Mengu Suokhrie is an enthusiastic singer, a natural born singer who is usually known by the girl in a red dress with the guitar for her music video “You are mine”. She is among the most decorated lady singer in the Nagaland. She has been into music industry for more than 15 years now. She loves to connect people with her song, so she doesn’t limit herself to one genre itself. The lady is down to earth and friendly as well .
Mengu is a singer, song writer, composer, music recording artist &vocal teacher.
Let’s listen to her story
Mengu, please introduced yourself to our readers
Hello everyone, my name is Menguseii and an artist name so called Mengu Suokhrie
Well, I grew up as a girl with endless wishes and dreams from the hills of Nagaland. I am an Angami, from Kohima Village, L.Khel.
Let’s hear more about your childhood, when did you start singing and how you choose this field.
At first, the only thing I wanted to become was an air hostess like every other girl of my age. I even used to sing about it. Then while I was doing my high school I started singing in the school chapels and Sunday schools. Then it continued, but I never really planned or even tried to be a singer, when we girl friends played doll game I still took the role of an air hostess.
When was your turning point in Music Industry?
It was when I got enough sense of how much I love singing, I thought about it and soon I was determined to become a musician, I thought of polishing my skill so i took some courses. I grew my love for music, especially singing grew and it's still growing hahaha
Being a lady singer, do you get that respect in the society or people looked you down at first?
Those days there were very less female musician. So, I was quickly recognized though I never entered any competition as such. Well, I think as a girl or lady performer, I was accepted even better then a male artist guy’s love girl’s you see.
Luckily I haven't experience any partiality so far. Professionally, for the past 15 years, I have been performing and going around India and not just Nagaland but I was accepted, and the love and respect I get is overwhelming. And I don't think anybody should even think about degrading a lady performer, because gender doesn't matter. The confidence and talent matters, a guy maybe good but if the girl is better than him, she should be applauded.
My parents support me and does not lay rules or bind me with limitations. I can go everywhere I have to go, if need be they'll even come along with me. And we don't just go out like that. We confirm and check the security first, and then only we go, right? So my parents are happy and feel safe too.
Mengu, do you write your own script, what’s your genre?
Yes, all the 12 originals songs I have got so far were all felt and written. And I will still write more but I am also thinking of working with some professional writers. Now am in progress with two of the song writers
My genre, ok here it might sound disappointing to some or confusing to some, but for me I love every genre of music, I listen to all from death metal to pop. But it's not that I can perform all so I selectively do more of R&B and pop rock, though my heart is always for Jazz and blues. As a performer I also like to let my crowd sing along so I choose the genre according to place, and people for gigs. And when it comes to creating my music, it is a mixture of fun, simple keys with melody.
Are you the only child?
Oh no, I am blessed with a big family I have 5 more siblings, 3 males and 3 females in the family, and I am the responsibility free wala because I'm not the youngest nor the eldest.
What inspires you? How is music related in your life?
Life itself is an inspiration for me, I sing and I like to write about life, how we live, the love we experience, the challenges, the struggles, about a person or even thoughts.
What is your dream as a musician?
The dream is to reach out to the world through my songs.
Beside music, what do you do for living? None of the musician I have interviewed said they take music as a career.
Well then, I am the first musician you interviewed who is a full time musician. Music is not just my love but also my bread and butter. I teach music, I perform music, it's my profession. And I am making a life out of it too. And I am really glad and thankful because this is the area where I can put my whole mind and heart. If my parents force me to become a doctor maybe I would have but I won't be happy, dissatisfied and may not be good at it too. But for me I am really Thanking God for letting me do what I love to.
What would you say to a struggling artist who is undecided in life, a musician who is afraid to take music as a career?
Firstly, whatever field it is, sit and think about it carefully. Are you sure about yourself? Whatever field it is there's gonna be struggles, it’s not gonna be an easy ride always, in times that struggle will refine and polish you, but you be determined and sure of your choice, dream and wants.
If you really wanna be a musician, work hard, hold on and don't just give up in one or two attempts. You know who you wanna be, and nobody knows you like you do. Be sure of what you want, don't be under pressure. If you forcefully or unwillingly choose a career, you’ll never succeed or be the best there. You know what you are good at so choose it rightly, be sincere, be bold and face criticisms, and don't easily get disappointed.
