Dubai: A Dubai-based woman is all set to embark on a new world record attempt to sing 1,000 songs over 1,000 days in what will be a tuneful run-up to Expo 2020.
The award-winning singer Swapna Abraham told XPRESS that the challenge will begin on April 8 and end on January 1, 2020, with each day seeing the release of a new song written, composed and sung by her.
The 45-year-old Keralite from India said, “The new world record attempt in partnership with HSI Events Management, a Dubai-based company, will be monitored by the World Record Academy.” It will cover composition, production and delivery of one song a day for 1,000 days. Pegged to Dubai time, each day’s song will be on air before midnight.
She said, “The songs will all be original and in English (there may be the occasional use of words from other languages), not pre-worked. Every day, I will come up with original tunes and lyrics and will compose the songs and render them.”
But where will she draw inspiration for the ideas and tunes?
“I think life has enough inspiration to help one bring out at least a song a day,” said Abraham.
Artistic capabilities
She recalled how the project came about when she was toying with the idea of attempting something that had never been done before.
“This was unique as it required a basic artistic capability and experience, commitment, discipline and endurance.”
Abraham, who works for a management consulting firm and is a single mother of a college-going boy and girl, said she would manage the recordings during her free time. “I will be working on the songs Sunday through Thursday after work and have been allowed special work timings (8am to 3pm) for the initiative; I will also use just about any time over Fridays and Saturdays.”
Every aspect of the event will be recorded on video, beginning with the daily song being written, composed and sung. The recording will be done live through a feed on YouTube to establish the time and date. A backdrop will have sponsor logos.
The recordings will be made from a designated space at the HSI Events office located in Dubai’s Oud Metha area.
Gospel music
No stranger to music, Abraham said, “I’ve been singing professionally from 1992. I started with and was doing gospel music for the longest time. I have produced 22 albums, covering everything from pop, country, rock and blues to acoustic, folk and soul.”
Abraham has performed in a number of countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Kenya, Tanzania, Bahrain, UAE, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand and India.
She said the venue for the grand finale on January 1, 2020 is yet to be decided.
“I think that this (final) song will be about Dubai - where the world meets,” she said.
