We need a best female award to inspire artistes: Mohini Dey

Electric bass player Mohini Dey is all about the road less travelled. Since she picked up her first Fender Jazz Bass guitar at the age of nine or 10, she has broken stereotypes, empowered hundreds with her music. The Bengal-based artiste who has studied under legends like Rohit Barot and Louis Banks, was in Bengaluru for a percussion fest, and Bangalore Times caught up with her.
‘No thought back then that women could pick up instruments’Among the first female bass players from India, Mohini believes the country’s movies and media play a big role in empowering female musicians to come forward. “Growing up, have you ever seen an advertisement with a band playing, and female musicians headlining it? I doubt it. The most popular music channels early on had shows where bands competed, and they were all men. There was no thought back then that women could pick up instruments,” she says.
Glad she could pioneer a change in thinking among young girls, she explains, “A few of them, when they saw me, thought this was possible. That is why female musicians need to be represented more in Indian cinema and television. They are a huge part of our culture. In 10 years, we need to see more women with instruments.”

India needs an audition cultureMohini has been invited to many women’s empowerment conferences, and has noticed the need for more platforms for musicians, especially females. “Abroad, there are auditions to induct people into bands — women audition to be a part of Beyonce’s or Lady Gaga’s band. We don’t have that here. I am trying to do that for my band,” she says, adding that India also needs more awards to encourage up-and-coming musicians. “As much as I believe awards are overrated, we do need a best female or male instrumentalist award, like we do for playback singing. This would help create a goal among aspiring artistes.”
‘I feel like I overpower other female musicians’Mohini spoke about why she is not part of many all-female bands. “Growing up, I have played with male-dominated bands. Now, I feel like I overpower female capabilities when I perform. I have always felt like I’m too heavy, and I like to be in the forefront,” says Mohini, emphasising the need to normalise such strength from female artists. “It is about acceptance, learning and making yourself better. I had that growing up. More young female artistes need that,” she concludes.