By LAWI WENG – Na Dee, a 26 year old female Mon singer from Thanphyuzayart Township has become a hit throughout the Mon communities of Mon State. She will be producing a new album this year, entitled, “Crying Heart,” her first time producing an album on her own.
During an interview with IMNA, Na Dee explained that she has produced four albums with other artists. These artists include Amazing Love, My Handsome Boy (Kow Ploy Jai Lai), The Fallen Hongsawatoi of Mon Kingdom, and Geeta Mon.
“When I sang in an album with the Fallen Hongsawatoi of Mon Kingdom, I felt like I was there when the Mon people were killed and tortured by the Burmese King [in 1757],” she said.
“I liked the beat. I liked the concept,” she said.
Na Dee started her career in 2002, when she was 17 years old and she was a high school student in Thanphyuzayart.
In 10th grade, she sang with the Geeta Mon band and did not pass the tenth grade that year. When she was young, her parents named her Shwe Lone, but at school in Thanphyuzayart Township she was called Naw Nee. Finally, when she joined the Geeta Mon band, she was given the name Na Dee.
Before she joined the Geeta Mon Band, she competed in singing competition in Panga village. “Whenever I am on stage, I always tell the audience to love its people [the Mon]. I stand as an example of women who can lead. If there are many women like me, many Mon people will love their nationality,” she explained.
Na Dee was born in Panga village in Thanphyuzayart Township. Later, her parents moved to Thanphyuzayart town. It was at that time that Na Dee met song writer Khe Mar Non, who is a famous song writer in Mon State. She then joined the Geeta Mon band.
She said that her parents encouraged her to become a singer.
“I never hoped that I would become a famous singer [but] I am very happy with my life now,” she said. “I have trained 4 women now. Two of them have already begun to sing on stage,” Na Dee said.
She said that she wants to tell her audience to keep supporting her. “When I hear the people clapping their hands while I am singing, it encourages me to sing more.”
She said that she wants to give a message to the Mon people to encourage them to buy her new album and not a counterfeit one.
“I enjoy singing. I will continue to sing until I get married. Even after I get married, I will continue to sing if I have the opportunity,” said Na Dee.
There are five bands in Mon State. These bands include Geeta Mon, Geeta Anarghot, Power Music, the Crocodile and Geeta Alinka. Among the Mon bands, Geeta Mon has attracted the most attention and often performs at popular gatherings. Geeta Mon is a rock band and is based in Thanphyuzayart town in Mon State.
Nowadays, many Mon musicians experience difficulty producing their new albums due to the number of counterfeit cds in Burma. Artists, therefore, receive only small profits from their investment and time making the album.
Mon celebrities are gaining popularity in Thailand and other countries as many Mon people have migrated to work as laborers or have fled Burma as refugees. Some of these Mon singers are even popular among young migrant workers and teenagers overseas.
Many Mon musicians have been invited to sing in overseas Mon community. Some Mon bands have travelled to Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia to perform at outdoor concerts.
Inside Burma, it is quite common for Mon musicians to set up bands and perform concerts instead of producing albums due to the lack of profit they receive on record sales.
Currently, there are three million Mon people in southern Burma, and after the ceasefire agreement in 1995 between the Burmese government and the New Mon State Party, many Mon have had the opportunity to listen to Mon music apart from Burmese government surveillance.
