Hesham Abdul Wahab is an Indian Music Director, Music Producer, Singer and Audio Engineer. Best known for his compositions for the Sufi Music album Qadam Badha (Step Forward), produced by British singer-songwriter Sami Yusuf, he's also a recognized Music Composer and Playback singer in India.
He received training from multiple gurus in Carnatic and Hindustani classical music. His grandfather, a qawwali singer, performed in the palaces and courts of Kerala in the 1930s. Drawing from this legacy, Hesham also pursued training in Arabian music.
He got his first major break when Andante Records signed him for their record label. His first album Qadam Badha (Step Forward), is an amalgamation of Sufi Music and World Music produced by eminent Iran born British singer-songwriter Sami Yusuf which was released in 2015.
The artist has also performed with Sami Yusuf in his Oman concert in 2014.
He has performed for around 25 qawwali private concerts in and around Kerala from 2017 to 2019.
With over 28 Indian movies in his recent list of works, Hesham forayed into the Indian film industry as a music director with the film Salt Mango Tree in 2015.
Hesham's latest compositions for the movie "Hridayam" has over 15 songs for which Hesham won the Kerala State Award for Best Music Director for the year 2022. The song from this film went viral and was received over 144 million views.
He received "Best Song of The Year Award" with the song "Darshana" at Mazhavil Music Awards in 2022 and "Best Music Director" award at Manappuram Minnalai Film awards in 2023.
Following his hit songs and performances for the Indian film Industry, he also took stage at Kushi Blockbuster Celebrations Event in 2023.
Hesham Abdul Wahab’s Live Concert consists of rich and pure traditional qawwali music that has been long forgotten with the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Sabri brothers from Pakistan.
QAWWALI - PROGRAMME
Qawwali is a true and spiritual/divine experience of sufi music where the listeners are taken into a spiritual realm in the form of music.
This devotional music that is deeply rooted in the mystical traditions of Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam. Qawwali is mainly popular in South Asia, particularly in regions such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.
The essence of qawwali lies in expressing devotion and love for the divine through music and poetry.
The songs which constitute the qawwali repertoire are primarily in Persian, Urdu, and Hindi, although Sufi poetry appears in local languages as well (including Punjabi, Saraiki, and dialects of Northern India.)
Every qawwali song will have a duration of about 8-10 minutes, accompanied by Indian instruments such as Harmonium, Tabla, Dholak, Guitars, Bass Guitars, Sitar, Arabic Percussions, Chorus and the Main vocals.
The performance usually starts at a slow pace and gets energetic and rhythmically faster towards the end taking the listeners into a state of “haal”.
Qawwali gatherings create a spiritual and ecstatic atmosphere where listeners can experience a deep connection with the divine through music and poetry.
He received training from multiple gurus in Carnatic and Hindustani classical music. His grandfather, a qawwali singer, performed in the palaces and courts of Kerala in the 1930s. Drawing from this legacy, Hesham also pursued training in Arabian music.
He got his first major break when Andante Records signed him for their record label. His first album Qadam Badha (Step Forward), is an amalgamation of Sufi Music and World Music produced by eminent Iran born British singer-songwriter Sami Yusuf which was released in 2015.
The artist has also performed with Sami Yusuf in his Oman concert in 2014.
He has performed for around 25 qawwali private concerts in and around Kerala from 2017 to 2019.
With over 28 Indian movies in his recent list of works, Hesham forayed into the Indian film industry as a music director with the film Salt Mango Tree in 2015.
Hesham's latest compositions for the movie "Hridayam" has over 15 songs for which Hesham won the Kerala State Award for Best Music Director for the year 2022. The song from this film went viral and was received over 144 million views.
He received "Best Song of The Year Award" with the song "Darshana" at Mazhavil Music Awards in 2022 and "Best Music Director" award at Manappuram Minnalai Film awards in 2023.
Following his hit songs and performances for the Indian film Industry, he also took stage at Kushi Blockbuster Celebrations Event in 2023.
Hesham Abdul Wahab’s Live Concert consists of rich and pure traditional qawwali music that has been long forgotten with the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Sabri brothers from Pakistan.
QAWWALI - PROGRAMME
Qawwali is a true and spiritual/divine experience of sufi music where the listeners are taken into a spiritual realm in the form of music.
