Oh! the success...

Daniel Bardsley meets two young musicians from Dubai pitching for the world.

Plenty of people dream of becoming famous musicians whose tracks are played by clubs and radio stations the world over, but for most of them it remains just that - a dream.

For Madhav Dhar and Mohammad Yousuf, however, that dream could become reality as their first song is creating waves on local airwaves and is sending the city's clubbers into a spin.

The duo's early success through their track OH has caused major record labels to start knocking on their door and they are hoping to sign a deal soon.

Madhav, who likes to be known as Madman or The Madness, and Mohammad, who goes by the alter ego Phat Mo, say their music defies categorisation. Not surprising, given that their musical interests span everything from Frank Sinatra to Kanye West.

The pair met late last year and work in a makeshift recording studio in 25-year-old Madhav's home in the Mankhool area of Dubai.

The vocal booth is partly made from egg cartons and it cost just Dh150 - proof, the two say, that those keen to get into the music business need enthusiasm rather than hard cash.

Piano, guitar and tabla player Madhav supplies the music, which has elements of hip hop, Arabic sounds and Indian influences, and Mohammad then composes a rap to go with it.

Madhav, a Canadian of Indian descent, says: "We want to start off with this market but the whole idea is to produce music for an inter-national audience. We are getting offers to do soundtracks; we've been called by some labels."

Their song OH has not been issued as a single yet as the duo are waiting to see what happens with these contacts with record companies.

Everything has to be fitted around their nine-to-five jobs; eventually they hope to work as musicians full time. They have about six songs in the bank.

Madhav added: "We have a lot of projects we are interested in and we're looking for people to work with."

Mohammad, 33, who comes from Djibouti but has lived in the UAE for 25 years, is keen that the duo's records steer clear of hip hop's links with guns and violence.

"It's a very powerful medium. The stuff I write about has a lot to do with politics, family, relationships, life in general," he says.

"If your music is positive it can change people's lives. As a singer or musician you have a responsibility to raise awareness. If you have nothing good to say, it's a waste of three-and-a-half minutes."

- The writer is the travelling bard of Gulf News.