Folk artiste Aabha Hanjura performs across diverse genres, often combining Kashmiri folk sounds with elements of contemporary rock, jazz and blues. She got her break with the Kashmiri folk song ‘Hukus Bukus’ in 2017, which was featured in the web series The Family Man. She recently released a song ‘Nundbane’, from her upcoming album Sound of Kashmir, and performed at #ArtMatters, a major fundraiser by Teamwork Arts.
Q\ You quit a successful corporate career to become a full-time independent artist.
A\ Yes, when I was choosing this path, I was sure I was not going for something that was easy, accepted or well-known. The Kashmiri language is so niche that it is barely spoken by 0.02 per cent of the country. My passion drove me to leave the comforts of a high-paying job. Although I sing in different languages and I write in Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi, Kashmiri is a language I try and put more spotlight on, because it is hardly represented in the mainstream, even at festivals. Initially it was really tough, because people did not understand what I was trying to do. Then there was intrigue, interest and finally there was the breakthrough song, ‘Hukus Bukus’.
Q\ Tell us about how you use traditional instruments and Kashmiri sounds to create modern folk fusion.
A\I have experimented with a bunch of genres in my latest album. In ‘Hukus Bukus’ it was gypsy folk. ‘Khanmoej Koor’ was a soft ballad. ‘Roshewalla’ [involved] a soft rock treatment. I do not really box my music into any [specific] genre. But I love ethnic folk instruments and a lot of them are from Kashmir. So I try and keep that flavour alive as much as possible.
Q\ Are there many Kashmiri musicians in the mainstream commercial scene today? Vibha Saraf’s ‘Roshay’ was there in Made in Heaven, and your song in The Family Man.
A\When I started doing this, there was nobody. Today, I am so happy to see so many artistes bringing in their own flavour. Each of us have our own sonic identity and that serves the culture in the best possible way. A lot of Kashmiri music has been featured in movies and web series, which is something I am very excited about.
Q\ How has this period of isolation helped your music evolve?
A\Isolation has both helped and not helped. Sometimes the silence has helped me to get a lot of writing done. Sometimes I crave to be in the studio or around people. I am somebody who really thrives on that live energy.