Mai Dhai

Mai Dhai (Urdu: مای دھائی) is a Pakistani classical singer hailing from Tharparkar, Sindh. She formed a folk-band called Mai Dhai Band composed of Jamal Shab, a harmonium player and dhol player, Muhammad Fakir. Mai and her band has performed in US at SXSW Music 2015,[2] where her music style was met with extravagant positive response.[3] She rose to prominence on national television after appearing as a featured artist in eight season of music series Coke Studio.[4][5]

Mai Dhai
Born1919 or 1920 (age 103–104)[1]
Barmer district, Rajputana, British India[1]
GenresMarwari and Sindhi folk music
Years active1960–present

Background and career

Mai belongs to the Manganiar community. In 2013, she appeared in Lahooti Live Sessions a Live Music Sessions to promote Indigenous Music Sufi/Folk music, musicians, instruments among masses specially youth which is produced by the band The Sketches. She rose to fame after performing in Lahooti Live Sessions. In March 2015, as a part of DubMC collaboration with the US embassy in Pakistan and Foundation for Arts, Culture and Education (FACE)[6] at SXSW Music 2015 Global program,[7] Mai performed in New York City at Graduate Center[8] of City University.[9] In an interview with Broadway world, she said, "I have confidence in my voice and the culture I come from," she states. "Things around here are getting stricter, especially when it comes to a woman singing on stage. I am the only women from the Manganiyar Tribe who has performed on a big stage But I am hopeful that things will get better, maybe for the next generation. And as long as my voice is with me I will keep singing."[10]

The Sketches & Lahooti Live Sessions helped Mai Dhai to appear in Coke Studio Pakistan.[11] In 2015, she debuted in the eight season of Pakistani music reality television series Coke Studio, where she sang two songs including "Aankhaṛli Phaṛookai" and "Kadi Ao Ni with artists Karam Abbas Khan & Atif Aslam respectively.[12][13] Mai's appearance with Atif on Coke studio was received well by critics and viewers.[14]

Before appearing in Coke Studio, Saif Samejo of The Sketches collaborated with Mai, in an interview with Express Tribune he said, "The style in which Mai Dhai is performing on Coke Studio is her natural style, whereas we have tried to incorporate our style of music into hers, so that it retains its original Rajasthani flavour while also sounding like a dialogue between us." She sang two songs with the band.[15]

Discography

Filmography

Awards and recognition

References
  1. Menghwar, Govind (21 February 2016), "Culture: Song of the desert", DAWN, archived from the original on 18 November 2017, retrieved 27 March 2018
  2. "SXSW Music 2015: Ancient Songs With a Rocking Beat". Jon Pareles. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  3. "Mai Dhai embarks on a musical journey to the US". The News. 21 March 2015. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  4. "Coke Studio Season 8 Artists' List Released". The Daily Times. 20 June 2015. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  5. "Coke Studio Season 8 Songs & Artists Revealed!". Pakistan Advertisers Society. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  6. "From Sindh to Nunavut: SXSW Gone Global in 2015". DubMC. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  7. "At SXSW, Stepping Back to Allow Hopeful Artists to Step Up". Jon Pareles. 21 March 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  8. "Mai Dhai to bring songs of Thar to New York". The Express Tribune. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  9. "Mai Dhai to sing desert songs in New York". Aag TV. 22 February 2015. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  10. "US Debut of Traditional Pakistani Singer, Mai Dhai, Set for Tonight". Broadway World.com. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  11. "Evolution of music: For the love of music and making money off it". The Express Tribune. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  12. "Coke Studio Season 8 Episode 1". Asad Haroon. Dispatch News Desk. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  13. "Coke Studio Season 8-Episode 1: From boys to men". Ali Raj. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  14. "Coke Studio 8: Atif Aslam, Mai Dhai's 'Kadi Aao Ni' shake music charts". TNT. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  15. "The Sketches collaborate with Mai Dhai". The Express Tribune. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  16. "Pakistan's "Oscars"; The Nigar Awards (1957 - 2002)". The Hot Spot Film Reviews website. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
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