When you meet Durga McBroom, you instantly feel it; that spark, that energy that has carried her across decades of success in music, dance, and acting. Best known for her powerhouse vocals with Pink Floyd and her chart-topping hits with Blue Pearl, Durga has crafted a life of limitless creativity, constantly evolving and expanding her artistry.
From the start, it was clear she was destined for the spotlight. “I’ve always loved movies, music, acting and dance,” she says, laughing. “I was an extremely expressive kid. I mimicked everyone. I even used to think cameras were hidden in my house filming me, so I’d perform for them!”
That vibrant imagination eventually led her onto some of the biggest stages in the world. Performing with Pink Floyd, she says, was an experience unlike any other. “The energy in a stadium is incredibly powerful; 70,000 people all caught up in the alchemy of fantastic music. Being one of the people making that music is a real privilege,” Durga recalls. One memory that stands out vividly is the legendary Pink Floyd Live in Venice concert. “The stage was set up on a barge the size of a football field anchored in front of the Piazza San Marco. A few hundred thousand people showed up. Small boats and gondolas held candles between us and the shore, and on land, people stretched as far as the eye could see. It was truly momentous.”
But Durga’s creative spirit couldn’t be confined to just one role. She broke new ground as the lead singer of Blue Pearl, where she found a different kind of freedom. “With Pink Floyd, I was a backing singer. With Blue Pearl, it was my band. I wrote the majority of the music on ‘Naked,’” she shares. “Having all of the focus on you is a very different experience.”
Over the years, Durga has collaborated with an impressive roster of artists, from Billy Idol to Steve Hackett. Yet, she’s quick to point out that many of these connections seemed almost serendipitous. “I don’t look for collaborations, they look for me!” she says with a grin. Still, she dreams of one day working with Joni Mitchell, a major songwriting influence in her life.
Beyond the glittering stages and recording studios, there’s another side to Durga that many might not know about – her deep roots in holistic medicine. Her mother, a trailblazer herself as the first Black American woman to run a private cardiology practice in the U.S., inspired Durga’s early interest in health and wellness. “She shifted her entire practice to preventive medicine and holistic healthcare back in the ’70s, way before it was fashionable,” Durga explains. “When I wasn’t touring, I worked in her office as a medical assistant. I started in my early teens and learned so much by her side.”
That knowledge has served her well through the often-grueling demands of touring life.
“My sister Lorelei (also a professional singer) and I maintain a very rigorous holistic regimen to keep ourselves healthy,” she says. “It’s really saved us both from a lot of problems.” Durga used to travel with a small suitcase packed with nutraceuticals but laughs that she’s managed to pare it down a bit over the years.
Even now, with a packed schedule, she prioritizes wellness in ways that feel intuitive and sustainable. “I get a lot of rest whenever I can. And even though I haven’t been able to hit the gym lately because of the touring schedule, I figure dancing two and a half hours several nights a week counts for something!” she jokes. Clean eating, downtime with good movies and music, and fun with her bandmates are her go-to remedies for staying grounded.
As for what’s next, Durga has plenty on the horizon. Her current band, Pink Floyd Legacy, is in the midst of a world tour, performing across Europe with hopes of expanding even further next year. “I have a couple of other projects in the works, including a duet with somebody who’s really famous, but I can’t say anything about it just yet,” she teases. Plus, she’s guesting with several beloved Pink Floyd tribute bands and finishing up her long-awaited autobiography. “It’s gonna be one hell of a hot read!” she promises.
Through every phase of her journey, Durga McBroom continues to embody creativity, resilience, and passion. Her story reminds us that life, like great music, is about embracing evolution, staying open to new rhythms, and always dancing forward.
