Film music hits the right notes

This year has been a mixed bag so far for the Indian music industry, which relies heavily on Bollywood movie soundtracks to keep the cash registers ringing.

Among the success stories was the soundtrack release of music composer and actor Himesh Reshammiya's much-awaited Karzzz, ahead of the film's box-office release on October 16. The music has received a bumper response all over, including in the GCC territories, with the UAE leading sales.

Karzzz's run adds to the recent success of soundtracks from the films Jannat, Jaane Tu ya Jaane Na, Singh Is Kinng, Bachna Ae Haseeno and Rock On, which has given some impetus to the sluggish Bollywood music business so far this year.

The year 2008 started on a slow note with only A R Rahman's Jodha Akbar managing to cross sales of more than one million units, until Race took the music charts by storm thanks to composer Pritam's vibrant score.

Race has been the best selling soundtrack so far this year, selling more than 1.7 million units. This was followed by another of Pritam's chartbusting soundtracks in the form of Jannat, which is running the Race soundtrack close in terms of sales.

"Jannat's music sales exceeded our expectations" says Karan Lilaram, a senior executive at Megastar, the UAE distributor for Sony-BMG. The only other soundtrack that managed to do well was Tashan, but its performance was short-lived due to the film's box-office failure," he adds.

"It is very rare that a film's music continues to do well even after the film's failure and it is important that a film succeeds for its music to have a longer shelf life," says music composer Ismail Darbar, speaking about the impact of a film's success on its soundtrack sales.

The second half of 2008 rocked the music industry with the soundtracks of three films – Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, Singh Is Kinng and Bachna Ae Haseeno – each achieving individual sales of more than 1.5m units.

Beyond the fact that these films were all certified box-office hits, their youthful, trendy music succeeded because it appealed to the younger generation.

"Bachna Ae Haseeno's vibrant music performed best among all our releases, which have included Tashan and Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic so far this year. We believe Tashan's music sales could have gone the extra mile had the film become a major box office success," says Nelson D'Souza, Head of UAE operations, Yashraj Music and Films.

But the soundtrack for Rock On, while catching on among the urban crowd in India, only did well in some segments of the UAE market, such as the big music stores in Dubai. This is probably because Hindi rock music is still a new genre and is not yet everyone's first choice off the menu.

Besides Hindi film soundtracks, the Indian music industry relies on compilations of hit songs, remix albums and private albums to keep the show running. This year Atif Aslam's Meri Kahani and Rabbi Shergill's Avengi Ja Nahin won critical acclaim but failed to repeat the huge success of their previous private albums, Doorie (2006) and Bulla Ki Jaana (2005) respectively.

With no major remix or private album recently that has rocked the musical charts, music store owners had to be content with sporadic successful compilations of Bollywood hits such as Let's Rock The Party, Lambhi Judai and Pappu Can't Dance.

"I believe the genre of remix albums is passé. Though I don't have anything against them, I think they can't match the charm of original music scores, which still lure a huge number of people," says award-winning Bollywood playback singer Alka Yagnik.

But more than changing tastes or the impact of different musical genres, it is music piracy that is killing the industry which was worth nearly Rs10 billion (Dh793m) in the early 1990s and shrank to a mere Rs5bn by the early 2000s. A best-seller in the nineties meant sales in the vicinity of 10 million units. That has come down drastically now to only around two million units in recent years and speaks volumes about how much of a loss the music industry has had to suffer.

Meanwhile, the business will be hoping that the recent spate of successes continues, with some major Bollywood musical blockbusters lined up for release.

There is promise in the air of the year ending on a high note.


'Piracy is the biggest threat to Indian film music'

One regional company has benefited most from this year's slew of successful Bollywood soundtracks, including this month's hit, Karzzz.

Viva Entertainment, the region's largest player in the segment, has cornered the market on Indian music here in the GCC, and holds exclusive licences for Saregama, T-Series, Tips, Venus, Times Music, Big Music, and Yashraj Films. Together, these labels account for 90 per cent of the Bollywood music market. Emirates Business caught up with Sanjay Khettry, Head of Indian Music Division at Viva Entertainment, to take a closer look at regional trends for this cash-rich genre.

How has Bollywood music performed so far this year vis-à-vis last year, and which are the best sellers in this region?

Bollywood music sales haven't been good this year. The year-to-date sales have not matched last year's numbers in the corresponding period – thanks to heavy internet downloading, and other forms of piracy. Having said that, we haven't had as many runaway hits this year, except titles such as Race, Singh Is Kinng and Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa. Though Rock On and Kismat Connection have continued selling, the numbers haven't been dramatically high.

What percentage of your music portfolio do Bollywood soundtracks account for?

Mainstream soundtracks still contribute to the bulk business; the main reason being the unavailability of compilations consisting of only hit tracks. Due to contractual and other copyright issues, not many compilations are available in the market. Soundtracks contribute significantly in the expatriate Indian or NRI segment.

So how does market share break down over the GCC?

The market is almost equally split between the UAE and the rest of the GCC countries.

Since you handle multiple labels, is there a chance of conflict of interest in your business?

In the entertainment industry, piracy is the only threat or competition, however you choose to describe it. For sellers, every product is unique purely by virtue of its own content and sells on its own merit; hence there is no competition or conflict of interest.

So how has piracy affected your sales and what is being done to curb it?

Piracy is the greatest curse on our industry, which has resulted in a steady decline in volumes. Street piracy can be and is being contained with effective raids conducted by the authorities, but internet downloads are the biggest culprit. Unfortunately, it is not possible to stop the downloading of music.

What major film soundtrack releases can we expect from your company by the end of 2008?

Going forward, we are looking at launching RoadsSide Romeo (Yashraj Music), Fashion (T-Series), Yuvraj (T-Series), Rab Ne Bana De Jodi (Yashraj Music) and Ghajini (T-Series) in the next few months. I believe these soundtracks will top the charts.

Daler Mehndi's new album to help raise funds for poor

Lahore (PTI): Indian pop singer Daler Mehndi on Friday said he had presented the Pakistani rights for his new album "Bismillah" to President Asif Ali Zardari to help raise funds for the poor.

Mehndi said his collection of Sufi music will be released in Pakistan to raise funds for the poor and with an aim of expanding cultural ties between India and Pakistan, Mehndi said addressing a news conference at the Lahore Press Club.

Currently on a private visit to Pakistan, Mehndi thanked Zardari and the people of the country for the love and warmth shown to him during his stay in the country.

During a meeting with the singer in Islamabad on Wednesday, Zardari said there were centuries-old cultural relations between the people of both countries and there is a need to jointly develop tourist infrastructure and expand cultural ties.

"More travel and tourism will certainly help in this direction," he said.

Mehndi also visited Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Hasanabdal to participate in religious rituals. During his visit to Hasanabdal, Mehndi was received by officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board, local administration and gurdwara management committee.

Kabul to host international music festival

Afghan capital Kabul will host its first ever four-day International Kabul music festival in the city next week, say reports.

It will be the first such festival in the central Asian country.

Director of music department of Ministry of Information and culture AbdulEtemadi has been quoted as saying that the four day music eventwould be held in the French Cultural Center, Qala-e-Nuh Burj, Feroz-Kohfoundation and Kabul Istiqlal High School auditorium.

Participants will include artistes from Pakistan, Tajikistan, India and Afghanistan who will be a part of the musical gathering and would present their artistic classic, traditional and Qawali music. The International festival is aimed at empowering Afghanistan music, encouraging Afghan artists and establishing relations with music industries of other countries.

The international fair will be held with close collaboration from Radio Kilid, Khial Cultural Center, French Cultural Center and few other local NGOs in Kabul, say reports.

