Young and dynamic Mehmeet Syed is a personality of global fame, known for her singing skills. Her voice especially on Kashmiri songs has earned her huge fan base.
In an exclusive interview with the HeavenMail, she talks to Rameez Makhdoomi.
What are your current assignments like ?
Normally, I record at my own home recording setup and post them accordingly. My two songs whose music and other technical dimensions are done by my brother, Muheet Syed, are going to release soon. These songs would be keeping in view the new aura and latest trends. There’s one more world tour and many more exciting things in pipeline, and all that would be revealed soon.
How did your global trips go ?
We visited different countries of world. We visited Different cities of Australia, New Zealand and USA, UK, UAE and Malaysia. The response of Kashmiri community there was overwhelming.
Share us some beautiful moments of those trips ?
Here I would like to relate that during our foreign trips through our music we united both Kashmiri Pandit and Kashmiri Muslim community. At one place my host at Melbourne Australia, got emotional for how our music got both communities together at her home, after decades. Music has no barriers of caste, creed, religion, race or ethnicities, as it unites all.
What learnings have you got from your life journey so far?
Actually, a good question! My belief has been through my journey in music that one ought to love his language and culture as its one’s identity and yet respect and learn other languages too. Having said that, Kashmiris living in foreign countries know the value of their language and culture and realise it is their basic identity.
Do you believe we in Kashmir are letting down our culture?
In this regard, I would say things are improving towards betterment. When I started very few Kashmiris were listening to Kashmiri music, but with the time things have improved exponentially. Today, through internet, many people love listening to Kashmiri music and I was lucky because I got immense support without any social media platforms initially, and became a sensation overnight.
The internet has made world a small global village and music of diverse quality has travelled across globe .
What is your take on rising drug addiction in Kashmir as youth icon ?
It is a very sad situation that drug addiction is on rise in Kashmir. The parents need to understand the minds of their children and be more understanding towards them. I believe we need to raise more awareness about monster of drug addiction. I want to do everything possible in my domain to adress this menace. I urge youth those who like music to do addiction of music, not drugs .
How far has social media helped in music?
Social media is a great invention of our times. Earlier, we were dependent on limited media for showcasing our talent be it in music or any other field.
The positive side of social media is that you are not just dependent on radio or TV today, via social media you have ready made platform available. Social media in this day and age gives you a name as opposed to previous times.
Why did you did not take transition towards Bollywood ?
Kashmir and the language, culture of Kashmir is my first love . I need to be given the due credit as I did not feel the need to leave Kashmir and popularised the love towards language of Kashmir. When I started, our music had been sidelined, but with the grace of Allah, I revived the love for Kashmiri music in no time. So, bollywood was never my priority. But I’ve sung for many Bollywood movies and would love to do that in future as well, but from Kashmir itself.
How was family support like?
Be it my beloved parents or my brother and other relatives, despite myself belonging to a conservative family, I have always got immense support from my near and dear ones.
What are your future goals?
My future goals are to make my Kashmiri language and culture globally popular and loved. I would like my fans to always keep showering love and support to me.
Your message ?
My message is to people to be kind and loving towards each other and every other kind that exists. Take extra care of your parents. Also, hate is too harsh of an emotion and is really self destructive. emotion.
