“With monsoon came flashing clouds, Once again to rain all over, Lightening flashed on Constantinople, and went towards west, It glittered over China, and took care of Samarkand, Then crossing Delhi and Deccan, it thundered in Girnar, Rambling to Rome, Kabul and Kandahar, It crossed Delhi, Decan and Girnar, Rushing to Jaisalmer and then to Bikanere and Bakar, It drenched Bhuj and then Drut and came to Umerkot and then in Walhar. O my lord, bestow prosperity on Sindh forever, O my sweet friend, shower blessings on all the world ” - Muslim Sufi Mystic Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai's Prayer for a better World
Mannat (A Prayer, A Wish) offers prayers for the health and wellness of the world.
Based on traditional poems by Sufi mystic Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai and learned from two master musicians in Pakistan, the concept of this album is based on the ritual of supplication and saint worship that are practices braced by many religious cultures, yet still resisted by mainstream orthodoxies who deem them as superstitious and illegitimate. Hemani brings new musical interpretations to Sufi poems with the sounds of her vocals accompanied by Mehdi Rezania on Santur and Ojas Joshi on tabla.
"My music seeks to decolonize intercultural conversations by resisting cultural essentialism and offers prayers for the health and wellness of the world."
Living with Purpose is a multi-lingual track in Quranic Arabic and English and brings the image of the primordial covenant mentioned in Sura Al-Arif of Quran. It inspires us to live purposefully and contribute to humanity meaningfully.
Anticipating is a track that is very relevant to what we are experiencing during COVID-19: being STUCK and anticipating things to clear away so that we can return to normal. Of course, as we all understand, we would come on the other side with a “new normal” and that would mean dealing with this state of being stuck in ways that keep us moving, even if we are moving on forked paths. This song not only captures that feeling but also shows you a way to keep your connections alive during this quarantined phase.
