For Mohammed Hussain Rahman, known to his fans as MHR, his debut album Valiyaparamb has been a lifelong dream. Inspired by global EDM sensations like Sardor and Sickick, the Malappuram-based music producer envisioned crafting his own album long before his career truly soared.
Bringing this dream to life, however, was a multi-year journey. The resulting album, a captivating collection of 12 tracks, showcases a vibrant tapestry of collaborations with indie musicians including SA, Joker 360p, Efy Music, Lil Payyan, Haniya Nafisa, MC Mushti, Fura, Raaza Razaq, and Rasta.
“This album leans into a melodic style, and I was confident that the artists I selected would perfectly capture its essence,” MHR explains. “I brought Raaza Razaq on board to infuse a ghazal touch, and Haniya’s unique voice in her song ‘Mulchedi’ instantly drew me in. Fura is another artist I’d been eager to collaborate with for a long time.” Unlike his signature high-energy, ‘trippy’ tracks, Valiyaparamb features medium-tempo songs. “I wanted to demonstrate my versatility and show the audience a different facet of my musical abilities,” MHR shares, adding that the album thoughtfully explores universal themes such as love, yearning, and companionship.
MHR admits that committing to an album proved challenging. “As someone who typically releases a track every couple of months, dedicating significant time to an album meant pressing pause on other projects. I was busy with shows and dropping singles intermittently. Plus, coordinating schedules with so many featured artists also required a substantial amount of time.”
MHR | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The lyrical video for one of the album’s tracks offers a personal glimpse into MHR’s world, featuring recorded moments from his own life. This distinctive visual style was inspired by artist BUNT, who often integrates phone-camera video clips from his daily experiences into his music videos.
Originally from Kottakkal, Malappuram, MHR’s introduction to EDM came through international artists like Marshmello and Skrillex. “Back then, my passion wasn’t taken seriously,” he recalls. “When I started pursuing music professionally, many around me weren’t convinced. But for the past five years, I’ve been doing this full-time, and I owe a lot to rapper SA, who showed me that this profession can indeed sustain you.”
2022 was a landmark year for MHR, with two massive hits: ‘Manavalan Thug’ (the promo song for the film Thallumala) and ‘Malabari Banger’. Interestingly, ‘Manavalan Thug’ was created two years prior to its release. MHR had sent the incomplete track to Malayalam rapper Dabzee, who contributed lyrics. “We initially planned to release it on my YouTube channel, but by chance, the creators of Thallumala heard it and asked if they could feature it as a promo song for their movie.”
His other well-known tracks include ‘Munthirichar’, ‘Prayojanam’, and ‘Naalu Vattam’.
Valiyaparamb MHR | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
MHR takes immense pride in contributing to the growing appreciation for EDM in Kerala. “People are now paying more attention to the intricate music rather than just the vocals. I’m fortunate to perform on numerous stages and travel the world with my music, making a living as an independent artist — that’s truly the biggest highlight,” he states. He acknowledges the journey’s challenges, adding, “Doing what you love doesn’t feel like a struggle, but the biggest hurdle is the wait, the uncertainty of when you’ll reach your desired position.”
Looking ahead, MHR is busy with a new hip-hop album, an EP, and several singles. He has also contributed two tracks to upcoming films and is collaboratively working on another EDM album with fellow music producers.