Puthli is adept at cooking musical stews; she fused Eastern and Western styles long before it was considered mainstream. “My sound is a seamless blend of influences—Indian classical, European opera, pop, jazz, R&B, soul and everything else you can think of,” she says, “I absorb music like a sponge.” Her 1970s albums, usually amalgams of disco and jazz, became American cult classics. Ornette Coleman’s 1971 album Science Fiction first featured Puthli in a guest appearance that caught the attention of jazz fans, who loved her daring style. With Coleman as her mentor, she went on to release two innovative albums: She Loves to Hear the Music and The Devil is Loose. During the 1990s, Asha’s music was a rich source for beats and exotic atmosphere, used by everyone from P. Diddy and The Notorious B.I.G. to Jay-Z.

Puthli’s talent stretches across the arts—she acted in a Louis Malle film and was photographed by Andy Warhol. A darling of the Studio 54 scene, she caught the attention of designer Manolo Blahnik, who dressed her for her nights out. As a result, Puthli entered the world of high fashion and the counterculture elite.

What’s next? “I’m currently working on my first solo jazz album that strongly grounds my Indian heritage. I’ve done some incredible records in free jazz, working with Ornette Coleman, Henry Threadgill and others,” she says. “But I’ve never had the opportunity to record solo. I’m very excited.” So are fans. Her voice is a Donna Summers/Aretha Franklin hybrid with a touch of classical Indian fluidity.

Ever versatile, she’s worked with rock legends Patti Smith and The Rolling Stones. What stands out in a three-decade career? Performing at Jazz Yatra in India with Sonny Rollins, sharing the stage at the San Remo Festival with Grace Jones and Barry White and singing for Mikhael Gorbachev at The Hague to celebrate the launch of The Green Cross. “It’s been quite a life!”

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