This devotional music that is deeply rooted in the mystical traditions of Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam. Qawwali is mainly popular in South Asia, particularly in regions such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.
The essence of qawwali lies in expressing devotion and love for the divine through music and poetry.
The songs which constitute the qawwali repertoire are primarily in Persian, Urdu, and Hindi, although Sufi poetry appears in local languages as well (including Punjabi, Saraiki, and dialects of Northern India.)
Every qawwali song will have a duration of about 8-10 minutes, accompanied by Indian instruments such as Harmonium, Tabla, Dholak, Guitars, Bass Guitars, Sitar, Arabic Percussions, Chorus and the Main vocals.
The performance usually starts at a slow pace and gets energetic and rhythmically faster towards the end taking the listeners into a state of “haal”.
Qawwali gatherings create a spiritual and ecstatic atmosphere where listeners can experience a deep connection with the divine through music and poetry.
SELECTED REVIEWS:
Sami Yusuf’s latest discovery, Hesham Abdul Wahab, releases new album Qaddam Badha.
The new album by British-Iranian singer Sami Yusuf's record label Andante Records introduces Indan singer Hesham Abdul Wahab, who has composed 10 Sufi songs in several languages for the album.
The National
https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts/sami-yusufs-latest-discovery-hesham-abdul-wahab-releases-new-album-qaddam-badha-1.121644
Sami Yusuf’s latest discovery, Hesham Abdul Wahab, releases new album Qaddam Badha.
The new album by British-Iranian singer Sami Yusuf's record label Andante Records introduces Indan singer Hesham Abdul Wahab, who has composed 10 Sufi songs in several languages for the album.
The National
https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts/sami-yusufs-latest-discovery-hesham-abdul-wahab-releases-new-album-qaddam-badha-1.121644
The hottest new talent of the Telugu film industry.
Film Companion
https://www.filmcompanion.in/amp/story/power-list-2024/power-list-musicians/fc-ormax-power-list-of-music-2024-hesham-abdul-wahab
AI singer Linda's superhit interval song in 'Hi Nanna'; Hesham Abdul Wahab takes credit.
Music director Hesham Abdul Wahab introduced an artificial intelligence singer to render voice for a film song and surprisingly enough, the result was mesmerizing.
This is the first time that AI singer is being employed in an Indian movie.
Hesham first sang the 'Shards of Dreams' version, and it was during the rerecording phase that the AI singer was introduced.
Hesham said AI opens up endless possibilities for innovation in music.
Hesham Abdul Wahab is a State Film Award recipient for his work in the movie Hridhayam.
Kaumudi Online
https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=1230803&u=ai-singer-lindas-superhit-interval-song-in-hi-nanna-hesham-abdul-wahab-takes-credit-1230803
The upcoming romantic comedy-drama 'Manamey,' is generating buzz as it gears up for its release.
Describing 'Manamey' as a "musical film," Hesham emphasized that the songs play a crucial role in advancing the narrative. Recently, it has been quite rare for films to feature a total of 16 compositions.
Composer Hesham Abdul Wahab, who has produced the film's soundtrack fully showcased his musical expertise. This project marks the first time Hesham has created such an extensive soundtrack for a single film.
Times of India, Entertainment
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/composer-hesham-abdul-wahab-shares-his-experience-creating-16-songs-for-the-sharwanands-manamey/amp_articleshow/110726443.cms
33-year-old Hesham, who has been working in Malayalam cinema since 2015, rose to national fame with his work in Hridayam, a coming-of-age film written and directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan. He made inroads into Telugu cinema, with three of his films — Kushi, Hi Nanna and Spark L.I.F.E — releasing this year. While Spark L.I.F.E sunk without a trace, Kushi’s music earned him some commercial acclaim.
New Indian Express
https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/telugu/2023/Dec/12/interview--pushed-my-boundaries-while-composing-music-for-hi-nannahesham-abdul-wahab-2640620.html
Film Companion
https://www.filmcompanion.in/amp/story/power-list-2024/power-list-musicians/fc-ormax-power-list-of-music-2024-hesham-abdul-wahab
AI singer Linda's superhit interval song in 'Hi Nanna'; Hesham Abdul Wahab takes credit.
Music director Hesham Abdul Wahab introduced an artificial intelligence singer to render voice for a film song and surprisingly enough, the result was mesmerizing.
