With a diverse culture, folk music in India is more than just sound: it鈥檚 storytelling, oral history, and a living expression of the community. Despite the language barrier, folk music touches people鈥檚 souls as it carries the voices of ancestors, the rhythms of rituals, and the spirit of places where songs are still passed down by ear.
At the forefront of this tradition stands Mame Khan, one of the most recognisable voices of Rajasthani folk music. Born into the Manganiyar community of Rajasthan, melodies were passed down to him like heirlooms. As he embarks on a new chapter with JetSynthesys鈥 Global Music Junction, he reflects on how folk music connects people and the responsibility of keeping it alive.
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Excerpts from the interview:
When you sang Chaudhary, did you ever imagine it would become a landmark moment in India鈥檚 folk music history?
Honestly, no. I never imagined Chaudhary would become such a massive hit. I loved singing it, but I never dreamed it would resonate the way it has. It鈥檚 incredible to see how the song has travelled 鈥 not just across India, but globally. The magic really comes from the team: Amit Trivedi, a Gujarati composer; lyrics from Punjab; and the soul of Rajasthan in the melody. The song is rooted in Mand Raag and carries that vibrant Rajasthani flavour, which gives it a fresh, colourful feel. Today, it feels like Chaudhary has sparked a folk fever, and I鈥檓 so proud to be its voice. When a song makes someone, whether it鈥檚 a doctor, lawyer, or cab driver, smile and forget their worries, that joy and those blessings are priceless. That鈥檚 the true reward.
Your music is steeped in tradition and the voices of your ancestors. What does 鈥榝olk鈥 mean to you, not just as a genre, but as a way of life?
For me, folk music isn鈥檛 just a genre 鈥 it鈥檚 my life, my legacy, my heritage. I learnt every note from my father and grew up immersed in this sound. It鈥檚 been passed down through 15鈥16 generations in my family. This music is in our blood. It鈥檚 something we live and breathe. To us, folk music is like life itself 鈥 you simply can鈥檛 exist without it.
Rajasthani folk is known for its storytelling. Do you have a favourite tale or song that you keep returning to 鈥 one that still stirs your soul every time you perform it?
Yes, absolutely. There鈥檚 one song that鈥檚 especially close to my heart 鈥 Loli, a composition by my father. It was the very first song I learnt from him, and I鈥檝e carried it with me ever since. Loli is a song of hope 鈥 it uplifts, it comforts, and I make it a point to sing it at every performance. It鈥檚 more than just music to me; it鈥檚 a part of my soul and a tribute to my roots. I sing it in every show of mine, and I talk about that song with great pride.
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Over the years, you鈥檝e taken traditional folk songs to places where people don鈥檛 even understand the language, and yet they connect. What do you think makes folk music so universal?
Folk music goes beyond words 鈥 it speaks through emotion, visuals, and sound. When I perform, it鈥檚 not just about singing. It鈥檚 about the full experience: the traditional Rajasthani attire, the safa, the instruments like the dholak, harmonium, sarangi, and khartal 鈥 all of these elements capture the audience鈥檚 attention even before the lyrics begin. These sounds are unique, often unfamiliar to global audiences, and that novelty makes them all the more special.
I鈥檝e seen this magic first hand 鈥 like when I performed my father鈥檚 song Loli in France. The language barrier didn鈥檛 matter. They connected so deeply that they played it three times and even sang along by the end. That鈥檚 the power of folk. When music and performance come together, it becomes a universal language. The visuality makes things easy: you don鈥檛 even have to understand the language.
Tell us about this new chapter with Global Music Junction 鈥 what drew you to this collaboration?
I鈥檝e always known how to sing, but I鈥檝e never really known how to take that music and get it to the world. Folk music is still a niche. That鈥檚 where Global Music Junction comes in. Their strength lies in distribution and scale. Where my song might reach 100 people on its own, with them, it can reach crores or even more than that.
Their expertise lies in making sure that the music reaches to maximum people. I wouldn鈥檛 say I am an expert in music; I am still a student. But I know how to sing my songs and how to tell my story through them, while they know how to spread it, so definitely they are the right partner, and you need this kind of partner. I am really thankful that they believe in folk music, as folk music is very rare. There is that truth in it, that truth should reach as many people as possible.
鈥淕lobal Music Junction was created to bring India鈥檚 diverse musical heritage to the world stage. Mame Khan represents the perfect harmony of cultural depth and contemporary appeal. Through this collaboration, we look forward to amplifying his voice and taking the spirit of Indian folk music to audiences across the globe,鈥 said Rajan Navani, Founder and CEO of JetSynthesys.