Mo Sabri to Perform with Nashville Symphony: A Fusion of Appalachian Country and Sufi Qawwali

Event Overview

On May 31, singer-songwriter Mo Sabri will perform with the Nashville Symphony, presenting an orchestral rendition of his album Tennessee Desi. The work blends Appalachian country music with qawwali, a Sufi Muslim devotional music tradition.

"In a way, it's a reflection of who I am as a first-generation American, who's half-country, half-desi." — Mo Sabri

The Artist's Background

Sabri, a Pakistani-American Muslim, grew up in Johnson City, Tennessee—near the birthplace of country music. His immigrant parents exposed him to both country classics and qawwali.

During the pandemic, he began exploring qawwali as a way to connect with his heritage. He notes a possible distant relation to the Sabri Brothers, a famous qawwali duo from Pakistan.

The Album: Tennessee Desi

The album includes a cover of the bluegrass song "Rocky Top" and the qawwali "Allah Hoo." Sabri found the two genres "more similar than different," both being folk musics that often address religious themes.

Technical Challenge

A key challenge in blending the genres is that qawwali uses microtones not found in the Western 12-note scale. Sabri employs slide guitar to mimic these microtonal effects.

"I feel most free writing country music because it allows me to talk about being Muslim in a region where many may not expect it."

Statements on Representation

Charles Alexander, a digital strategist of Malaysian Indian descent working in Nashville's music industry, said the performance:

"Speaks volumes in terms of diversity and representation in the types of music that has germinated in Tennessee."

Public Reception

Sabri tested an early version of the set in Indiana, where audience members from various political and cultural backgrounds enjoyed the fusion.

On YouTube, his cover of the qawwali "Tajdar e Haram" received praise from South Asian listeners, though some criticized his Urdu pronunciation. Sabri acknowledges his Urdu speaking ability is limited.

Personal Background

Sabri has never visited Pakistan but would like to go. His father immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s and his mother in the 1980s.

He described the upcoming Nashville Symphony performance as "their American dream come true."