Saami Family Receives Mozilla Funding for Raag Project
The Infinite Raag project will document khayal singing using artist-owned recording tools and biometric sensors.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in World
The Saami Family, a Pakistani musical lineage, received funding from the Mozilla Foundation as one of 20 inaugural grantees of its Artists Make Technology initiative. The Infinite Raag project will document the family's khayal tradition using synchronised audio, biometric data, and microtonal pitch tracking.
Why it matters
The project aims to preserve the generational singing and knowledge of the Qawwal Bacha Gharana, a lineage over 800 years old, for future generations. It also positions artist-led technology as a tool for cultural preservation.
The initiative funded 20 inaugural grantees, and the Saami tuning system uses 49 notes compared with the 12 tones of the standard Western system. The grant amount and project timeline have not been disclosed.
The players
Mozilla Foundation
The Mozilla Foundation is a nonprofit organization known for supporting open internet technologies and funding creative technology projects through its grant programs.
Ustad Naseeruddin Saami
Ustad Naseeruddin Saami is a khayal vocalist of the Qawwal Bacha Gharana who is credited with developing a 49-note tuning system and was recognised by the Aga Khan Music Awards.
The details
Infinite Raag, undertaken with the Centre for Cultural Vibrancy, will combine synchronised audio recordings and biometric sensors with a microtonal pitch tracker to map moments of deep coherence in performance. The recording and analysis system is guided by artificial intelligence tools, and the project will also study how rigorous khayal training affects practitioners' bodies.
Timeline
Ustad Naseeruddin Saami was recognised by the Aga Khan Music Awards last year.
The Infinite Raag project was announced in a press release on November 2, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The grant is one of 20 inaugural awards under the Mozilla Artists Make Technology initiative, which funds artist-owned technology rather than commercial platforms. It extends that model into the preservation of a centuries-old classical tradition from Pakistan.
The project's outputs are not yet described as available to the public. Listeners interested in khayal performance may need to wait for published recordings or analysis from the Infinite Raag project.
The takeaway
Artist-led documentation projects like Infinite Raag show how technology can record traditional performance practices in finer detail than before. Readers interested in classical music preservation can follow how such projects publish their findings.
Further reading
Explore more in our World music coverage.