Latest Interview: Strings - Dynamic duo tugging at the heartstrings

Pakistan’s pop-rock sensation Stings are all excited about coming to Dubai after a gap of nearly two years. They will be in town to perform at Sangam, an event at Dubai Tennis Stadium in this month featuring an amazing line-up from the subcontinent artists including top Bollywood singer Shaan, the percussion-driven Pakistan band Overload and Dubai band 2live.

It’s going to be a memorable gig for Strings. “This will be the first concert to promote our new album Koi Aanay Wala Hai, said lead singer Faisal Kapadia, who along with guitarist Bilal Maqsood make up Strings. Incidentally, the band kicked off its first ever international tour from the UAE way back in 1992.

Strings play mellow romantic songs. “Our music comes straight from the heart which is one main reason why everyone enjoys our songs.”

So what plans do they have for the Dubai gig? “We will be playing songs from our new album. It’s got some great music. We have a huge fan following in Dubai and we will not disappoint them. We’re also thinking about doing two concerts a year in the UAE because of the huge response we’ve had from our fans,” said Faisal.

Besides the concert and their new album, Strings also have another reason to be excited. It’s the endorsement deal with the legendary American guitar makers Gibson. “It’s been our greatest achievement. I can’t tell you how honoured we feel to be put on an endorsement list which features the who’s who of the music industry like Slash and Jimmy Page,” said the deep-voiced Faisal.

Talking about his baritone voice, Faisal said that pitching low has never been a deterrent for him. In fact it’s this unique quality in his voice that sets him apart. “It all happened after I started taking classical music lessons. I learnt the finer points of music and became more aware of my vocal range. I then started giving the lower octave more prominence,” he said.

Guitarist Bilal creates the music for Strings while his father Anwar - the renowned Pakistani writer and actor - pens the lyrics. The duo then fine tune the melodies, fit in the lyrics and get the songs ready for the final cut.

Strings are also quite popular in India where they’ve performed for a number of gigs all over the country. They’ve also scored songs for the Bollywood movies Zinda and Shootout At Lokhanwala.

“We got into film music after we were approached to do the track Na Jaane Kyon for the Hollwood blockbuster Spider-Man 2. After this, we recieved plenty of offers to compose songs for movies,” said Faisal.

“Initially, we were reluctant to do Bollywood movies as it meant moving away from our style. But when filmmaker Sanjay Gupta approached us for his movie, he told us that he wanted the Strings sound and this is what excited us.”

“Doing film music is good for a band. Everyone in the subcontinent listens to movie songs so you get greater exposure,” he said.



Faisal’s favourite western bands:
U2, Coldplay, Radiohead, Aerosmith.

His favourite Bollywood singers:
Kishore Kumar, Hariharan and Sonu Nigam

His favourite Indian composer: RD Burman

‘Music can improve Pakistan, India ties

Pakistani sitar-player Ustad Abdul Latif Khan has said the music can play important role in further improving ties between Pakistan and India.

He was talking to The News on his return from a recent trip to New Delhi on Sunday.

Ustad Abdul Latif khan shared his recent experiences with this scribe about his interaction with Indian media including the DD ñI TV(Door Durshan) and All India Radioís Akashwani during his visit there. He said he had been going to India since 2007 but he had never felt like this before. He said Deepa Chandra, the director DD-I, in a meeting with him, said she wanted to discuss the Pak-India relations this time, not music.

Ustad Latifís reply was simple and quite logical as he said, Deepa ‘I am an artist and not a politician, but it is my personal desire to see both the governments and the people become closer.’

He said it was his observation during the month long stay in India that there was tremendous love and respect for Pakistani artists and people. He added his mission was to promote love between the two countries and that was why he visited the country so often.

He said he was serving his country as an unofficial ambassador of peace and love through his musical skills.

During his interview with Deepa, he said instead of spending billions of rupees every year on weaponry, the countries should spend this huge money on the welfare of their people. He also pointed out to the DD-I director that there should be no visa restrictions between the two countries so that the people and the artists of Pakistan and India could move around freely.

Ustad Abdul Latif Khan is one of the very few living grand masters of the art of Sittar-playing and has been a celebrity in the Indian media during his recent visits there. Being a music loving nation and a nation which knows how to respect an artist, the Indians showered great respect and honor on him.

He was interviewed live on DD-I in its live show and a 45 minutes recording of his Sittar playing. He had an interview with the Sahara TV in New Delhi and was also presented two prestigious awards respectively from Gami Khan Musical Society and Akashwani(All India Radio).

Ustad Abdul Latif Khan was grateful to the Indian people and the media, specially DD-I and Sahara TV for promoting his message of love and peace through Sittar in the special live programs.

Has venturing into Bollywood become a necessity for Pak musicians?

The Indian film industry has gained incredible strength in the last few years. Film stars like Shah Rukh, Aamir and Salman Khan and now Akshay Kumar are signing deals worth anywhere between 10-20 crores, either by producing their own films or striking deals with production houses that now function like Hollywood studios. The film industry that was once struggling under the shadow of murky deals between film producers/actors and the underworld has undergone a metamorphosis of sorts. But not the same can be said for the music business in India. The term music industry just doesn't exist in India. All the sounds are dictated by Bollywood music. Back in the nineties, names like Bally Sagoo, Mehnaz, Baba Sehgal, Lucky Ali, Alisha Chinoi among countless others formed the Indian pop industry. Now most of them have either disappeared from the scene altogether or have become playback singers for Indian films. With Pakistani music, it is a different case.



Fuzon recently played to packed crowds in India. Atif Aslam is a huge icon. And artists like Strings, Azal, Jal, Roxen and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan - all enjoy a steady following. But riding the Bollywood bandwagon has slowly but surely become a necessity for Pakistani artists. Our artists learned with time that with Bollywood dictating the sound in India, in order to make it in India, which remains a much bigger market for our artists, Bollywood was a step necessary... for many. This year one saw Jal team up with Indian actress Amrita Rao for their video, 'Chalte Chalte'. In turn she released their album with them in India and promised to visit Pakistan for a series of shows. Azal also launched their record in India and recorded and performed within one night the title track of Akshay Kumar-Katrina Kaif starrer Sinngh is King with Salman Khan in the audience. Atif Aslam, who jumped the Bollywood bandwagon much earlier, teamed up with Indian music director Pritam twice this year for 'Pehli Nazar' off Race and 'Ba Khuda' off Kismat Konnection. Both were high profile films that made Atif a lot more visible in India.



Others like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan are working on Indian films as playback singers. While Shafqat has Kabhie Alvida Naa Kehna and Dor on his musical catalogue, Rahat has the biggest film tunes to his credit ranging from Shah Rukh Khan's Om Shanti Om to Madhuri Dixit comeback vehicle Aaja Nachle. For most musicians now, it has become a matter or survival in India now more than ever.In a recent conversation with this scribe, Atif Aslam explained why opting for Bollywood has become necessary. "Indian music channels, most of them, have stopped airing Pakistani music videos and I'm talking about most of our artists. Bollywood producers give a mightier push to Indian film music and the channels are inclined to play Indian music. So one makes a video but if it doesn't air enough, fans won't know. In such a scenario, it has become crucially important to deal with Bollywood because that gives one visibility."




Veteran musician Ali Azmat, who entered the Indian market first with Junoon years ago, has an interesting take on the entire situation. "The scene in India is no different than Pakistan. It may have more money and a better infrastructure but they have no music industry. Indian radio stations don't play Pakistani music. I have walked out of two different radio interviews in India because they don't play our music. That said, it also depends on an artist. I don't work in Bollywood too often because the sensibility of commercial Bollywood doesn't always match mine. But when filmmakers, who understand my music and think that it will add more to the film approach me, I do work with them. But the fact still remains that Bollywood dominates the sound in India."

