NEW DELHI: For her, it is a coming back of sorts. Singer Shibani Kashyap, who is Punjabi by birth, has returned to her home soil by singing her first Punjabi song –a duet with the renowned Punjabi singer Mika Singh.

'Soneya', a Times Music release, is a peppy love duet that Kashyap claims is aimed at reviving Indipop, which has begun to take a back seat with every singer attempting to make a beeline for Bollywood. 'But we need to be seen and not just remain a playback voice,' she told Radioandmusic.com.

Not merely that, but Kashyap justifies the recording of a single number for an album by pointing out that this is the time for singles, since most listeners download individual tracks on to their mobiles, laptops and tablets. This is one of the songs in the Indipop album Kashyap has worked on. "I will keep releasing the songs one by one. I feel Indipop has immense potential and is going to be back in a big way," she added.

In fact, she said that belting out singles was hard work but it was necessary in this age since few have heard a full eight to ten song album at a stretch.

'Soneya' has a very upbeat, bright and international feel to it even as it retains the earthy touch. Though she is a composer, plays the guitar to perfection and is now learning the piano, she said this single had been composed by Gaurav Dayal.

'I have known Mika for quite a long time, but now we got the chance to sing together and that too for my first Punjabi song,' said Kashyap. The music of 'Soneya' has been done in electronic dance space with Mika Singh and Shibani featuring in the video.

"I feel at present, listeners are demanding variety and they are not in the mood to accept music that is below par and that is why I believe Indipop has immense potential to come back. It has everything in it and is going to be back in a big way," she said.

But this young petite singer who commenced her music career with a jingle for All India Radio's FM Rainbow in 1996 has not confined her career to just singles or albums. She recently appeared as a guest artiste in the film 'Ranveer the Marshall' which is based on martial arts. She said her aim of doing this film was to send out the message that women had to learn to protect themselves. She had in fact, trained for six months before doing the film. To prove her point, she showed a can of pepper spray that she was carrying in her purse.

Earlier, she has appeared in Raveena Tandon's film 'Shobna's Seven Nights'. Her upcoming films include songs in 'Main aur Mr Right' by Adeeb Rais and a song in Rahat Kazmi's 'Identiy Card' which attempts to show the situation in Kashmir and which impressed her very much. She is now planning to record a single with the well-known Rabbi Shergill and has already met him to discuss the project.

While expressing herself in favour of Indipop to ensure that it should not die, she admitted that her forays into Bollywood keep her going and keep the market alive.

Asked whether the sale of a single was helped if a video was shot on that number, she replied in the affirmative. 'A video has become mandatory to create awareness and interest', she added. When asked about the scene in the sixties and seventies, a time during which many singers complained that top singers did not allow them to come up, she said things were very different now. New voices find easy acceptability among young audiences. 'New voices provide variety', she added.

Born in Delhi with a degree in English Literature, she then went on to master both Indian and western music. Some of her songs are very popular like "Sajna Aaa Bhi Ja" from movie 'Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II'. She even anchored a singer hunt show called 'Bathroom Singer'.

Kashyap mostly composes music in the Sufi-western blend. In 2012 she sang a Pakistani serial title song 'Mohabbat Jai Bhar Mein' in Urdu, which was a major hit in Pakistan and India as well.

She also sang for the films Zinda (2006) and 1971 (2007). She won the Best Female Pop Singer award for the album 'Nazakat' at the 2005 Sangeet Awards held in San Francisco.