Album: Are you listening?
Artiste: Dolores 0'Riordan
Available on: Saregama

The Cranberries split in 2003 after having five albums to their credit and Dolores 0’Riordan, the  lead singer of The Cranberries, took off to do her own thing and devote herself to her family, apart from channelling her energy into a new album. She’s back after four long years with 'Are you listening?,' a solo album that seems to be inspired by scenes from her life... the birth of a child, the illness that her mother-in-law was battling, and the love of her husband.

'Ordinary Day' is the single featured in the 12-track album. We get to hear O'Riordan's unmistakable voice to soulful lyrics.

The other tracks in the album include 'Apple of my Eye', 'In the Garden', 'Loser', 'Black Widow', 'October', 'Accept Things', 'Angel Fire', 'Ecstasy', 'When We Were Young', 'Human Spirit' and 'Stay With Me'.

‘Ordinary Day’ and ‘Apple of my Eye’ were produced by BRIT Award winning 'Youth' which has worked with The Verve, Embrace, Primal Scream, U2 and Paul McCartney. 

Album: First
Artiste: Winta
Available on: Saregama

Norwegian/Eritrean artiste Winta Efrem Negassi has stepped into the RnB world with her debut album 'First' which contains the hit singles 'Hot Romance (Rok with you) feat. Anton Gordon , 'I want you', and 'Emotions', the videos for which were shot in Oslo by Ray Kay whose other credits include Destiny's Child's 'Soldier', Mario's 'Here I go again'. Beyonce's 'Freakum Dress', and Christina Millian's 'Whatever you want'.

The other songs in the album include 'Broken Heart, 'Trippin feat. Aphletik, Shake that thing, Teaser, Good time, My number, Kissing and Hugging, I luv us, and The way you make me feel, which has been penned by the Sugarbabes (Keischa Buchanan, Mutya Buena and Heidi Range).

Winta who looks a little like Beyonce and idolises Mary J Blige has just begun but is already being recognised as one of the hottest talents coming from Scandinavia. Her music surely bears signs of making it big someday.

Priyanka Haldipur

Album: Junoon
Artiste: Abhijeet Sawant
Available on: Sony BMG

The first Indian Idol (2005), Abhijeet Sawant, is back with a new album after his debut album ‘Aapka Abhijeet Sawant’. The music is described as a synthesis of Sufi rock and contemporary music. Most of the music has been composed by talented debutant Amit Trivedi along with Mithoon (of ‘Tere Bin’ and ‘Maula’ fame), Biddu (‘Tanha’) and Jatin Sharma (‘Mahi mahi’).

The title track composed by Amit Trivedi is soft and sonorous. It also has a dance mix version by DJ Akbar Sami. ‘Doondein’, also composed by Amit, has a club mix version by Jatin Sharma who has also composed “Mahi mahi mahiya”, a fast-paced peppy track.

Album: The Project
Artiste: Rishi Rich
Available on: Times Music

Rishi Rich has been prolific on the urban music scene for a few years now, producing and remixing for artistes like Britney Spears and Craig David. His latest venture ‘The Project’ marks his debut Bhangra pop album. It is a fusion of Asian-styled hip-hop, R & B and reggaeton. The album primarily features Rishi Rich along with Punjabi pop icon Juggy D and R&B singer and rapper Jay Sean. The trio appears with a long list of guest singers which include Veronica, Rafaqat Ali Khan and Chhaya producing a style which has a vibe, vigour and beat.

The albums has tracks like ‘Push it up - aaja kurieh’ which peaked at No 1 on the BBC Asian Network Chart along with other hits like ‘Bhara Bazaar’, “‘Do what you like’, ‘Please me’ and ‘Come here.’

Michael Patrao