Music and Recording Collaborations 

  • 2020 – Najma releases her solo, album ‘Five Rivers’, (Last Minute Productions) on CD & Vinyl. Vinyl to be included on Record Store Day, August 2020
  • 2018 Najma co-wrote 2 tracks with Jonty Balls (vocals, guitar), Philipp Jahn (bass) and Felix Jahn (drums) of the, often described as psychedelic or a shoegazing band rock act, Desert Mountain Tribe or DMT.. Their album 'Om Parvat Mystery', features the 2 tracks titled, 'Himalaya' and 'Chemical Genius' (feat. Najma Akhtar) & received great reviews.  Najma preformed with DMT on the launch concert.
  • 2009. The critically acclaimed album titled ‘Rishte’ (Relationships)  emerged out of a unique collaboration with Grammy nominated New York based guitarist Gary Lucas. Gary is best known for his work with the Captain Beefheart Band and the late Jeff Buckley. Released on World Village / Harmonia Mundi the album received absolutely stunning reviews. 
  • 2009. Najma’s solo album titled ‘Fariyaad’, released on the Connecting Cultures label, featured the renowned saxophonist Steve Coleman and many more credible artists. 
  • Invited by one of Japan’s largest banks, Fuji Bank, to compose a song in the 'Najma style' for their International TV advertising campaign.
  • 2007. Invited to sing record and re-adapt the song ‘Sohni Dharti’, in the ‘Najma style’. Sponsored by the National Bank of Pakistan to commemorate the 60th year of independence of Pakistan. 
  • 2006. Najma was invited to New York to co-write and record as guest vocalist with renowned jazz musician and saxophonist / composer Stan Harrison for his latest album titled ‘The Optimist’. Produced by Gerard McMahon AKA Gerard McMann from the ‘Lost Boys’ film score.  Najma’s contribution to the title track ‘The Optimist’, has been quoted as ‘the highlight of the album’. 
  • Co- wrote a track titled ‘Mere Paas’ with Basement Jaxx, the critically acclaimed UK House duo, comprising of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe who rose to popularity in the late 1990s. This track appeared on their single called ‘Good Luck’. 
  • MTV Unplugged Special. Najma performed, recorded and collaborated with 2009 Grammy award winner Robert Plant and Jimmy Page (both formerly of Led Zeppelin) on the track ' The Battle of Evermore' for their album 'No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, recorded, Unledded' for their MTV Special ‘Unplugged’. This live TV recording was also released worldwide on the Atlantic Records label. Najma later toured with the band in the USA, Ireland and the UK. 
  • 'Vivid' in 2003 is a collaboration with film and documentary composer Richard Grassby-Lewis.
  • ​Recorded 2 songs for Philip Glass on the ‘Liquid Days’ album out of which Suzanne Vega had written one track. Accompanied by the Crouch End Choir and conducted by David Temple. 
  • Songwriting collaborations with various artists, co-coordinated by Miles Copeland (Sting’s ex - Manager) of ‘Arc 21’ record label. 
  • Collaboration, co-writing and a touring project with famous UK based jazz vocalist Carol Grimes and keyboard genius, Janette Mason. 
  • Collaboration with the City of London Sinfonia culminating with a performance at the Barbican, London    
  • Jah Wobble on his album ‘Take Me To God’. Released by Island Records 
  • Andy Summers on his album ‘The Golden Wire’. (Invited by X-Police guitarist, Andy Summers to LA to record a song titled ‘Piya Tose’ from the late Dev Anand’s film the ‘Guide’)
  • Steve Coleman on his albums ‘Black Science’ and A Tale of 3 Cities 
  • Hariharan and Leslie Lewis on the album ‘Colonial Cousins’ India  
  • Co-wrote a track titled ‘In my Mind’, with the famous Armenian / Persian Singer Andy Madadian for his album ‘And my Heart’ released on the ‘Arc 21’ label. A video featuring Najma was also made of this track. 
  • Song writing collaboration with German composer Herbert Lang for future project titled ‘Radha Govinda’ (Sanskrit poetry translated into English) 
  • Ken Morioka on his album in Japan titled ‘Question’. 
  • Apache Indian on his hit single titled ‘Arranged Marriage’ 
  •  Co-wrote 2 dance tracks with rapper DJ Asif Gillani, one was released on a compilation album 2004 and the other track in 2007 for his solo album. 
  • Co-wrote dance track with UK / Turkish DJ Necmi titled ‘Sitare’. Released on the Arc 21 Miles Copeland’s Label 
  • French singer and composer, Francois Audrain has used Najma’s voice on 2 tracks on his album titled ‘Detachee’ released on Warner Music France. 
  •  Vocal project in conjunction with the Science Museum London and was set up as a permanent installation for 4 years in the Wellcome Wing. 
  • Co-wrote the title track ‘Dot com’ with legendary flutist Ian Anderson for his album, titled ‘J-Tull Dot Com’ and released on the Jethro Tull label. 
  • Co-wrote a track with Maartin Allock for his album, titled ‘OX 19’ and released on the Jethro Tull label. 
  • Recorded for Steve Copeland’s new album. ‘Divas’
  • With La Cucina  on their album Bloom
  • With Sundae Club on their track Harold and their Stuff remix.
  • She is also sampled in the song "Flight Four: India" off the album British Summer Time   ​