AI Generated Summary
- With her mother, who holds a master’s degree in music, becoming her first mentor, Bains received an early grounding in the discipline that would eventually become central to her life.
- A recent video featuring her in a jamming session with Sehajdeep Singh, who reached the top 12 of Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, offered a glimpse of this creative association.
- The ghazals of Jagjit Singh and Ghulam Ali, the expressive artistry of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Parvez Mehdi, and the distinctive voices of Asha Bhosle, Noor Jehan and Afshan Khan have all influenced her understanding of music.
From childhood performances to national recognition, the 20-year-old singer is carving her own path in the world of music
For young vocalist Mehak Bains, music has never been merely an extracurricular pursuit. It has been a constant companion since childhood, shaping her aspirations and inspiring a journey marked by dedication, artistic exploration and a growing collection of accolades.
At just 20, Bains has already made her presence felt across several competitive musical platforms, earning recognition at district, state and national levels. Currently pursuing her graduation in music, she is now looking beyond competitions towards a future defined by original compositions and artistic independence.
Her introduction to singing came rather unexpectedly. As a three-year-old, Bains developed a fascination for the songs featured on the Punjabi television programme Canteeni Mandeer. What began as innocent attempts to imitate the melodies soon revealed a natural inclination towards singing. Her parents recognised this early interest and encouraged her to pursue it.
The encouragement was complemented by guidance at home. With her mother, who holds a master’s degree in music, becoming her first mentor, Bains received an early grounding in the discipline that would eventually become central to her life.
Years of practice and participation gradually translated into significant achievements. At the Vidyak Mukable competitions, she secured five first-place finishes at the district level and three at the state level. She also earned a place among the six finalists at the prestigious Shri Baba Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan in Jalandhar.
Her talent subsequently found recognition on larger platforms. After winning the state-level Kala Utsav competition, she represented her musical discipline at the national level in classical vocal music. In 2021, she emerged victorious at the inter-zonal level during a three-day Basant Panchami festival. Performances at events such as the Gadri Baba competition further contributed to her growing experience.
More recently, Bains added another distinction to her credentials by securing first position at the AIU Qawwali Fest in Hyderabad, demonstrating her versatility beyond the classical repertoire.
Her musical sensibilities have been shaped by an eclectic range of legendary performers. The ghazals of Jagjit Singh and Ghulam Ali, the expressive artistry of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Parvez Mehdi, and the distinctive voices of Asha Bhosle, Noor Jehan and Afshan Khan have all influenced her understanding of music.
Bains has also remained connected with Jalandhar’s community of emerging musicians. A recent video featuring her in a jamming session with Sehajdeep Singh, who reached the top 12 of Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, offered a glimpse of this creative association. The two have known each other since Singh’s earlier performances at the KL Saigal Memorial in Jalandhar.
While competitions have provided valuable exposure and recognition, Bains does not intend to measure her musical journey solely through awards. Her long-term ambition is to establish herself as an independent recording artist, producing original music without the creative restrictions that can accompany contractual arrangements.
For the young singer, the next chapter is therefore about more than refining her command over established compositions. It is about discovering an individual musical identity and transforming years of learning into a voice that audiences can recognise as distinctly her own.