U.S., U.K. acts take top billing at MTV Europe Music Awards

British band Coldplay and Welsh soul singer Duffy have each scored three nominations for the MTV Europe Music Awards.

But the awards, to be held in Liverpool Nov. 6, also chose nominees from among top U.S. acts, including Pink, Linkin' Park and Foo Fighters.

Britneys Spears, who is making a comeback from pop limbo, has two nominations, for best act and best album for Blackout.

Coldplay earned an act of the year nomination as well as best album for Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends.

Their single Viva La Vida is nominated for most addictive track.

Competing with Coldplay for best act are Spears, Leona Lewis, Rihanna and British soul singer Amy Winehouse.

Aimee Anne Duffy, the singer-songwriter with the stage name Duffy, is nominated for best new act as well as best album for Rockferry and most addictive track for Mercy.

All the other best new act nominees are U.S. acts, including Katy Perry, the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus and Colorado-based band One Republic.

Perry's breakout hit I Kissed a Girl is also a contender in the most addictive track category along with Pink's So What and Kid Rock's All Summer Long.

Linkin' Park and Metallica each have two nominations in the headliner and rock out categories.

MTV viewers will be able to vote for their favourite acts online until Nov. 2.

The European music channel claims 30 million people watched the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2007.



MTV Europe Music Awards selected nominees
Best act

* Amy Winehouse
* Britney Spears
* Coldplay
* Leona Lewis
* Rihanna

Album of the year

* Alicia Keys, As I Am
* Britney Spears, Blackout
* Coldplay, Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends
* Duffy, Rockferry
* Leona Lewis, Spirit

Headliner

* Foo Fighters
* Linkin Park
* Metallica
* The Cure
* Tokio Hotel

Ultimate urban

* Alicia Keys
* Beyonce
* Chris Brown
* Kanye West
* Lil Wayne

Pakistani prison film set for peace-boosting release in India

ISLAMABAD (AFP) — As tensions mount between India and Pakistan, the release in both countries of a Pakistani film about a young boy held in an Indian jail is being hailed as a welcome boost for cultural ties.

The movie, "Ramchand Pakistani," which opened in Pakistan on August 1 and in India on August 22, could also help revive Pakistan's flagging film industry after years in the shadow of India's hugely successful Bollywood.

Based on a true story, it follows the lives of Ramchand, an eight-year-old Pakistani boy, and his father after they accidentally stray across the frontier in 2002 and are imprisoned by India.

"I see the film as being a humble yet significant contribution to the ongoing peace process," Pakistani producer Javed Jabbar told AFP, referring to the peace process launched by the South Asian neighbours in 2004 after more than 60 years of tension and three wars.

The film's release comes with relations between Islamabad and New Delhi at a new low, following a recent series of clashes between their troops on the ceasefire line in the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir.

Indian officials also accused Pakistan of masterminding the deadly bombing of the Indian consulate in Afghanistan on July 7, which left around 60 people dead, including India's defence attache.

"The values that the film promotes are of compassion, respect for each other, peace and friendship. And I think that kind of message will convey a great deal to people in India and Pakistan," said Jabbar, who was the information minister in slain former premier Benazir Bhutto's first government and again from 1999-2000.

Directed by Jabbar's daughter Mehreen, "Ramchand Pakistani" touches on an important topic in Indo-Pakistani relations -- the fate of hundreds of prisoners held on either side of the border.

Hundreds have been freed by both countries since the peace process began but many remain in prison.

Ramchand, the film's eponymous young hero, comes from Pakistan's minority Hindu community and lives in the remote desert region of Rajasthan.

He strays over the border when tensions between India and Pakistan almost brought the two countries to war six years ago.

Indian troops arrest him and his father, who comes to search for him, and the film then follows them as they spend years in an Indian jail.It also tells the tale of his mother, played by Bollywood actress Nandita Das, as she searches for them.

"Ramchand Pakistani" will show on around 100 screens in India and 15 in Pakistan, the distributors say.

Cultural links, especially movies, are one of the key "confidence building measures" included in the slow-moving peace Indo-Pakistani peace process.

Pakistan banned Indian films in 1965 after the second of its three wars with India since the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, but authorities have recently relaxed the rules.

The film follows on the success of another Pakistani movie, called 'In the Name of God", about the dilemma faced by moderate Muslims in a world obsessed with Islamic militancy.

Pakistan's film industry has tried, and failed, for years to emulate Bollywood, but now people in Pakistan are seeing this new trend of high-brow movie-making as possible salvation for home-made movies.

"Our film industry is only going to work if we change our focus towards thought, not only towards glamour and Bollywood style," said Ahsan Khan, a Pakistani film star. "That's when it's really going to work."

"Ramchand Pakistani" and "In the Name of God" were both largely foreign funded, and filmmakers in Pakistan say until the government and private investors contribute it will be difficult to follow in their footsteps.

Much of Pakistan's Lahore-based movie industry -- nicknamed "Lollywood" -- still uses equipment from almost half a century ago.

"Those who manufactured our cameras would be surprised to know that we are still working with their equipment, which deserve to be in museums," said Sangeeta, a director and former film star at a studio in Lahore.

But excitement is already building in Pakistan that cooperation with India in the world of cinema could, despite the current competition, reap benefits.

"In the long run it will bring money, skills and technology which we can use and reinvest to make our films stronger," said Hasan Zaidi, a director who also organises the annual Kara International Film Festival in Karachi.

Snoop Dogg tour bus pulled over; 2 arrested

DALLAS (AP) -- A tour bus carrying hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg was pulled over and two people were arrested on marijuana possession charges Thursday a few hours before a concert in Dallas, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

DPS spokesman Charlie Morgan said members of a commercial vehicle inspection team pulled the bus over on Interstate 45 in Corsicana because the vehicle had an expired registration sticker. Troopers searched the bus for drugs after they said they smelled marijuana and found two ounces of the drug, he said.

Ethan Calhoun, 27, and Kevin Barkey, 26, were arrested on drug charges after admitting the drugs belonged to them, Morgan told The Associated Press. Both men were taken to the Navarro County Jail and face fines of up to $2,000 and six months in jail if convicted, Morgan said. Bond was set at $1,500 each.

The Corsicana Daily Sun reported the men appeared before a justice of the peace and were released after posting bond.

Snoop Dogg, whose birth name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr., was not arrested. His agent had no comment, a secretary said. Calls to public relations representatives for the rapper were not immediately returned Thursday evening.

He was arrested last year at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, Calif., on suspicion of transporting marijuana.

Police later charged him with gun possession after finding a firearm in his home. He pleaded no contest in April 2007 to felony gun and marijuana charges and agreed to five years' probation and 800 hours of community service.

He was scheduled to appear at a concert near the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. He is on tour with alternative rock group 311.

Corsicana is 52 miles south-southeast of Dallas.

Watch New Music Video: Azal - Hum Tum - Directed by Jalal

Latest Interview: Ehtesham Khan of 'Azal' at music video 'Hum Tum' launch

After the success of their debut single 'Aisi Taisi', Azal unveil their first album Road To Infinity

Maheen Sabeeh

Karachi

There is something extraordinary about 'Aisi Taisi'. It's extremely catchy and pertinent to our times. Aggressive in nature but melodic at the same time, it remains one of the few songs to come out in recent times that makes such a bold statement about the state of Pakistan where the system is stacked against the common man.

The people of Pakistan lapped it up. No romance, no frivolity but just the plain and simple truth. And that song remains Azal's trump card. It penetrated into the hearts and minds of people who have become accustomed to bubble-gum pop and heartbroken rock. The men in the video are also unique. Long haired, dark glasses, powerful vocals and an attitude that matches the single, the words that form 'Aisi Taisi'.

