MUMBAI: Chennai-based playback singer Dhee, known to many as the voice behind the only billion-views Tamil hit till date, ‘Rowdy Baby’ from the Dhanush-starrer Maari 2, is one of the most inimitable talents in South India. On March 5, Dhee cast that net wider with her first-ever independent release ‘Enjoy Enjaami’.

Produced by Santhosh Narayanan, and featuring Chennai-based, lyrically gifted rapper Arivu – also the song’s lyricist – ‘Enjoy Enjaami’ is the first release on the artist-first platform maajja since it was launched on January 26.

Stream ‘Enjoy Enjaami’ here.

maajja is a technology-enabled label alternative focused on empowering the next generation of artists with complete creative control, resources and global reach. It is the brainchild of a trio of Canadian entrepreneurs and acclaimed music director AR Rahman.

‘Enjoy Enjaami’

The track ‘Enjoy Enjaami’ brings together three striking talents currently dominating the South Indian music scene – celebrated music director Santhosh Narayanan, who, in fact, showcased Dhee’s unique voice to the world in her playback debut ‘Disco Woman’ in 2013, hip-hop sensation and songwriter Arivu of the Therukural fame and Dhee, whose discography reads like a string of hits sung for music directors like Rahman and Yuvan Shankar Raja.

With a message of sustainability at its core, ‘Enjoy Enjaami’ is an endeavour to celebrate the elements that add to our shared experience. “This song is about celebrating life, earth and our ancestors,” says Dhee of the idea behind the track. “I see music as one of the best ways to bring people together, as an extended and sometimes embellished way of communicating. It was important to us that this song emphasized the things that bring us all together and to celebrate them. ‘Enjoy Enjaami’ is definitely a record that is very special to the three of us,” she adds.

Expertly produced by Narayanan, who is no stranger to pushing the limits with his compositions, the song has a hypnotic percussive beat with a global appeal, inspired by authentic sounds native to Tamil Nadu. For instance, the beginning of the song uses a sample of parai that was recorded in a remote temple in Tiruvannamalai, mimicking the sound of raindrops. In addition, the vocals also incorporate elements of a traditional folk art form called oppari, an ancient form of lamenting but in ‘Enjoy Enjaami’ the style imbues a celebratory tone.

‘Enjoy Enjaami’ is the first step in Dhee’s journey to be an independent artist, one that she has harboured since she first heard Destiny’s Child as a pre-teen in Sydney, where she grew up. “I am really enjoying this process of discovering my own sound,” the 22-year-old says, adding, “When singing for a film, there is a predefined narrative and story line, while making my own music there are no limits. This creative freedom gives me an opportunity to express myself fully.”

“‘Enjoy Enjaami' is the first of many pieces of original music that I hope to release this year, including my debut album which will be released on maajja. I’m excited to share a new side of me the world has yet to see,” the Colombo-born, Chennai-resident says.