In the third episode of «Long Take: Life as an Artist», we meet Mohamed Rai, a session drummer, handpan musician, and former scuba dive instructor from the Maldives. He tells me what it means to work as a musician in the many tourist resorts, and he talks about his love for water, waves and silence. His friend Hanan drops by and leaves to catch the ferry. Listen to this episode on Spotify or on YouTube.

Mohamed Rai started drumming when he was three years old, encouraged by the musicians in his family: his grandfather Ibrahim Ahmed (Molhudhoo Thuthu), and his uncle Nashid, front man of the well-known band «Zero Degree Atoll», who passed away in 2016. Mohamed studied graphic design in Sri Lanka. He left the dense capital Malé and today lives on Thulusdhoo island, where he runs an Airbnb (that I highly recommend), and recently opened the music venue/ Restaurant «The Shore Shack». We discuss the lack of respect artists often face within the community, and how influential figures like his physics teacher, Shifaz (also known as "Doctor"), a session musician himself, played a key role in giving him the courage to follow his own path. Mohamed also shares his deep connection to the silence, the waves, and the birds of Thulusdhoo, and he talks about the changing soundscape of Malé.

A Podcast by Norient

Host: Thomas Burkhalter

Sound: Daniel Jakob, Melodies In My Head

Mix and Mastering: Daniel Jakob

Graphic Design (Cover): Pamuditha Zen Anjana

Editorial support: The Norient team + Rebecca Favale

Funding: Pro Helvetia, srks Stiftung für Radio und Kultur Schweiz

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For a more experimental listening experience, check out the highly produced podcast TIMEZONES on Norient. You can also explore Burkhalter’s latest project, Melodies In My Head, where interview excerpts are transformed into song lyrics.