And now, after the super-success of their debut single, the men are back with their first album. And they are an interesting bunch. There are ET and Shabbi, who work behind the scenes in media and are well known to those in the media world. Then there is Sameer Ahmed who is a renowned bass player on the scene, also having played with the excellent band Awaz. And finally, the surprise packed in Azal is Rajab Ali Khan who is Ustad Zafar Ali Khan's son. Classically trained vocalist and in a rock band is a phenomenon that hasn't happened before. There was Fuzon, but they drew more from the classical and pop traditions than they did from rock music. For that reason amongst many others, it will be interesting to see where Azal go.

It's also interesting that two members of Azal, ET and Sameer are also working for Geo and Aag respectively. And while their album was initially slated to be released by another record company, they are now with Fire Records.

Present at the launch was Geo Television Network President Imran Aslam, CEO Fire Records Akbar Yazdani, Ustad Zafar Ali Khan, film actor Saud as well as three men from Azal, Rajab Ali Khan, Ehtesham Khan (ET) and Sameer Ahmed. The fourth, Shahbaz Ali Khan (Shabbi) was missing. He works at a media house in Dubai. They are basically four likeminded people who found each other and discovered a new sound to make together. 'Aisi Taisi' is the essence of this sound.

At the press conference, Azal launched their new video, 'Hum Tum' - a song that is a 360-degree turn for the band. Directed by Jalal and Amir (the duo behind 'Aisi Taisi' video), 'Hum Tum' is a light, soft yet extremely melodic ballad, a far cry from the in your face aggression of 'Aisi Taisi'. The video works as a great showcase for the band with its tones of blue, black and white and it has to be said that 'Hum Tum' is a beautiful song.

"Our album has flavours of the soil. You will not fight bhangra here or patriotism but you will find ballads. It is pop in genre but flavours that range from rock to club can be found," explained ET at the press conference.

One question that remained a concern with the creation of Azal was that barring Rajab, all three members have separate jobs. Sameer Ahmed, in fact, is a session player and while he is no longer with Karavan, his playing with other bands might make things difficult for the band. This is one of the reasons why Gumby and Noori could never work. Gumby was playing with other acts and according to Ali Noor, it affected the band.

"I don't think it'll be a problem. We've talked about it," said Sameer Ahmed at the press conference.

"Most of us do stuff besides Azal because as you all know concerts in Pakistan, in the last year and a half have become rare. Atta, ghee, petrol are the things that are on people's minds. Concerts are the only medium through which artists earn revenue. So other jobs are important to keep sustain us."

Instep Today caught up with ET to find out more on the band that is Azal and here's what he said…

Instep Today: Who does what in Azal?

Ehtesham Khan (ET): I am behind melodies, lyrics as well as vocals. Rajab Ali Khan comes from Gwalior family and is the grandson of Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan. He is the lead vocalist as well as writes melodies. Azal is the brainchild of Shahbaz Ali Khan. He is behing arrangements, sequencing and compositions. He is the producer of our album, Road to Infinity. Sameer Ahmed plays bass guitars, has played rhythm on the album and is the co-producer of our album. Azal is a unit and all of us are involved with the process of making this album.

Instep Today: Where did 'Aisi Taisi' stem from?

ET: Look at everything around us. We have the systems in place but they are not strong. It is about individuals, not systems. The poor are in bad shape and the rich don't care. The difference between them is money. When money comes in, suddenly the equation changes. The reason why 'Aisi Taisi' worked is primarily because of its honesty. The song was aimed at mass penetration and it managed to do so because people can relate to it.

Instep Today: When was Azal created?

ET: About five years ago. All of us come from the field of media, audio and visuals. I was working at a production house where Shahbaz was also working. For a project, we all worked together. It went well so we thought about a band. But we decided to live together for 2-3 years to see if the mental chemistry would work. What happens is that bands come out but they fade away because sooner or later, they stop communicating. This is not a band where one will play drums, one will sing etc. We are involved with everything together.

Instep Today: What does Azal mean?

ET: Azal is a Persian word that stands for "beginning".

Instep Today: As a new band, did you have to face problems?

ET: It's the same problem for everyone I think. The industry has no infrastructure. There is a huge communication gap between young and old musicians. We have talent but no avenue for its grooming.

Instep Today: Are there any plans of releasing the album in other markets such as India?

ET: Sangeet Records has released the album in US of A. Times India will release the album in India by mid-July. And from there we'll see.

We've got plans to hit England and India to promote the album in the pipeline.

Shoiab Mansoor's interview to the Holywood Reporter

Q & A with Shoaib Mansoor

Forget making waves in India, Khuda Kay Liye has generated enough international interest for the Hollywood Reporter to be interested

In July, Shoaib Mansoor hit Pakistan's moribund film industry with his directorial debut, Khuda Kay Liye (In the Name of God). Shot in the U.K., the U.S. and Pakistan, it follows two brothers who grow apart as they follow different paths in post-September 11 Islam. In a casting coup, acclaimed Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah joined veteran Pakistani actor Hameed Sheikh, top TV actor Shan and fashion model Iman Ali in her first film role. Khuda Kay Liye grossed over $1.1 million, giving Pakistan's industry a real shot in the arm. Last month, Khuda Kay Liye became the first Pakistani film ever to release commercially in India, prompting the notoriously media-shy Mansoor to cross the embattled border for its Mumbai premiere. The Hollywood Reporter's Nyay Bhushan interviewed Mansoor in New Delhi, where they conversed in the north Indian Punjabi language, a centuries-old cultural bond between India and Pakistan.


The Hollywood Reporter: Khuda Kay Liye got good reviews in India. What were your expectations?

Shoaib Mansoor: I was curious about how it would do in India given there are more Muslims here than in Pakistan. I have also had the pleasure of meeting some leading Indian film figures who have also liked the film. I hope the film helps in clearing some misconceptions people may have of Pakistan. It's been a great experience and as of now, there haven't been any protests!

THR: You're known for co-writing the 1980s TV comedy Fifty-Fifty, loosely based on Saturday Night Live. How did you decide to shift into the troubled film industry?

Mansoor: That was exactly the reason, to do something about an industry that was never taken seriously. While I was very successful with my TV projects, I wanted to share a strong story that could really work as a feature. Even while doing largely entertainment-oriented TV projects, I still managed to include social messages.

THR: How did you face the protests against a courtroom scene in which Muslim scripture is quoted?

Mansoor: Even while we were shooting the film, some groups were already protesting. The script was heavily guarded even during production so nobody really knew the actual nature of the film. Some Muslim clerics had already drawn their conclusions that the film would be blasphemous because it was the work of an artist like me, someone who was not really a scholar. The "fatwas" were already issued, including death threats. The scene where Naseeruddin Shah plays a liberal cleric who explains some of the issues in Islam around which the film revolves, was based on facts from the scriptures which couldn't be challenged, even by hardline mullahs. So that surprised a lot of people who were against the film. Not to say that the protests and death threats didn't continue, but the film's success is what counts.

THR: The film has crucial elements shot in the U.S. including a torture scene of the lead character (Shan, playing a music student), who is mistaken for a terrorist just after 9/11. Was it tough to get American actors to participate?

Mansoor: It was very tough and frankly, I'd given up hope of finding American actors because many people refused to do the film after they read the script. But my casting director was persistent and managed to find actors even if they were newcomers with little experience (such as Austin Marie-Sayre who plays Shan's love interest) and they all did a commendable job. It was very demanding on everybody to shoot the torture scenes but that was important to the story.

THR: Shan's character says "All Muslims are not terrorists," to which an American interrogator replies, "But all terrorists are Muslims." What is your take on terrorism?