And to those who are planning to take up music as a career, I say, go for it. A lot of people still think that music as a career is a wrong choice and that it won't be successful, but things have changed. You can be a music teacher, a musician, or performer, and happily live like the rest. If you have what it takes then you can surely make it. But don't forget that if you’re not hard working and sincere wherever you are, you'll be a failure.
Share us your favorite quote Mengu.
Hmmm 'Love is all we need' is the quote and song I strongly believe. About everything that's evil and bad, we always complain. And, we dream of a peaceful world and the only solution to all this is Love. Love can cover all, love is all we need.
What’s your biggest failure and how did you manage to go through it?
Blunders up on stage, mistakes is a sign of being human we say.. But it's really scary, and it happens so covering up without reacting much to it, and cursing self is the best way. I always act normal but learn lessons from it and next time am more alert and avoid such beautiful disasters.
Is Nagaland growing in Music industry? Why haven't we been noticed by the rest of the India and the world? Your views?
Yes Nagaland for sure is growing, and I think it's a very impressive growth. And we can't and shouldn’t say that we are not noticed by the rest of the world. because our music is now very much heard by outsiders . Thanks to smart YouTube, and our very own Indi hut, and special thanks to Music Task Force and Rattle and Hum. Last year we went to perform at Royal Military Tattoo, at Edinburgh, Scotland and the Hand Shake Concert happens every year where a performer from Nagaland goes abroad.. Now we are very much heard.
You seem to be an energetic lady, full of fun, no tension. How is that so?
hahahhaha well I do get tired and my battery does go down but it's more torturing for me to be low, so maintaining self to stay fit and healthy to be jolly and calm is very important for me.
Did you ever felt like giving up as a musician?
To be honest, yes, I did feel like giving up, it’s hard to survive on bunch of flowers u see , but thankfully I didn't give up and then things changed, slowly people understood that singers and musicians too eat and drink.
What are your 5 years plans?
5 years from now I wish to be running a music institution.
What's the reason behind your journey so called success?
I could walk all these miles, across the oceans and mountains not by my might but because of God, my strength. I owe everything to God, all thanks and Glory to him alone. Everything I am and have is His. His grace enlightens and sustains me. This journey is impossible without God. Yet, I still have a long way to go to call it a success.
Give me a flashback of a person who gave a compliment that you would never forget.
Once a little girl came to me with her mother, she'd be around 5 years old I guess. After a gig she came up to me, shook hands, she had a big smile on her face, so cute she was. I asked her what she wants to become then to my surprise she said ' I wanna be you’, I laughed, I asked her why? She shyly said ' I will also sing 'oh Holy night, like you, I want to also stand and raise my hand and sing loudly and sing high pitched songs like you' and on hearing that I was so taken, her mom then explained that ever since she saw me singing at a street Christmas carol, she wanted to become a singer like me. I don't remember which event she meant or where I sang that, but that little girl made me realize that I should be very careful, I don’t know her but she had her eyes on me ,well then i realized i can't be setting any wrong examples to others. I usually take everything casually but the incident with her taught me to be more careful.
What's your biggest achievement you have achieved so far?
For me the biggest achievement is being accepted and known in the society as a musician. My music is played, heard and accepted and that's all I ever wanted as a musician. I am thankful to all my supporters for their love.
Are you married? Hope you don’t get offended with it?
Well I wish to get married but nobody is proposing me, so sometimes I think that guys are afraid of me and thus I'm still unmarried and happily single.
Our reader might want to know what type of guy you like.
What would you say to a person reading this post?
To the person reading this, hello, thank you for reading through, I am a musician and I need you to help me promote and reach out my music to the world. If you can relate to me and my music please feel free to connect with me, I don't bite. And also let's keep reminding each other that to make this world a better place we need love. Let's unselfishly keep supporting, encouraging and loving each other. A single, simple act of kindness is love, all that we need is love, and Love is all we need.
By the end of this year I am hoping to release my second album and I have a gig coming up at Agri expo in Dimapur this coming 21st June at the world music day. If you are free, please scheduled your time and come for rock and roll.
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