Rajasthani folk singer Mame Khan: Something universal in old folk tunes

New Delhi: Folk music has always been a beautiful form of expression and has found lots of love not only in India but around the world, says Jaisalmer-born folk singer Mame Khan, who has been the playback singer for numerous Hindi films such as ‘Luck By Chance, ‘No One Killed Jessica’, and ‘Sonchiriya’.

“I think there is something universal in our age old folk tunes that everyone can relate to. Music is the one thing which connects us to so many memories and happy moments and gives us a sense of togetherness and hope. But times are very difficult for our entire industry, most of our folk artists lost all sources of income due to the pandemic and also many people who work behind the scenes in the event industry suffer on a daily basis to make ends meet,” he told IANSlife. The singer is part of a fundraiser Together, Louder, Stronger – is a fundraiser for the performance industry workers and folk artists by Anahad Foundation, which is aimed at conserving India’s beautiful folk music heritage and its artists, produced by Believe Entertainment.

“We do need strong solidarity and everyone needs to join hands to improve the situation. I am glad to participate in Together, Louder, Stronger and support my fellow folk artists and back stage workers.I encourage everyone to come together and support Anahad Foundation and Believe in this cause and support the industry that has entertained us over the years.

“A safe and joyful return of our live shows seem a difficult task at the current situation. My team and myself are currently working on artist safety guidelines and protocols to get all our musicians back on stage. The virus will not leave us again overnight, we need to find safe ways to work again and this can only happen with strong and responsible partnerships,” Khan shared.

‘Together, Louder, Stronger’ will feature upto 20 celebrated musicians like Shaan, Mame Khan, Jonita Gandhi, Benny Dayal, When Chai Met Toast, Bhuvan Bam, Nithyasree Mahadevan and more. The virtual event will be launched on Saturday, September 26, live on Facebook and YouTube channels of Anahad Foundation and Believe Entertainment.