For Malappuram-based music producer Mohammed Hussain Rahman, popularly known as MHR, his debut album, Valiyaparamb, has been a dream since his teenage days. Inspired by EDM artistes such as Sardor and Sickick, MHR aspired to produce his own album long before his career took off.
However, it took him several years before he could start working on it. The work has 12 tracks, featuring indie musicians SA, Joker 360p, Efy Music, Lil Payyan, Haniya Nafisa, MC Mushti, Fura, Raaza Razaq, and Rasta.
“This album is melodic in nature, and I knew that the artistes I chose would pull it off. I brought Raaza Razaq into the project for the ghazal flavour. I chose Haniya after listening to her voice in her song, ‘Mulchedi’. Fura is an artiste with whom I wanted to work for a long time,” says MHR about his album, featuring medium-tempo songs, unlike his usual strain of trippy numbers. “I wanted to show the audience I can do songs like this too,” says MHR, whose album deals with themes of love, longing and friendship, among others.
The artiste says, “The reason why I postponed making an album is that as someone who releases a track every two months, committing to an album meant devoting a chunk of time on it. I was doing shows and producing singles in between. Since there are a lot of featured artistes, it also took time for their dates to align.”
MHR
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The lyrical video of the track released on YouTube features recorded moments from the MHR’s life. “This style of lyrical videos was inspired by an artiste called BUNT, who includes video clips from his life shot on a phone camera in his music videos.”
The artiste, who is from Kottakkal, Malappuram, was introduced to EDM music after watching foreign artistes Marshmallow and Skrillex. “At that time, no one took me seriously. And when I started working as a musician, people around me weren’t keen on following it. I have been doing this full-time for five years now, and I have learnt a lot from rapper SA, who showed me that you can earn a living with this profession.”
In 2022, MHR was part of two hit productions — ‘Manavalan Thug’ (promo song of Thallumala) and ‘Malabari Banger’. The former was created by the artiste two years before its release when he sent it to Malayalam rapper Dabzee, who wrote a few lyrics for the incomplete track. “We wanted to release it on my YouTube channel, but by chance, the makers of Thallumala saw it and asked whether they could use it in their movie as a promo song.”
His other popular hits include ‘Munthirichar’, ‘Prayojanam’ and ‘Naalu Vattam’.
Valiyaparamb MHR
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The artiste takes pride in getting more people to listen to EDM in Kerala. “They have begun to give more attention to the music and not just the vocals now. I get to perform on many stages and travel the world with my music, I earn a living being an independent musician, which is the biggest highlight,” says MHR, adding, “Doing what you love is not a struggle, but the biggest challenge is waiting, not knowing when we will reach the position we want to.”
The artiste is currently working on a hip-hop album, an EP, and a few singles. He has done two tracks for movies and is also working on an EDM album with a few music producers.
Published – October 29, 2025 01:54 pm IST
