Mohini Dey

Born into modest circumstances, Mohini Dey’s journey in music began almost as soon as she could walk. Raised in Mumbai, she showed promise practically before she could speak, her father a session musician nurturing her gifts. By nine, she had her first bass guitar, igniting a passion that would see her on stage at age eleven. Despite her prodigious talents and collaborations with the likes of Steve Vai and A. R. Rahman, Mohini often refers to her growth as a musician as a continuous process, always open to new influences.

Her debut album, released in 2023, marks a significant evolution. It reflects her ambition to meld genres, an intention rooted in her early desire to explore diverse sounds. This eclectic mix features rock, jazz, and Indian rhythms, yet it seems at least in her own words more about the journey than the destination. After years of playing for others and prioritizing collaborative work, Dey seems to have reached a point where her original voice is essential.Yet, there is something bittersweet in her narratives. Following her marriage to fellow musician Mark Hartsuch, their divorce just before her album launch leaves an uneasy mark on her story. While her professional life flourishes, the personal nuances remain tangled and unresolved. Mohini often muses on these contrasts, reflecting on the sacrifices made in pursuit of passion. “Life is too short to think about what people think,” she once said, a mantra that serves as both shield and sword in her career.

Today, Mohini stands not just as a celebrated bassist but a creative force navigating the complexities of art and identity. She wears her routes like badges intensely personal yet relatable each note played is a step in her evolving narrative. As she continues to pave her own path, a curious thought lingers: how will her diverse influences and experiences shape her music in the years to come? Only time will tell, but one can be sure she will do it on her own terms.