Mansoor: Terrorism is really a creation of politics. When you see the state of the world today, especially related to Muslim persecution, there are instances across the globe, from Palestine to the Middle East. Even after six decades of partition, the Kashmir issue remains unsolved between India and Pakistan. So there is just too much oppression around and this is what Shan's character also says when he points to atrocities faced by Muslims in many countries.

THR: How did you manage to cast Naseeruddin Shah when no major Indian actor has featured in a Pakistani film?

Mansoor: Since our film industry has never really progressed given we haven't produced any noteworthy films, to send a request to an Indian actor as a Pakistani film director was an uphill task. I didn't know Naseeruddin Shah but managed to contact him and send him my script for Khuda Kay Liye. He read it and called me to say he was definitely going to do the film. That gave me a lot of confidence and then we went about going through the formalities of getting him to Pakistan to shoot.

THR: How was it to get government support in Pakistan for the film?

Mansoor: A lot of the credit for the film seeing the light of day goes to President Pervez Musharraf. Even before I submitted Khuda Kay Liye to the censor board, I requested him to see the film, which he did in a special screening, after which he said that this film should be released. It was only because of his support that I could face all the protests.

THR: What do you have to say about the Indian film industry?

Mansoor: The Indian film industry has always been vibrant and its films are hugely popular in Pakistan. But I still have more complaints about the Indian industry than against Pakistani films. In Pakistan it's a known fact that things are in bad shape, with a lack of funds and innovation. By contrast, the Indian industry has more resources, a bigger market, big returns, yet, they keep making the same formula films, the same song-and-dance routine. There have been exceptions but honestly, there is need for something new. My definition of entertainment is about offering people a justification to spend a couple of hours in a cinema. A good film should not only raise questions but also offer solid answers as well.

THR: Would you consider a project in India?

Mansoor: I have had some positive discussions here so you never know, something concrete could emerge. I just hope that film ties between both countries can grow further because that is the need of the hour.

link: http://thenews.jang.com.pk/instep_today.asp

Exclusive Video : Koi Aanay Wala Hai By Strings

Lahore calling for Pritam

Pak singer Atif Aslam can’t travel to India. So composer Pritam will fly to Lahore to record track with him

Composer Pritam Chakraborty is in a dilemma. He needs to urgently record a track with Pakistani singer Atif Aslam for Aziz Mirza’s Kismet Connection, starring Shahid Kapoor and Vidya Balan. Faced with passport issues, the crooner can’t travel to India now.

Atif, who has rendered popular B-Town tracks like Pehli Nazar Mein (Race), Tere Bin (Bas Ek Pal) and Aadat (Kalyug) apart from his album Doorie, would frequently visit India.

“Atif is having an issue aboutcoming to Mumbai,” points out Pritam. What does the composer plan to do? “I will be flying down to Lahore to record the song with him!” he declares.

Taken aback

Mahesh Bhatt, who led Bollywood’s music towards Pakistani singers is shocked about the development on Atif’s front.

Says Bhatt, “If singers from across the border are finding it difficult to come here, let me state that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured me that entertainment industry folk were free to move back and forth. Neither side would be allowed to obstruct us. If there’s a slowing-down in the process of thawing the ice between the two countries, I’ll personally go to the Prime Minister and address the issue.”

Bhatt, who started the movement of musicians and actors from across the border to Bollywood, says “In those days, looking towards Pakistan was looked upon as an act of treason.

I was told what I was doing was suicidal. During the last four years, we’ve done more to improve Indo-Pak relations than our predecessors have done in 56 years. We’re even premiering Jannat in Pakistan on May 14.”

Apart from recording with Atif, Pritam may also record with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. “There’s a special promotional number which I’ve just composed for Mani Shankar’s Mukhbir. It requires Rahat’s voice. I just might record that song too while I’m in Lahore or I may go for an Indian voice.”

Amrita Wants Jal Too !

The all-boy Pakistani band Jal was in the capital recently and it was fun to catch up with Goher Mumtaz, Farhan and Shazi, who were kicked about being clicked next to the pool.

“It is a good idea! We called our band Jal because water is needed by all. We want to make our music wanted by all too,” grinned Goher. Farhan added, “And that is also why we called our new album Boondh – a drop of Jal! It all makes so much sense.”

And the news is that the band has invited the petite Amrita Rao to Pakistan for a few concerts. Said Goher, “Amrita will be visiting Pak in the first week of June and she’ll be a part of our concerts. I’m looking forward to showing her around.” Amrita, who was in the city recently, confirmed, “Yes, I am going to Pak. This is my first visit and I’m looking forward to meeting my Pak fans and visiting Lahore and Karachi. I want to interact with the Pak youth and find out more about them.” That’s a musical connect then!

Exclusive Video : Zeeshan - Ek Umeed

Strings set to release Koi Aanay Wala Hai on May 16

As days come closer, the excitement surrounding Strings's new album, Koi Aanay Wala Hai is touching new heights. The first promos of the new album are out and they are looking really good. Strings in Malaysia with John Abraham and flash, Koi Aanay Wala Hai!

Both Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia, after the Olympics torch-bearing ceremony have been in India wrapping up one more tour before gearing up big time to release the new album. "The plan is to release Koi Aanay Wala Hai on May 16," revealed Faisal Kapadia, while speaking with Instep Today from Lucknow, India.

And it looks like Strings are playing the game smoothly and smartly. The plan is to release their new record in four markets on the same day. That means for the first time a Strings album will release in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Dubai on the same day, in an effort to contain piracy.

"We want our fans to have ready access to the album. Fans who can't access it will download it from the internet," stated Faisal Kapadia on this effort.

"Besides, we want to tap new markets like Bangladesh and Nepal, where the rock scene is booming," Faisal said. "There are a lot of people in these countries who are into our type of music."

And if you're wondering what is going on with their videos. Well, that side of music is also looking pretty hot. Strings have teamed up with John Abraham once again after 'Zinda Hoon' for the title track, 'Koi Aanay Wala Hai' while another video for a song 'Jaggo' has also been completed.

So get ready, because Koi Aanay Wala Hai!

Abbas Ali Khan's Malal took MTV Pakistan's 1st Video Music Awards by storm

Abbas Ali Khan's Video Malal was nominated for 8 catagories in there long awaited MTV Music Video Awards that were held in the KPI ground, Karachi.

Nomations for Malal were :

Best Video
Best Director
Best Art Director
Best Editing
Best DOP
Best Male Model
Best Female Model
Best Styling
Malal Won 6 out of these catagories, i.e. :

Best Art Director - Tariq Amin
Best Director - Shehryar Hydri & Abbas Ali Khan
Best Male Model - Tariq Amin
Best Female Model - Mehreen Rahael
Best Styling - Tariq Amin
Best Video (of the year 2007)

Mizmaar's hit song 'Sitara' featured in Hollywood film 'Dragon Wars' OST

Mizmaar goes to Hollywood

At a time when a majority of Pakistani bands are trying their luck in Bollywood, it has been learnt that Mizmaar has jumped on to a bigger opportunity in the form of a Hollywood film called D-War.

Mizmaar’s title track from their second album, Sitara, has been included in the film’s official soundtrack (OST) that is directed by Korean director Hyuang-rae Shim, and produced by James B. Kang who is one of the leading Hollywood producers of action-thriller films. The film’s star cast comprises Jason Behr, Amanda Brooks and Robert Forster. D-War has a theme similar to the Steven Spielberg film, Jurassic Park.

Says the band’s guitarist and producer, Kashan Admani, “We got the offer from the producer after the success of Sitara in India. Since the song has a violin part in the intro, it has a very Oriental feel to it, and as the film has a Chinese base, the director felt that it was the right song for it.”

When asked if the band has allowed any alterations in composition and lyrics, Kashan said, “No. The great thing is that they wanted the song as it is.”

