With an impressive CV spanning theater, film, and TV, multi-talented Preeya Kalidas eventually turned her considerable talents to pop with a sound fusing bhangra, hip-hop, and R&B. Born in Isleworth, South West London in 1980, she trained at the prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School alongside Spice Girl Emma Bunton and West End star Denise Van Outen. Following small roles in East Is East, Bollywood Queen, and Bend It Like Beckham, she starred as Priya in A.R. Rahman's musical Bombay Dreams for two years. Its most prominent number, "Shakalaka Baby," reached number 38 and won Best Video at the MTV Asia Awards in 2002. After appearing as the narrator in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, she landed the role of Amira Shah in the hugely popular soap opera Eastenders. Leaving in 2010 to concentrate on her musical career, she signed to Mercury Records and began working on her debut album with Labrinth and Naughty Boy. However, she was dropped by the label after its lead single, "Shimmy," charted at a disappointing number 85. Kalidas has since guested on Bashy single "Fantasy" and Skepta's Top 40 hit "Cross My Heart." ~ Jon O'Brien