But it’s not the sound of the storm: it’s the powerful pulse of three dhol drums, played in perfect sync.
Local group Dhol.HER is in the middle of a sound check, their energetic beats blending seamlessly with a high-octane R&B track.
In a scene usually dominated by men, the trio behind these dhols are all women. Dhol.HER is determined to make music and challenge stereotypes, all while marching to the beat of their own drums.
While the group is quite new, having been formed only two months ago, its members are far from novices.
Shareen Rai and Amanda Mary have been “dhol-ing” out fresh beats for over 12 years now, while Ginnajit Kaur has been playing for around eight years.
The trio have performed at many events over the years, most notably at the officiation of the SEA Games in 2017, where they played their dhols within a huge group of kompang, Chinese drums and other percussion players.
Shareen, Amanda and Ginnajit first met while learning to play the dhol under the tutelage of Master Keeran-D, an established musician and the founder of local group Dhol Federation.
Forming a firm friendship, the trio created Dhol.HER after many clients specifically requested performances from female dhol players.
One thing that sets the group apart is their unique style of music: Dhol.HER is eager to lend the rhythm of their drums to any genre under the sun.
“We wanted to come up with something different. We enjoy fusion: whether it’s folk songs, or Western music, we like to have a mixture of everything,” Amanda told FMT Lifestyle.
“We’re not limited to one kind of genre. If something is trending online, why not? Why can’t we play to Taylor Swift, or Kendrick Lamar, or whoever’s out there?
“Our music is an amalgamation of everything. We could even play to a didgeridoo if we wanted to,” Shareen added.
Due to its large size and weight, playing the dhol has often been linked to men. But not anymore.
Many women have also built a name for themselves on the instrument: these include Malaysia’s Rsquare twins.
Other acclaimed names include British Pakistani musician Rani Taj and the group Eternal Taal, which are both inspirations for Dhol.HER.
Being female in a male-dominated landscape can be challenging, though.
Amanda, for instance, described receiving a lot of backlash from those around her for playing the dhol. She hopes, therefore, that she can play a part in helping to break stereotypes.
“Whenever I perform, I usually have parents coming up to me, saying I am an inspiration for not just them, but their daughters as well,” Amanda revealed.
“Many tell me they’ve always been interested in this, but didn’t want to join because they were shy. And hearing that always boosts me up,” she added.
“Over time, when you build up your core, you can play as loud as the boys. If they can do it, so can we!” Shareen added with a laugh.
The group is planning a soft launch soon, and is looking forward to more collaborations with other artistes.
Their next appearance will be at Stadium Merdeka on Oct 26 as part of the Beats & Bru performance at the RIUHxAsean 2025 event. Hopefully, more musical shows will follow soon.
“When you’re playing the dhol, you’re entertaining yourself and others as well. You can connect with any instrument, but I think there’s something special about the dhol. Especially when you’re playing it in sync with others, the feeling is just wonderful,” Amanda said.
“I think its music is just so very upbeat. It’s an instrument that, when it’s playing, you have no choice but to dance,” Ginnajit said.
The three women also have a heartfelt message for other dhol players like them.
“We hope that other dhol groups will see us as collaborators, not competitors – Dhol.HER is all about the spirit of inclusion and we look forward to future collaborations, where our values and objectives align.”
Follow Dhol.HER on Instagram.