Dubai: A Dubai-based singer, who is determined to set a world record by delivering 1,000 songs in 1,000 days, has just crossed the 100th milestone.
The 45-year-old Swapna Abraham told XPRESS on her way for the 101st recording: “It feels great coming so far, but my goal is still far away.”
If all goes well, the award-winning singer, who began the challenge on April 8, will complete it on January 1, 2020, in time for Expo 2020, with each day adding a release of a new song written, composed and sung by her.
Difficult part
So what has the challenge – quite literally - been like so far?
“Difficult but very satisfying,” said Abraham. “The most difficult part is being constantly watched. It’s also not easy to be creative compulsively.”
Having said that, however, Abraham has been managing just fine, penning and singing songs on everything from her love for the radio, friends and colleagues to broken relationships, peace and quiet and death.
“I have done more than one song on death,” she recalled. Any particular reason? “I lost a dear friend just two days before the challenge began. It was he who inspired me to start writing songs when I was just 15 years old.”
Asked what the 100th song, already a record, was about, she said: “Protecting children. Two weeks ago, a gentleman suggested that I do a song for the children of Haiti. I told him I do not pre-work a song. When the time came for the 100th song, I found myself writing about children in general. The song titled Save the Children is special as I feel strongly about the rights of children.” The new world record attempt is in partnership with HSI Events Management, a Dubai-based company, she said, noting that it covers not just composition, but also production and delivery of one song a day for 1,000 days. The delivery is pegged to Dubai time, and each day’s song is aired before midnight.
Abraham said the challenge has taught her many life lessons like discipline and the ability to manage pressure. “When I was uploading a video on the website on one occasion, I realised the date clock was missing. So I had to go back to the studio again for the recording.”
Last month too, when she undertook a three-day trip to Southampton for her son’s graduation, she said it was a race against time after the ceremony to take to the mike for the day’s song. “I finished the song and then only met my son to congratulate him. I am also very careful about not falling sick as it can affect my plans. There’s a lot of risk involved.”