So now that Mizmaar has finally stepped into the film scene, do they plan to lend their tracks to Bollywood banners? “We have some offers we are working on, and we might be involved in more Hollywood projects in the near future.”

Does he think Pakistani rock music fits in a Hollywood film? “We think some of the Pakistani music is superb and comparable to any western music, and so it certainly can be a part of any Hollywood movie if there is a requirement of such music in the film.”

The rock music scene in Pakistan has grown immensely in recent times, with artistes such as Shallum Xavier and others working on international platforms. About the video Admani ****, “It should be out in a few days. It’s a newly-edited version done by the film’s director with our performance from the original Sitara video.”

Pakistani singer Ali Azmat to rock Muscat on May 1

MUSCAT — Pakistani rock idol Ali Azmat, lead singer of the iconic rock band Junoon, will soon enthral music lovers in Muscat. Vision Entertainment, full service event management agency based in Muscat, will host the singer at a cultural extravaganza on May 1, marking the company’s foray into public events for the first time.

The live concert by Ali Azmat will take place on Thursday, May 1, at City Amphitheatre, Qurum. Vision Entertainment is equipped to deal with clients’ requirements, right from conceptualisation, down to execution, and has the required licence to conduct festivals, concerts, theme events, dinners, fashion shows and trade promotions.

“Vision Entertainment has so far been managing corporate events, but with this musical evening, we hope to make an entry into public events as well,” said Yousuf Ahmed Jaffar, chairman of Vision Entertainment. “This step is in line with our vision to reach out to all communities in Muscat, and to establish ourselves as a well-organised and professional event management company,” he added.

“Music is a universal language, and presenting Ali Azmat will be a very good way to bring communities and cultures together. Bridging cultures is an important way to be successful in a global community,” said Yawar Azfar Khan, creative director of Vision Entertainment.

“We want to establish a long term relationship with the people and communities in Muscat. So we promise to take care of all their entertainment needs, they just need to sit back and relax,” said Yousuf Ahmed Jaffar.

Ali Azmat has the unique distinction of performing on the floor of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, along with an Indian music band. As lead singer of the band Junoon, Ali fronted the largest rock band in south Asia.

The 10 albums that the band released between 1990 and 2003 sold 20 million copies worldwide. In 1998, Ali and Junoon took Pakistan and India by storm with the hit single Sayonee from their tremendously successful fourth album Azadi released by EMI.

Tickets for the show will be available at Pizza Hut outlets in MBD, Madinat Sultan Qaboos, Qurum, Al Khuwair and Al Khoud, and also from KM Trading, Ruwi.

Atif Aslam wearing the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz Presidential Award

Najam Shiraz composes Olympic English theme song 'Only Love'

As Najam Sheraz’s eighth album is on the verge of an international release, the veteran pop artiste belts out yet another achievement in the form of an alliance with The World Olympic Association for the torch relaying ceremony being held in Islamabad. He performs in the grand finale, his first English single, Only Love.



"It is my first English single, co-written and co-produced by Chris Eaten. Chris is a renowned songwriter from West Midlands, United Kingdom and has written for renowned artistes such as Cliff Richards, Amy Grant, Jessica Simpson and Janet Jackson. I felt it was a good platform through which to present the song,” says Najam excitedly. “The melody of the track is beautiful. The listener will love the gospel (?) choruses by very talented Afro Brit singers with my style of singing,” he says.



How did he come with the idea? “Peace and harmony is my subject. It was my dream to convey this feeling in English, which is a global language. And it just happened in a matter of couple of hours when I sat down with Chris at his studio,” he responded. When asked if the song is being released worldwide or in Pakistan only, he informed, “It has been done for a worldwide release and will be when the right time comes. At the moment we are developing the concept for its video and looking for international partners.”

Ali Azmat's upcoming music album "Klashinfolk" cover?

Exclusive Video : Gurus Trilogy - Jagi Hoi Aankhon Mein

Sajjad Ali's new album 'Chahar Balish' released

Sajjad Ali is one of the most respected singers in the Pakistan music industry today. he has managed to consistently deliver quality music and he has proven time and again, that he has what it takes to outlast all his contemporaries. Sajjad Ali has constantly re-invented himself with every album he has put out. He started of as a neo-classical ghazal singer, discovered mass appeal as a pop singer and then became more of a filmi/background singer. Now he has returned with his latest effort “Chahar Balish” which still contains his trademark addictive melodies, but finds him in a more somber mood.

1. Pekar

2. Rang Laga

3. Gaddiye

4. katna nai

5. Bola bola

6. Nai Thakda

7. Dil Pareshan Hai

8. Kia Naam Doon?

9. Chal Ren De

10. Gaddiye(Club Mix)

South Asian Mela 2008 : JaL Performing on June 15 in Toronto , Canada

After 15 years of raging success Diamond Promotions is proud to present TD Canada Trust South Asian Mela 2008! Set for June 15 2008 this mela is one not to be missed! For the first time ever the mela will not only host a live performance by JAL but will also be the first to present Canada's very first South Asian Idol! Diamond Promotions chairman, Javed Malik, announced in a press conference earlier today that auditions are started to begin 3 weeks before the event and this type of show is only in the works because of the publics ongoing support. Marketing Manager, Bilal Khan, added that he would like to thank TD Canada Trust, Toronto Star and online partner PakMusic.net for their ongoing support and reassured that this mela will go in history as being one of a kind

Stay up to date with more details for auditions and press conference pictures about TD Canada Trust South Asian Mela 2008 by logging into Pakmusic.net.

Strings to perform in five Indian cities

Islamabad: Popular Pakistani music band Strings embarks on a tour to India tomorrow to promote their new album "Koi Aane Wala Hai", their first in four years.

"We are very excited about the tour as we have an album with a fresh sound," said Faisal Kapadia, the vocalist for Strings, which will kick off the tour with a concert in Lucknow.

"Koi Aane Wala Hai" will be released in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Dubai on May 16, the first time an album by Strings has been issued in different markets across the world simultaneously.

The decision to simultaneously release the album in different markets is aimed at countering piracy. "We want our fans to have ready access to the album. Fans who can t access it will download it from the internet," he said.

"Besides, we want to tap new markets like Bangladesh and Nepal, where the rock scene is booming," Kapadia said. "There are a lot of people in these countries who are into our type of music." Kapadia and his band-mate Bilal Maqsood have already completed two videos for the album - one for the title track that features Bollywood actor John Abraham and another for the song "Jaago".

"We will also be making a third video for the album," Kapadia said. "The video for Koi Aane Wala Hai , directed by Ravi Udyavar, is very interesting. And of course, it features John Abraham," Kapadia, who was here with Maqsood to participate in the Olympic torch relay, told reporters.
Source : PTI

PakMusic Productions & Zong present Super Saturday

PakMusic Productions in association with Zong proudly present "SUPER SATURDAY" - watch your favourite Karachi music artists and other celebrities not in a concert but on a cricket field on 19th April '08 at PAD Ground (near Indus Valley).

