All Malika Ravel wants, is to play the sitar. The Asian UK pop star doesn’t care much about anything apart from her music, the mood, and colours her compositions conjure up.

While most other girls her age would be stressing over their A levels, Malika has other things on her mind. Her phenomenon second album “Sutra” is estimated to sell over 1 millions copies within its first week of release. Can it be done?

The notes played on the wooden sitar are vintage, but the 17-year-old, the youngest daughter from a family of musicians, mixes contemporary sounds to create an eclectic resonance. A very proud mother and father never thought she could bring back the classical music they have always loved; but Malika continued to surprise many in her short career.

In only a year after being signed by Desi Beats Records, she has taken the nation by storm, selling out arenas as big as Wembley stadium. She is changing the views of her audience by injecting freshness and energy into an ancient art form, and attracting a younger generation

Here Urvi Bhatt gets the low down on the rising star.

Your album fuses sounds from classical instruments with more advanced technologies. What made you want to produce such a hybrid sound?

Well my parents were big fans of the old more classical instruments, my father played the tabla and my mother taught the harmonium. So from an early age I was forced to learn how to play the sitar. Growing up I couldn’t see why these older instruments had to be so dull, so I tried to spice them up. I found other types of music more interesting so I decided to blend them together.

The idea came from playing the sitar from a young age, which I didn’t fully appreciate until a few years ago, together with new generation music that’s very popular and appealed to me and my audience.

What is it like exchanging the class room for the recording studio?

Well at first the change was difficult, not seeing my friends so much. I have to be a lot more focused now. I still want to finish my education so I go to night classes to keep up. It’s hard juggling the two, somehow I seem to muddle through.

Was there a lot a pressure on you to be a musician because you come from such a musically based family?

Well as you know my mother was a harmonium teacher and my father played the tabla so I was forced to learn an instrument. They were very supportive when I said I wanted to be a vet, I love animals and wanted to help injured ones. It just so happens that I grew to appreciate the sitar and now love playing. In future I would still like to go on and help animals.

On a whole there was some pressure in the beginning to learn the instrument which I was not to keen on doing. However now I can fully appreciate music in its entirety. My family were supportive of my other goals as well, it just so happened that my love for the sitar grew.

I actually thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to learn an instrument. They have given me the gift of music which is priceless, and had it not been for them I wouldn’t be here now doing what I love.

Was there a lot a pressure on you to be a musician because you come from such a musically based family?

Well as you know my mother was a harmonium teacher and my father played the tabla so I was forced to learn an instrument. It just so happens that I grew to appreciate the sitar and now love playing it. At times there was some pressure in the beginning to learn the instrument which I was not to keen on doing. However now I can fully appreciate music in its entirety.

My parents were very supportive when I said I wanted to be a vet, I love animals and would still like to go on and help them. I actually thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to learn an instrument. They have given me the gift of music which is priceless. And had it not been for them I wouldn’t be here now doing what I love.

Many artist s today keep in touch with fans using social networking sites, are you a tweeter or a facebook fan?

Well social networking is a great way of keeping up with fans; it helps to keep them informed on new events and releases.

As far as facebook and twitter goes I am a fan of both. I prefer using twitter because it lets me keep in touch with my fans more easily.

Adnan Rami recently said he would love to do a duet with you who would you like to calibrate with?

First of all I can’t believe they said that. Growing up Adnan has always been my idol. His unique voice and intricate style has been an inspiration. It would be an honour to sing with a well reputable artist.

Over the course of the year my family and Adnan have become great friends and I have great respect for him and his work.

Most people describe you as the new leading light of music what do you have to say about this?

When it comes to keeping Indian classical music alive, the Ravel’s play the same note.

My dad has always told me that the songs should be magical. It has been embedded from my family that music should come from the heart and soul, so I always play with that in mind. However I find that people's reasons for making music have changed. My dad always tells me that he remembers when people made music for fun and passion. Now people are just trying to make money and you can hear it. A lot of music now sounds the same.

Many pop stars seem to be talented actors, Is there any chance of you popping up on our TV screens?

I have been on TV on a few occasions but mainly to promote my new album, I have also appeared on the well known game show total mic-out. Would I do a chat show? I don’t think so, I would rather concentrate on my music for the moment but who knows for the future.

My music may be new but, it comes from an old Ravel< use as floating quota with picture .