"...Suffice to say you've never heard anything like Manooghi Hi. Maybe because, to the best of my knowledge, their sound has never before been attempted. To oversimplify, it's like this: panoramic rock 'n' roll fronted by a petite, beautiful Indian woman scat singing in Hindi. The cross-pollination is dizzying — East and West, ancient and modern, pop and classical, ecstatic spiritualism and headbanging rock. The potential for Rusted Root-style world groove dilettantism arises and is crushed by the frontwoman's chops."
-Jonathan Zwickel, the Seattle Times –March 2009
"...The album hums with an intense hunger to make music that does not skirt on top of differences but dives so deep that the molten core of unity starts to glow on the horizon. Its like those Sufi dancers who start out slowly spinning in a space with well-defined compass points until they don’t know where they are anymore, and its all a yearning blur."
-Erik Davis, techgnosis.com -March 2009
"Spectacular Indian-born vocalist Mehnaz was a pop phenomenon in her native country
before [visiting] Seattle. Her six-piece outfit Manooghi Hi blend arena-sized Anglo-American rock with Indian wind, string and percussion instruments and Mehnaz's impassioned trilingual utterances.
Their sound has plenty of ramalamasala."
-Dave Segal, the Stranger –August 2008
FROM "BANOONGI MEIN" TO "MANOOGHI HI"
Acclaimed in India with her 1996 song "Banoongi Mein" (Miss India), indi-pop diva Mehnaz took a leap of faith and arrived in the Emerald City of Seattle to further pursue her dreams. Here she joined forces with some well-known musicians who opened new doors for her.....
After her initial introduction in May 2007, which produced a lively performance at "The Triple Door" nightclub, she returned in November to collaborate with Mark Nichols and Todd Fogelsonger to create new songs for what's now Manooghi Hi, a band that combines the two worlds.
In the summer of 2008, Manooghi Hi entered the festival world. Beginning with Solstice at the Fremont Fair and ending at Bumbershoot ,Seattle's music & arts festival this group came to realise the infusion they made was unlike anything they'd experienced.
This blend of Traditional Indian rhythmic sounds and words, fused with American rock, pop and a soulful sweetness, travels through many styles effortlessly.....
Presenting their 1st single the rockin "Om Baba" with it's use of the Gayatri Mantra, this group hopes to stir the Yoga instructors into a frenzy and seduce people of all ages to want more.
Their complete CD will be released in March 2009.
More than anything, the Kismet is evident and they're ready for the challenge to take flight and move them to new heights.
I saw you guys at Studio 7 after buying your CD up on Capital Hill....You guys rocked it. I listen to your cd all the time. Keep up the great work and look forward to many more concerts.
It was very cool to finally see your band live. All our expectations were surpassed. I can't say we were surprised by any means, as the collective talent in your group is incredible. And a String section too? Wow. Your CD is terrific, but the chemistry of your live shows is contagious - I'M LOVIN IT!!!
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