A UK based bilingual Urdu/English singer songwriter, fuses and subverts traditional South Asian and Western musical forms to explore contemporary issues around identity, race and gender.
Samia Malik, born in Saudi Arabia to Pakistani parents, has lived in the UK since she was a child.
She writes, performs and produces bilingual Urdu and English songs based on traditional Urdu Ghazal (a highly refined union of poetry with music) extending and subverting the form to explore contemporary issues around identity, race and gender.
Samia is also a visual artist: her live shows are supported by projections of her original paintings and videos.
Having released a new album, she’s now on tour this month across England.
Samia’s powerful original songs are written in Urdu and English, combining soaring Eastern melodies, electronics, tabla and deep bass grooves which are supported by live visuals of Samia’s original art and translations.
Throughout the tour, Samia will host a series of audience Q&As and workshops, exploring core themes that have inspired her music.
She has collaborated with acclaimed world-class artists including celebrated Indian danseuse and activist Mallika Sarabhai and ‘sitarist to the stars’ Baluji Shrivastav OBE: her dynamic, evolving work has thrilled international audiences across Europe, India and the States. Samia will be joined on tour for selected venues by internationally renowned tabla maestro Sukhdeep Dhanjal.
The series of workshops will be held with local community groups. Each workshop is designed to help promote understanding and deeper appreciation of Indian music or focus on songwriting skills.
The community groups may also be invited to join Samia on stage to share their new skills.
The tour will also include the launch of her new album Songs to Heal and Empower.
Samia Malik says: “I believe art can inform and transform.
“At a time when barriers are being put up across the world, it is vital to see how art can unite us, how we can use traditional cross-cultural forms to explore important contemporary issues around culture, race, identity and gender, while also having fun!
“I am thrilled to have the chance to develop and share this new work which will appeal to diverse audience across the UK.”
Hedley Swain, Area Director, South East, Arts Council England said: “It is really exciting to support diverse artists that are pushing the creative boundaries.
“Samia’s work represents a wonderful fusion of styles and cultures, bringing together music from South East Asia and Europe, as well as English and Urdu. I hope that our support will mean more people will have the chance to experience this authentic, bold and innovative fusion music.”
Live Performances will tour venues across the whole of England including Leeds, Bradford, Cromer, Torquay and Blackburn as well as Sidmouth Folk Festival and Rural Touring across Norfolk and Lancashire.
Tour Dates
21st June – Norwich, Norwich Arts Centre
8th July – Cromer, Cromer Community Centre
27th July – Norfolk, Attleborough Town Hall for Creative Arts East
6th August – Sidmouth, Sidmouth Folk Festival
10th September – Leeds, Seven Artspace
20th September – Torbay, Fougou Music
13th-15th October – Blackburn, Spot On, Lancashire
10th November – Bradford, Thornbury Centre
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