Samia Malik is an artist, singer/songwriter and teacher. Born in Saudi Arabia to Pakistani parents, she lives in the UK from the age of six. Her work uses the traditional Urdu ghazal form to address contemporary subjects including revolution, race, love, liberation, sexual politics, child abuse and Bollywood, and she works across music, words and images.

Music and releases

She releases two CDs: The Colour of the Heart (1998), recorded with Garam Masala, and Jaago - Wake Up (2004). Her singing and writing are noted for drawing on the Urdu tradition of sung poetry while also presenting her own experience as an Asian woman in Britain. She also uses English and Hindi in her performances.

Garam Masala and touring

From 1996 she tours extensively across the UK and internationally in Europe with her band Garam Masala, whose members are Sinead Jones, cris cheek and Sukhdeep Singh. The group works with a fusion of musical styles and languages, and Malik’s performances are described as combining melody, poetry and political themes.

Performance work and collaborations

In 2003 and 2004 she collaborates with dancer Mallika Sarabhai and an international troupe through the Darpana Academy of Performing Art in Ahmedabad, India, on a show based on her songs, The Colours of the Heart. Supported by British Council funding, the production tours 15 major cities in India, including performances in Kashmir. Malik is described as the centre of attraction in the Jammu and Kashmir performances and as the first Pakistani artiste to perform there in 10 years.

Other work

In 2007 she graduates from a second degree in Fine Art, linking sound, words and images in her practice. Her later performances include video, image and text backdrops. She also regularly facilitates workshops on Indian music and songwriting for students of all ages and abilities in schools, as well as in adult and community groups.