I would have loved to sing for RD Burman: Shafqat Amanat Ali ...

He was the lead vocalist of the Pakistani rock band Fuz?n and sang chartbusters like?Mitwa (Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna) and Tere Naina (My Name is Khan).?Lahore born Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan is now the toast of Bollywood, singing for leading music directors like Pritam and Shankar-Ehsan-Loy (Incidentally, Ali was discovered by Shankar Mahadevan)

We spoke exclusively to the singer as he prepares to rock Mississauga at the Mosaic Festival on Saturday, August 18.

TU: What do you think of the current crop of Bollywood music directors?

SK: Most of them are my friends: Salim Merchant, Pritam, Vishal Shekhar, Shankar-Eshan-Loy, Javed, Sajid-Wajid, among others. I believe that they have taken the music in the Hindi film industry to another level.

TU: What do you like about each one of them?

SK: The decade before these artists came in the film music scene was terrible, probably the worst phase in Indian film music. The songs and tunes in the mid-eighties were so predictable that even by listening to just the first few strains, one could tell where the music was going. But the music directors I mentioned have completely changed the ?sound? of the music industry.

For example, Pritam loves fusion. His music is still rooted strongly in tradition but he gives it a modern spin. It is important to understand the focus of the situation and the beauty is to know how to apply music to it like Pritam did with?Muaja Hi Mauja (Jab We Met).?Also whenever there is a combination or fusion of talented musicians, it ?produces beautiful music. Shankar-Eshan-Loy has proven that time and again.

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TU: How are upcoming artists in Pakistan doing in being discovered and encouraged?

SK: Back in Pakistan, pop music is very popular. But we don?t have a music industry so we don?t follow a certain style of music. The new artistes in Pakistan write, compose and sing whatever they want. And that is why we see new talent popping in Pakistan almost on a daily basis. But it?s a small industry and that?s why they are struggling.

On a positive note, I think YouTube?is playing a major role in new artistes being able to showcase their talent. The Pakistani media is not doing much to encourage young talent, hence the reliance on social media. People post videos which go viral and reach a wide audience.

TU: Do you feel like you can be better than the already talented singer you are?

SK: I?m a very good learner because I come from a family of musicians. I think I am pretty happy with the way I am right now. I do wish though that I could have sung playback for RD Burman. It wouldn?t have changed everything, but my recital would?ve definitely improved.?I want to keep working and I feel that with every song I sing, I want to perform better.

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TU: What are your musical influences?

SK: Mostly my father. He is the source of inspiration in my life and other than that my learning never stops. I observe and learn from various artistes.

TU: What is one piece of advice about you always keep in mind?

SK: That, I was born in the Patiala Gharana and that I shouldn?t ruin the family name! (laughs)

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About the artiste:

Shafqat received his bachelor?s degree and role of honor from the Music Society of GC University, Lahore. He started learning classical music at age four, his grandmother being his first teacher. His main influences in music come from his father and his uncle Bade Fateh Ali Khan. He is the youngest brother of the late Asad Amanat Ali Khan. He bagged the President?s Pride of Performance civil award on August 14, 2007.

Shafqat headlines Mosaic Festival for the first time ever performing for a free concert in North America and will be on stage on August 18 at 7.30 pm. For more information visit: www.mosaicfest.com

Internationally celebrated, multiple award winning media personality and art critique, Tushar Unadkat is CEO, Creative Director of MUKTA Advertising and Founder, Executive Director of Nouveau iDEA (New International Dimension in Entertainment & Arts).

Source: http://suhaag.com/artsentertainment/i-would-have-loved-to-sing-for-rd-burman-shafqat-amanat-ali/

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