“They are receiving titles by singing other people's songs.” Singer Mohira Asadova on the bans imposed on her and not being deemed worthy of an award in her 45-year career

“They sing someone else’s song and get titles.” Singer Mohira Asadova on the bans imposed on her and not being deemed worthy of an award in her 45-year career

Mohira Asadova, a famous singer of the 1990s known for her songs like “Shohsanam” and “Muhabbatni chiqarganlar chidaganga” (Those who created love did so for those who can endure), who has recently quieted down in her creative work, gave an interview to the “Temp Podcast” project. During the conversation, the artist spoke about what she is currently busy with, how she actually did not want to become an artist, and how she has not been deemed worthy of a single award during her 45-year career.

“I am preparing a gift for my fans”

Mohira Asadova shared where she is today and what she is doing.

I am a high-category soloist-vocalist of the National Symphony Orchestra named after Batir Zakirov under the Uzbek State Philharmonic. Every day I am busy with work, new creative products, concert programs, filming, and tours. I am also working on a new song. Once I finish recording it, I intend to shoot a music video from a unique perspective, in a direction opposite to my usual style, and in a way that no one expects. My fans will receive an unexpected gift from me, says the singer.

“I started working in the ‘Dutorchi qizlar’ ensemble at the age of 15”

Mohira Asadova started her artistic path in the maqom genre and later continued her career in pop music.

My master hired me when I was 15 years old; I was still a school student back then. I was an 8th-grade girl who didn't even have a passport in my hands. My master trusted me and legally hired a 15-year-old girl into a large ensemble. This year marks exactly 45 years since I started working. I myself am approaching the age of 60. On the occasion of the holidays, I intend to give a solo concert at the end of this year — in December, says singer Mohira Asadova.

“I studied at the university in a field opposite to art”

For this reason, when applying to university, I entered a field completely opposite to art — the Faculty of Preschool Education at the Pedagogical University. I studied in the daytime department, and after classes, I would go to the television station and work from 5 to 8. In those days, I had so much energy and enthusiasm that I didn't know what fatigue was. Major state events and concerts never took place without our “Dutorchi qizlar” ensemble. We even heard jokes from people saying, “Even if we turn on the iron, you guys pop out.” In addition, there were harvest festivals. For example, they would suddenly say, “Andijan region has fulfilled its cotton plan today, you are going to the concert.” Since there were no mobile phones, we couldn't even warn our families; we would go straight from work to other regions. By the time we returned, public transport would have stopped running, and the subways would be closed. In short, if there is a will, no fatigue is felt, says the singer.

“In one night, I woke up not as Mohira, but as Shohsanam”

— While I was working in the “Dutorchi qizlar” ensemble, there was a big New Year's event in 1993. That was when I performed my song “Shohsanam” in the pop genre for the first time. This song was created with music by my late friend, composer Sultonali Rahmatov, and lyrics by Jamol Kamol. The song was aired on December 31, and on January 1, I was “reborn” not under the name Mohira, but as Shohsanam. Because I never imagined that a song requiring a small vocal range would become such a hit and a classic. My song started playing constantly in markets, on the streets, in cars, and on buses. They even started cutting out the “jingle” from the middle of the song and playing it on TV shows, the artist recalls.

“I gave a concert on the back of just one song”

Despite it being my first concert, it was scheduled for five days. The tickets sold out so quickly and people demanded more that, starting from the second day, I began giving concerts in two sessions. Unexpectedly for me, my five-day concert doubled. What I mean to say is, there is blessing in action, says singer Mohira Asadova.

“I have been under a ban for years”

— Starting from 1995, state television channels banned me for years and did not broadcast a single song or music video of mine. But since I had my license, I freely “rotated” my music videos on private television channels. If you pay the money, Mohira Asadova will sing even for 24 hours. If I hadn't said it myself, no one, none of my fans, would have noticed that I was under a ban. Because, as I said, I did not stop my appearances on private channels. I know very well who banned me, but I don't want to talk about this topic, it's not worth it, says the singer.

“On the Day of Judgment, I will demand my rights from everyone”

— I did not become Mohira Asadova just like that overnight. I have seen so many hardships, I have survived so many near-death experiences. I will remember one by one on the Day of Judgment everyone who hurt my feelings, put a spoke in my wheel, or plotted against me, and I will demand my rights, says the singer.

“Thanks to my fame, I got a car license plate worth thousands of dollars for free”

— Fame hinders me when walking on the street or doing my shopping freely. But there are far more good sides to it than bad. Whether you like it or not, your acquaintances increase to such an extent that a matter you couldn't resolve with millions gets settled with a single phone call. But it takes two hands to clap — if you are good, they will be the same to you. Just one example: when I bought a new car, I wanted to put a nice license plate on it. The plate I wanted had gone to auction. Then I contacted someone I had known for a long time and explained the situation. He called me over, and when I went, he gave me the F 050 FA plate, which is sold to people for thousands of dollars, for free, says the singer.

“During my 45-year career, I was not given a single title”

I served my people and my country to the best of my ability. I won Grand Prix awards at major festivals. I raised the flag of Uzbekistan high abroad. At events, they announce “Uzbekistan — Mokhira.” For Mohira Asadova from Uzbekistan to win the Grand Prix among 159 countries in a competition held under the auspices of UNESCO is a sensation, says Mohira Asadova.

Now, I cry not for my stomach, but for my worth. Throughout my 45 years in art, I have not been deemed worthy of any title. They sing just one song and receive the “Zulfiya” award. And even that is not their own creative product. They take the songs of masters, rearrange them, sing “Do‘ppi tikdim, ipaklari tillodan” (I sewed a skullcap, its threads are of gold), and in less than half a year they get the “Nihol” award, in less than a year they become “Honored Artist of Uzbekistan,” and in less than two years they get the “People's Artist of Uzbekistan” awards. Once the romantic relationship between them and their sponsors at the top ends, that singer who received the award disappears from view. But it remains in history. I don't even want to say their names. That is what hurts me. I want to remain in history with some title of mine, that's all. At the end of movies, they say “such-and-such actors and others,” and I don't want to remain among those “others,” says singer Mohira Asadova.