This is the first time that AI singer is being employed in an Indian movie.
Hesham first sang the 'Shards of Dreams' version, and it was during the rerecording phase that the AI singer was introduced.
Hesham said AI opens up endless possibilities for innovation in music.
Hesham Abdul Wahab is a State Film Award recipient for his work in the movie Hridhayam.
Kaumudi Online
https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=1230803&u=ai-singer-lindas-superhit-interval-song-in-hi-nanna-hesham-abdul-wahab-takes-credit-1230803
The upcoming romantic comedy-drama 'Manamey,' is generating buzz as it gears up for its release.
Describing 'Manamey' as a "musical film," Hesham emphasized that the songs play a crucial role in advancing the narrative. Recently, it has been quite rare for films to feature a total of 16 compositions.
Composer Hesham Abdul Wahab, who has produced the film's soundtrack fully showcased his musical expertise. This project marks the first time Hesham has created such an extensive soundtrack for a single film.
Times of India, Entertainment
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/composer-hesham-abdul-wahab-shares-his-experience-creating-16-songs-for-the-sharwanands-manamey/amp_articleshow/110726443.cms
33-year-old Hesham, who has been working in Malayalam cinema since 2015, rose to national fame with his work in Hridayam, a coming-of-age film written and directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan. He made inroads into Telugu cinema, with three of his films — Kushi, Hi Nanna and Spark L.I.F.E — releasing this year. While Spark L.I.F.E sunk without a trace, Kushi’s music earned him some commercial acclaim.
New Indian Express
https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/telugu/2023/Dec/12/interview--pushed-my-boundaries-while-composing-music-for-hi-nannahesham-abdul-wahab-2640620.html
Despite his growing fame among Telugu audiences, Hesham insists he has just begun a new innings in the industry and has a lot more to achieve.
Multiple tracks from the film are chartbusters already.
Ott Play
https://www.ottplay.com/amp/interview/composer-hesham-abdul-wahab-on-hi-nanna-looking-beyond-hridayam-and-his-love-for-hyderabad-exclusive/40edf72d49470
Multiple tracks from the film are chartbusters already.
Ott Play
https://www.ottplay.com/amp/interview/composer-hesham-abdul-wahab-on-hi-nanna-looking-beyond-hridayam-and-his-love-for-hyderabad-exclusive/40edf72d49470
2023 is the year Hesham Abdul Wahab debuted in Telugu cinema. The Malayalam composer, who rose to prominence with his work in Hridayam (2022), made his debut with Kushi recently and his latest work is Hi Nanna, an emotional relationship drama that offers him ample space to flaunt his skills.
Film Companion
https://www.filmcompanion.in/amp/story/interviews/telugu-interview/we-scored-background-music-only-where-the-story-demanded-it-hesham-abdul-wahab-on-hi-nanna-nani-mrunal-thakur-shouryuv
The 52nd Kerala State Film Awards were announced today (May 27), by Culture and Films Minister Saji Cherian.
Hesham Abdul Wahab has bagged the award for Best Music Composer for the songs in the 2022 film ‘Hridayam’.
All the songs from the film have impressed the jury headed by Bollywood director and scriptwriter Saeed Akhtar Mirza.
15 tracks in total, all the songs from the film were chartbusters and continue to break records.
Times of India, Entertainment
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/52nd-kerala-state-film-awards-hesham-abdul-wahab-bags-the-best-music-director-award-for-hridayam/amp_articleshow/91838870.cms
Film Companion
https://www.filmcompanion.in/amp/story/interviews/telugu-interview/we-scored-background-music-only-where-the-story-demanded-it-hesham-abdul-wahab-on-hi-nanna-nani-mrunal-thakur-shouryuv
The 52nd Kerala State Film Awards were announced today (May 27), by Culture and Films Minister Saji Cherian.
Hesham Abdul Wahab has bagged the award for Best Music Composer for the songs in the 2022 film ‘Hridayam’.
All the songs from the film have impressed the jury headed by Bollywood director and scriptwriter Saeed Akhtar Mirza.
15 tracks in total, all the songs from the film were chartbusters and continue to break records.
Times of India, Entertainment
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/52nd-kerala-state-film-awards-hesham-abdul-wahab-bags-the-best-music-director-award-for-hridayam/amp_articleshow/91838870.cms