For invitations contact :

Ahmar Khan : 0321-3753741
Tabish Waqar : 0321-8292932
Arsalan Hashmi : 0300-2268706

Celebrities coming :
1. Abrar-ul-Hassan (Director)
2. Ahmed Jehanzeb (tentative)
3. Ahmed Safdar (VJ)
4. Alfred D'Mello (Mizmaar)
5. Ali Azmat (tentative)
6. Ali Khan
7. Amaan Ahmed (Director)
8. Ammar Ali Khan
9. Assad Ahmed (Karavan)
10. AWS
11. Azam Khan (Sazein)
12. Azfar Ali
13. Danish Anees (GEO Metrolite)
14. Daniyal Badshah (Mizmaar)
15. ET (Azal)
16. ET (Jhoum)
17. Faakhir
18. Faisal Rafi (tentative)
19. Farabi Hassan (Raeth)
20. Farhan Shah (Mushk)
21. Farooq Ahmed (Aaroh)
22. Glenn John (Gurus Trilogy)
23. Haider Hashimi (Aaroh)
24. Hassan Mahmood (Mirage)
25. Immu (Fuzon)
26. Jaffer Ali Zaidi (Kaavish)
27. Jalal (Director)
28. Jason Anthony (Aaroh)
29. Kamran Bari (Suroor)
30. Kashan Admani (Mizmaar)
31. Khalid Khan (Aaroh)
32. Khalid Manee
33. M. Ali (Suroor)
34. Maaz Maudood (Kaavish)
35. Mani (tentative)
36. Mannu
37. Mohsin Allahditta (Gurus Trilogy)
38. Mohsin Imtiaz (Sazein)
39. Munir (Mushk)
40. Nadeem Jafri
41. Omar Bilal Akhtar (Aunty Disco Project)
42. Omar Khalid (Aunty Disco Project)
43. Omran Shafique (Mauj)
44. Qaiser
45. Rajab Ali Khan (Azal)
46. Rameez Mukhtar (Fuzon)
47. Rehan Nazim (Mirage)
48. Saad Hayat (Mirage)
49. Sameer Ahmed (Azal)
50. Sayyam Rana (Gurus Trilogy)
51. Shahi (tentative)
52. Shallum Xavier (Fuzon)
53. Shami
54. Shani Haider
55. Shanny Haider
56. Sharique Roomi
57. Shehzad Roy
58. Shuja Haider
59. Tanseer Daar (Karavan)
60. Umar Anwar (Director)
61. Verdafi (VJ)
62. Vicky Haider (Jhoum)
63. Wajhi Farooki (Raeth)
64. Waqar Zaka (VJ)
65. Yasir Qureshi (Aunty Disco Project)
66. Faisal Qureshi (tentative)
67. Bilal Maqsood (tentative)
68. Yasir Jawed

AND

SHAHID AFRIDI + YOUNUS KHAN + SHOAIB MALIK (TENTATIVE)

LIMITED INVITATIONS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Najam Sheraz - Khwabon Ke Rishtey

Latest Interview: Adeel on new album 'Koi Chehra' and future plans

Adeel 'Haniya' Chaudhry sprouted on the music scene somewhere between late 2005 and early 2006. With his highlighted hair, a love for chunky metal, shades and the works, Adeel from day one fitted the bill of a pop star in the making. The debut single from this young lad was indeed promising. Drawing influences from techno and house fused with pop, the single sounded fresh for an industry that has suffered tremendously due to saturated pop (or lack of it) and dark brooding rock that is all over the place.

Adeel's entry in the music scene seemed interesting enough. 'Meray Haniya' is cheesy, no doubt. But it has that same dance feel to it that previously one has heard from Omer Inayat with 'Tenu Ley Kay Jaana (You've Got Something)' as well as bands like Bombay Rockers. he single was a sign of what his debut record, Koi Chehra would contain. t is a record that is filled with juicy eclectic numbers and is heavily influenced by dance-pop as well as soft pop.

Koi Chehra thematically is a love album. There is falling in love; heartbreak, missing a beloved in all its glory. It is easy to split this album in two sections: (a) dance-pop and (b) soft pop. And no, this is not the same dance-pop as Madonna but more like N Sync, a little bit of Britney Spears and a déjà vu of Atif Aslam from his days of Doorie remixes.

Originally studying to become a dentist, this multitalented young man followed his heart and has achieved instant success in the sub-continent. To read about his future plans and how he started his very successful journey, click Here .

Album Launch Review and Pictures: Akash's 'Aks' in Karachi

Akash launches its debut album, Aks. The journey to Karachi’s Site area is not an easy one. Travelling over endless miles of dark, bumpy roads with neither street lamps nor moonlight to guide the way, it is a torment lasting well over 60 minutes for any city inhabitant. What attracted me to the venue was the album launch concert of Lahore-based rock band, Akash, which was long overdue following a release of their debut album, Aks, last December. The Musik Records has album launch concerts organised at the city’s prime locations. But the venue selected for Akash’s album launch didn’t make sense as it was held at an unknown business institute on the outskirts of Karachi.

To read the album launch review and view the pictures, click Here .

Latest Interview: JaL on Boondh, Atif comparisons & future projects

The band of boysOut with their new album and a spanking video to boot, Jal are back and they have grown up, silencing their critics along the way. In a recent interview with Instep, Jal reveal all… about the new album Boondh, the comparisons to Atif and what is next in store!By Saba Sartaj K

our years ago, Jal debuted on the music scene with the single 'Aadat'. It became a monster hit and the two band members split it up instantly afterwards. Atif Aslam went solo and Gohar Mumtaz brought in Farhan Butt on vocals and Shazi on bass. The trio were pitched against Atif Aslam again and again but they never gave up. And now they are back with Boondh - their second and most solid effort as a unit.The trio that hit Karachi recently to promote their album visited Instep office for an interview


Slightly overwhelmed and a tad bored, understandably, by the media parade - cameramen followed them around everywhere - surrounding them, Jal revealed all - from going to India and teaming up with Amrita Rao for the new single, 'Chalte Chalte' and what lies ahead in the coming days for the band and for fans…

Instep: Your album Boondh is out. But the situation in the country has been tense. Has that affected sales?

Gohar Mumtaz: Not really. The delay in the album release was not due to the situation in the country. Mainly everything was sort of haywire from the very beginning. Our album sales have thankfully not been affected by the tension in the country, but our gigs have suffered. We've been trying to organize a tour in Pakistan but haven't been able to because of security issues.

Farhan Butt: We feel bad for the people who don't have the opportunity to go to India or other countries. We've sustained because of the business India has been giving us. We have been performing there regularly since nothing has been happening in Pakistan this past year or so. But many bands don't have the option of going across the border and we feel bad for them. They have lost out on a lot of work and revenue since the situation had deteriorated in Pakistan and everything had come to a stand still.Instep: I'm sure you know Atif is doing roaring business these days. Your take on the comparisons made between you and Atif?

GM: You see, there are two ways we could have gone about it. We could have either gotten demotivated or we could've pushed up our game. We chose to do the latter and thankfully our commitment and hardwork has paid off. We did not get demotivated by his success and anything he does doesn't affect us at all. We can't keep going back and forth seeing what Atif is doing. Our album had twelve tracks and people liked every single one of them. That says enough in itself.

FB: Not that I am boasting but we were at a concert in India and a man came up to us and said that 'Jal is a great band and I love it, but if Atif was still a part of your band, it would have been even better. The spark is just not there without him'. That remark kind of put me off. I went to Gohar and told him about it. I was really upset. He told me to ignore it and said we have to give it our best shot. We gave an excellent performance that night and the same guy came up to us after the concert and said that we were brilliant! That was a great high for us. We just concentrate on our work and that is the key to our success.

Instep: We've noticed Shazi doesn't say much. He also remains in the background in all your videos etc. Why is that?

Shazi: (Still maintaining his silence. Wearing dark glasses and looking somberly into his cell phone)
GM: (Laughing) You see, he is a true rock star!

Instep: You guys worked with Bilal Lashari for the first time on 'Sajni'. How was the experience?

GM: It was great. We met Bilal back in the summer through a mutual friend. We saw clips of some of his work and decided to work with him. Once we saw his vision, we wanted to work with him because we know he was bringing something very different to the table. And we were very pleased with the end product.

