Drawing on Sufi influences, New Delhi-bred singer Harshdeep Kaur’s penchant for introspective vocals catapulted her into an inimitable place in Indian music, balancing ballads with more upbeat tracks. • Kaur was trained in Indian and Western classical as a child, learning opera singing and piano. • Encouraged by her parents to take up music in her early teens, Kaur took part in televised singing shows, and by 17 she had already composed songs for television. • Although she had been working on film soundtracks since 2003, Kaur’s breakthrough arrived in 2006 with “Ik Onkar” from composer A. R. Rahman, a stirring song that incorporates Sikh morning prayers, for the movie Rang De Basanti. • Acknowledged for her versatile training, Kaur became part of Rahman’s live shows, leading on Hindi songs as well as English tracks. • In 2010 she joined the ranks of Indian artists in Hollywood soundtracks, when the A .R. Rahman composition “R.I.P.” featured in Danny Boyle’s film 127 Hours. • Often picked for projects which involve Punjabi lyrics and Sufi singing, Kaur also regularly releases devotional songs.