Maham Suhail: Tracks That Shaped My Sound

Meet Maham Suhail, a groundbreaking musician and composer who recently made waves with her powerful release, 'Sadaa.' Tying the haunting lyrics of 'Sadaa' to the ongoing tragedy in Palestine, Maham has captivated audiences not just with her music but with the poignant messages she weaves into her art.

Hailing from Pakistan and now based in London on a Global Talent visa, Maham’s journey is as unconventional as it is inspiring. Her nomadic spirit and boundary-pushing artistry have already garnered attention from major platforms, including Rolling Stone India and the 'Cabinet of Curiosities' charts.

With a profile that continues to rise, Maham is eager to connect and explore new opportunities for collaboration and exposure. Her unique voice in the music world resonates deeply, making her an artist to watch and a powerful force for cultural commentary.

‘Oh My God’: Sevdaliza

Sevdaliza in her art tech-y blend of Alternative RnB, Trip Hop, and Experimental Pop and boasting of a repertoire in English, Dutch, and Persian languages, addresses themes of empowerment, womanhood, and what it means to be human in socio-political contexts.

Her music speaks to mine. The direction in which my music is evolving now, is borrowing from similar sorts of sounds, ideas, and aestehtcis. ‘Sadaa’ itself is a very personal lyric arising from an intense moment of silent meditation, yet also political in the larger sense, questioning repression of the inner (human) voice as is happening at the most massive scale in the modern world in Palestine; 

‘Sadaa’ has Alternative Hip Hop, Trip Hop & Experimental Pop vibes. 

‘All is Full of Love’: Bjork

Her sonic production elements peep out of nooks & corners all through her ethereal music arrangements & flowing poetic lyrics. Flying about in my head in a stereo imagery that envelopes 360-degree, Bjork has always been a strong influence on the mindmap of my larger, eclectic & versatile musical taste. A study of this track of hers in particular, with World music sounds embedded in Electronics and the lyrics paying an ode to love, make me realize: The Dulcimer & Strings combo I chose for my ‘Sadaa’ music, with the lyrics that speak of a journey toward freedom of expression and to play like a child, do find certain unknown overlaps with ‘All is Full of Love’ in a peculiar yet familiar way!

‘Till Further Notice’: Travis Scott (feat. James Blake & 21 Savage)

The beat of this track and the haunting music really get me. The layered vocal harmonies and dramatic Strings are the sorts of musical elements that have the symbolic & signature James Blake style; even if not consciously so, but these sounds have infleunced certain sound design aspects of ‘Sadaa’ in its beat and melodic arrangement. I play MIDI Dulcimer & a Strings Quartet on ‘Sadaa’ 

‘Surface’: Abdullah Siddiqui ft. Talha Anjum

The piercing lyrics performed in this song with all that emotion which you may not feel in a one-on-one conversation with his introverted self, Abdullah Siddiqui has a general production & songwriting aesthetic that resonates with my non-linear musical self. 

He borrows from Electro-Pop, yet in his own experimental forms and blends with S. Asian Folk & World elements. What I feel aligns with my ‘Sadaa’ track from his repertoire, is an approach to mainstream Western beats & styles in a playful mix with Urdu lyric, Tabla & other instrumental sonic insertions.