Indian pop
Indian pop music, also known as Indi-pop, refers to pop music produced in India that is independent from filmi soundtracks for Indian cinema, such as the music of Bollywood, which tends to be more popular. Indian pop is closely linked to Bolly ...
singer and songwriter from
Mumbai, India
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second-m ...
, popularly known for her hit song 'Banoongi Main Miss India'. She is a graduate from
St. Xavier's College, Mumbai
St. Xavier's College is a private, Catholic, autonomous higher education institution run by the
Bombay Province of the Society of Jesus in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It was founded by the Jesuits on January 2, 1869. The college is aff ...
. At the age of 13, Mehnaz started her vocal training in Hindustani classical music under the tutelage of Pandit Bhavdeep Jaipurwale. She began training as a dancer with
Shiamak Davar
Shiamak Davar is an Indian choreographer, noted as one of the first to bring contemporary jazz and western forms of dance to India.Channel V Music Award for Best Female Pop Vocalist. At the time, Mehnaz was managed by
Diana Hayden
Diana Hayden (born 1 May 1973) is an Indian actress, television host, model and the winner of Miss World 1997 pageant. She is the third Indian woman to win the title of Miss World. She also won three subtitles during the pageant and is the o ...
who was crowned
Miss India Miss India may refer to:
* Femina Miss India, the most prestigious and oldest surviving national beauty pageant in India that started in 1964. It sends its winner to Miss World.
* Miss Diva, the national beauty pageant that sends its winners to Miss ...
the same year. It was in the nineties that
Indi-pop
Indian pop music, also known as Indi-pop, refers to pop music produced in India that is independent from filmi soundtracks for Indian cinema, such as the music of Bollywood, which tends to be more popular. Indian pop is closely linked to Bollywo ...
began to emerge as an alternative to film music in India when a large number of pop singers emerged on the music scene.
Early life and career
In 1996, Mehnaz won the Screen Videocon Award for Best Pop Singer for her debut album Miss India in the Non-Film Music category. Her song ''Main Hoon'' (composed by
Merlin D'Souza
Merlin D'Souza (Merlyn) is an Indian composer and pianist from Mumbai. She is a musician whose work includes composing for film, albums, theatre and advertising. She is based at Bandra, a Mumbai suburb. Formerly the Asian jazz ambassador for Hen ...
) from the album Miss India was featured on the soundtrack of Deepa Mehta's movie ''
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material (the fuel) in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products.
At a certain point in the combustion reaction, called the ignition point, flames a ...
''. In 1997 she was featured in a multi-artist video called ''Wajah Muskurane Ki'' (A Reason to Smile) to celebrate 50 years of Indian independence and the video aired on Indian television channels. Mehnaz recorded a duet titled ''Senada Cinta'' with BMG Malaysia's recording artist Iwan in 1998.
In 1998, she sang the number ''Paisa paisa paisa'' for the soundtrack of the indie film '' Bombay Boys''."Bombay Boys by Ashutosh Phatak". Beardscratchers.com. Retrieved 18 March 2013 /ref>
In 1999, Mehnaz recorded a duet called ''You Are The Reason'' with
Graham Russell
Graham Cyril Russell (born 11 June 1950) is an English musician, singer-songwriter, producer and guitarist of the soft rock duo Air Supply.
In 1975, with Russell Hitchcock, he formed Air Supply in Australia. The duo have been singing and p ...
and
Russell Hitchcock
Russell Charles Hitchcock (born 15 June 1949) is an Australian musician and lead vocalist of the soft rock duo Air Supply.
Early life
Born in Melbourne, Hitchcock attended South Brunswick State School, and later studied at Princes Hill High ...
of the band
Air Supply
Air Supply is a soft rock duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 1975. It consists of Englishman Graham Russell (vocals, guitar) and Australian Russell Hitchcock (vocals). They had a succession of hits worldwide, including eight top-five ...
for the soundtrack of Dev Benegal's award-winning film ''
Split Wide Open
''Split Wide Open'' is a 1999 Indian film directed by Dev Benegal. It is his second feature film after '' English, August'' (1994). The film primarily deals with the Water conflicts in the slums of Bombay, and paedophilia, and also looks at the s ...
''."Yours Truly" AirSupply, "You Are The Reason" (Featuring Mehnaz) (Album Version). Amazon Music. (2001). Retrieved 15 March 2013 /ref>
She released her second solo album titled ''Mausam'' with BMG Crescendo in 1999.
In the year 2000, Mehnaz recorded the song ''Dreamcatcher'' for the soundtrack of the indie film ''Snip!'', directed by Sunhil Sippy.iTunes Preview (2000). Snip (OST), Various Artists. Universal Music India Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved 18 March 2013 /ref>
She was also featured on the duet You Are The Reason on ''Yours Truly'', the fifteenth album by
Air Supply
Air Supply is a soft rock duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 1975. It consists of Englishman Graham Russell (vocals, guitar) and Australian Russell Hitchcock (vocals). They had a succession of hits worldwide, including eight top-five ...
In 2007, Mehnaz travelled to the United States and collaborated with local musicians who eventually formed the core of the Seattle-based band,
Manooghi Hi
Manooghi Hi is a Seattle-based rock band formed in 2007 and featuring Indian pop singer, Mehnaz Hoosein. Their music is a blend of western rock-n-roll harmony and instrumentation with Indian melody and rhythms. The band sings in a variety of South ...
. As lead singer of Manooghi Hi, Mehnaz brought her background and knowledge of Indian pop and
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the classical music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. It may also be called North Indian classical music or, in Hindustani, ''shastriya sangeet'' (). It is played in instruments like the violin, si ...
to the all-American pure rock sensibilities of the band; Jonathan Zwickel of the Seattle Times said 'their sound has never before been attempted'.Manooghi Hi. Retrieved 19 March 2013
Mehnaz and Manooghi Hi vocalize in several South Asian languages, including English, Urdu, Sanskrit, Hindi and Bengali.
Manooghi Hi released two albums titled Hi in 2009 Manooghi Hi (2009). "Manooghi Hi". cdbaby.com. Retrieved 12 March 2013 /ref> and Silence in 2011.Brian McKinnon (11 July 2011). Muzikreviews.com, Manooghi Hi. Silence. Retrieved 12 March 2013 /ref>
Mehnaz was featured on the 2012, the Barrett Martin album release "Artifact "on Sunyata Records.
In 2012, Mehnaz moved to New Orleans to pursue her dream of living in one of the most musical cities in the world. She has performed at Voodoo Fest with Leslie Blackshear Smith
Mehnaz has also performed with Master Sarode player Aashish Khan and (Shringar) Larry Sieberth, Andrew McLean, Michael Skinkus and Tim Green.
Mehnaz has been collaborating with pianist, composer and producer Lawrence Sieberth and was featured at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2015
Discography
Studio Albums
*Miss India (1996) Crescendo Music
* Mausam (1999) BMG Crescendo Music
*Sajnaa (2006) Universal Music, India
*Hi (2009) Manooghi Hi Records
*Silence (2011) Mowlawner Records
Soundtrack Albums
*Bombay Boys (1998)
*
Split Wide Open
''Split Wide Open'' is a 1999 Indian film directed by Dev Benegal. It is his second feature film after '' English, August'' (1994). The film primarily deals with the Water conflicts in the slums of Bombay, and paedophilia, and also looks at the s ...
(1999)
*Snip (2000)
Compilation Albums
*32 Smash Hits (2000) BMG Crescendo Music
*Hitz Unlimited (2002) Zee Records