FB: It was good fun and we were very relaxed with Bilal. He was just so friendly and we felt very comfortable with him the moment we met him. We wanted something new and fresh in our new video. Initially when we saw clips from his videos, we though they were too dark for Pakistani audiences. But he convinced us and told us he knew exactly what we wanted. Besides the DOP he works from is from Hollywood so that was just icing on the cake for us.

Instep: Tell us about your latest video 'Chalte Chalte'. The song is not on your album; Amrita Rao is featured in the video and there is a commercial running. What is the deal behind it?

GM: We made the song after the album released and it caters to the corporate sector. Walls sponsored it and they wanted somebody from Pakistan and India featured in it. So we chose to work with Amrita who was great fun to work with. You'll be surprised to know that there are a lot of actors in India who don't want to work with Pakistani people. Amrita was one who had no issues working with a Pakistani band. In India, image matters a lot. If you don't have a good image its difficult finding people to work with. We thankfully have a decent image in India and have been performing there regularly.

FB: Amrita was a lot of fun. She is a brilliant actor and used to get her shot right in the very first take. Watching her work so professionally and skillfully sort of intimidated us and since we're not actors it was tough for us to get the shots right. We will also be touring Pakistan with Amrita around in early May. It hasn't been finalized yet but we're hoping that it'll happen

Instep: You guys go to India regularly. How has their industry changed compared to ours in the last few years?

GM: I can say proudly that India's pop artists don't even come close to Pakistani pop singers. We have an excellent and thriving pop industry whereas bands in India are heavily influenced by Bollywood. They find our music very fresh and original.

FB: We have the X factor working there for us. The fact that we are coming from Pakistan intrigues them. Pakistanis have a good reputation there and we draw huge crowds to our gigs. Indian bands basically cater to the Bollywood driven club scene. People actually listen to our music; Indian bands on the other hand make music which primarily people dance to. On every Indian channel, you will just see Bollywood songs being shown, whereas in Pakistan, most of what we see on television is pop bands and songs. Our music is original and theirs is basically more commercial and filmy.

Instep: What about the level of professionalism in India?

GM: Actually there are a lot of venues there to perform at. It's a huge country and every single city has a huge capacity and population. For example, in Lahore if we perform once a month it's more then enough whereas in India, every city has so many colleges and universities who have regular festivals etc, we can keep going back and the demand will still be there. There is an insatiable appetite and capacity there which we keep going back to satisfy.

FB: We've performed at a lot of festivals in India and thousands of people have been turning up for each event. The professionalism Indians bring is enormous. Where ever you go, there are stages you can only dream of having in Pakistan. The sounds, the lights, everything as a matter of fact is on another level altogether. They don't compromise on anything.

Bollywood is set to get a bigger dose of Pakistani pop this year!

Bollywood is set to get a bigger dose of Pakistani pop this year!

2008 is turning out to be an interesting year for Bollywood and Pakistani music. While musicians like Strings have refused offers from the likes of Dharma Productions and Madhur Bhandarkar and even Jal - who received an offer to work in a film featuring Tabu - others have signed on onto Bollywood.Call have already sung and shot the video for 'Yeh Pal' that is being featured in the upcoming film Aasman and will star Nauheed Nauheed Cyrusi (Anwar fame), Hrishita Bhatt and an upcoming actor Subhahish Mukherjee.Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, who has been AWOL from the music scene since he made it big with 'Mitwa' for Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and parted ways from Fuzon, is all set to surface back. And this guy is going from one big high profile film to another. Now it has been revealed that Shafqat will next be singing for Atul Agnihotri's Hello. The song has been written by Jalees Sherwani and composed by the musical duo of Sajid-Wajid. Based on the book, One Night at Call Centre, it'll feature Salman Khan, Sharman Joshi, Sohail Khan, Ishaa Koppikar, Amrita Arora and Gul Panag with special appearances by Katrina Kaif and Arbaaz Khan.Not far behind from Shafqat are Fuzon and Ali Azmat. And interestingly there is one film that both of them will be featured on and it's called Mumbai Cutting.The film, which includes 10 different stories and is being directed by ten different directors, is simply about the city that is Mumbai.Ali Azmat's song, 'Sawal' is being featured in the portion that has been directed by Rahul Dholakia and according to Ali, it is a dark number.On the other hand, Fuzon, who last worked with Nagesh Kukunoor on Hyderabad Blues 2, are set to make a comeback in Bollywood. Their single is a ballad and the guys have already shot the video for it in Bombay.Mumbai Cutting has a massive star cast collectively. The film features Soha Ali Khan, Sonali Kulkarni, Ranvir Shorey, Vinay Pathak, Tejaswini Kohlapuri, Ranvijay, Sushant Singh, Tara Sharma, Sachin Khedekar, Neetu Chandra, Jimmy Shergill, Samreen Zaidi and Palash Sen of the band Euphoria.And this year, Ali Azmat is not holding back on Bollywood. Besides Mumbai Cutting, He is also working on Sudhir Mishra's next, Tera Kya Hoga Johnny. This flick has newcomer Neil Nitin Mukesh (Johnny Gaddar fame) and Soha Ali Khan in the lead. But more interesting is the fact that Ali has composed a reggae number for the flick!Atif Aslam, who last sang for Bollywood flick, Race, is now looking at some projects. According to sources, one offer Atif Aslam is considering has come from Mahesh Bhatt. But right now Atif is still in talks. And if all works out, he will do the song.Another guy who's quietly working on an Indian film project is Shiraz Uppal. While Shiraz is keeping mum on the offer, there are some reports that the project is with the mighty AR Rahman. The two have worked once before for the film Nayak so we wouldn't be surprised.It is no longer surprising when a Pakistani artist or band cuts a deal in India. It gives them more room to play and gives them mileage and there is no denying it. Awarapan did wonders for Roxen while Call managed to reach a wider range of listeners vis-à-vis 'Laaree Chootee'.Rahat Fateh Ali, Strings and Atif Aslam have been able to connect with Indian listeners not just because of their signature music but also because of their projects in Bollywood.While Strings always play their cards right, others have made mistakes. But now, they are all understanding how to play the game. Atif is no longer just behind vocals. He's getting the videos too.And with live music circuit in Pakistan in shambles, literally for the past one year, India is a place that is giving all the musicians a platform and venues to play on.Without artist management and proper sound arrangements, musicians are increasingly becoming wary of playing at big shows in Pakistan. Vocal distortion, bad lighting and various other problems are wreaking havoc with the whole concept of live shows in Pakistan.In such a scenario, musicians often have no choice but to look at India as a market. There are a lot more cities, bigger venues and better facilities. And Bollywood plays a big role in bringing listeners closer. With the biggest market share of music, it is Bollwood which paves path for our pop/rock to grow there. Atif Aslam is the biggest example. His ventures in films like Kalyug, Zeher and Bas Ek Pal have made him a huge star in India.Bollywood also helps with recognition. Plus Pakistani music is fresh and that is one more reason why it is working in India. So here hoping that this year in Bollywood turns out to be hugely successful for all our artists!A double whammy! 2008 will not only mark the return of Ali Azmat with a new album, but it also marks his return to Bollywood. The first project is a film called Mumbai Cutting while the second film is Sudhir Mishra's Tera Kya Hoga Johnny, which stars Neil Nitin Mukesh and Soha Ali Khan in pivotal rolesOther than Ali Azmat, Fuzon will also be featured on Mumbai Cutting soundtrack and their single will be a ballad. Meanwhile Call have recorded and shot the single 'Yeh Pal' for Bollywood flick Aasman!In the pipeline: After the massive success of 'Pehli Nazar' off Race soundtrack, Atif Aslam is in talks with Mahesh Bhatt for a possible venture in the near future. Shiraz Uppal (below) is also working on a Bollywood project and it might be with maestro A.R. Rahman...link: http://www.thenews.com.pk/instep_today.asp