had a fulfilling and diverse journey as a singer, starting from childhood in India where I performed on radio and television.

As I pursued my studies, I also participated in various music festivals.

After moving to the UK, I expanded my career by performing at mela festivals and art theatres, collaborating with both Eastern and Western musicians.

Overall, my journey so far has been a steady progression of growth and collaboration across cultures.

There is so much to learn and explore yet.

My performance experience spans semi-classical, Bollywood and devotional music in both India and the UK.

I perform Indian classical, devotional, Sufi, Ghazal and folk music and I also play harmonium.

I enjoy collaborating with other musicians.

In the Voyages of the Heart project, which was inspired by the stories of Southampton’s migrant and refugee communities, I collaborated across a vast range of disciplines, including opera, Irish and Gaelic music and reggae.

I’ve also worked with flamenco guitarist Jero Ferec and Keith Waithe, a Guyana-born musician.

My collaborations span multiple cultures and musical traditions, showcasing my ability to merge diverse art forms into cohesive, innovative performances.

Music is truly a language that unites us all.

It’s fulfilling to see audiences from all backgrounds and nationalities connecting to my music without understanding the language.

Music taps into something universal that connects us on a deeper level.

I’m very excited to be playing at Tapestry festival in Southampton on Sunday July 20th.

I’m looking forward to performing in my home town and sharing my music with a new and diverse audience.

Southampton has such a rich cultural history and we’ll be bringing a unique blend of music to make this a memorable experience for the audience.

I’ll be joined by highly talented musicians – Karan Rana, my brother in vocals, multi-instrumentalist Baluji Srivastav OBE on sitar and Mitel Purohit on tabla.

Tapestry is a brilliant initiative, with its focus on showcasing high-quality musicians from diverse backgrounds.

It’s amazing how festivals like this can create a space for multicultural communities to come together, celebrate different art forms and build bridges through music.

With its rich cultural mix, Southampton is the perfect setting for a festival like this.

I have recently performed at MAST Mayflower Studios paying tribute to the ‘Nightingale of Bollywood’, Lata Mangeshkar.

I will also be at University of Southampton, Art Asia’s Southampton Mela Festival on July 12th and 13th with Karan Rana.

We have been performing together for over two decades.

My next project is very inspiring.

I’m planning a tour called ‘Creative Unity – Sounds from Medieval India’, which will explore both the poetry and music compositions from medieval India from the 8th to the 16th century.

Collaborating with art organisations around the UK, I’m aiming to showcase this unique blend of music and poetry in various cities across the country and potentially across the globe.