Back in Colombo, after a long and successful stint in Doha, is Dalreen.

Her link with the music scene in Doha commenced in June, 2007, when she latched up with Aquarius for the opening of the Orion Pub at the Ramada Hotel in Qatar.

She then signed up a three-month contract with the hotel and it turned out to be a very successful assignment.

The audience, mainly British, Americans and Middle Easterners, appreciated what Dalreen had to offer them as an entertainer.

Although she returned to Colombo, during the Ramadan season last year, the hotel management wanted her back and a contract was made out for one year.

But she couldn’t last the full one year as she felt the need to see her grandchildren.

At the Ramada, Doha Dalreen switched outlets in February this year. From the Orion Pub she moved to the champagne bar, called The Bubbles, while Aquarius were assigned to tackle the Qube disco.

Aquarius had to go for some Filipina singers as Dalreen wasn’t too keen in doing the hip hop stuff.

At The Bubbles, she teamed up, with an Afro-American keyboardist/singer, Man Ritchie.

According to Dalreen, it was a wonderful experience performing with Ritchie.

"It was the first time that I was working with a black musician and we did all types of music - from jazz to rock, to blues and country. You name it, we did it all. And Ritchie sounds very much like Barry White", said Dalreen.

They did live music, as well as using tracks - but the singing was absolutely live, emphasised Dalreen.

It was more an up-market crowd that patronised The Bubbles, The working hours were quite easy and Dalreen says, music-wise, she learnt a lot by performing with Ritchie.

"My stay in Doha was great. The management at the hotel, mainly Europeans (with a few Sri Lankans in other categories), treated us very well and it was a pleasure working for them."

Dalreen went on to say that there were 47 musicians working at the outlets in the hotel. Saturday was their free day and they all generally team up and have a party. There were musicians from European countries, the Philippines, India and of course, Sri Lanka.

No one ever believed that Dalreen was from Sri Lanka.

When she was performing with Ritchie, they invariably mistook her for a Middle Easterner or American.

Dalreen has had offers coming her way to work with Ritchie in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Morocco.

She says she may consider such offers later but right now she wants to be at home, with her two grand-daughters, Jaynah and Rihanna.