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Monday, August 11, 2008

Watch Video : Revival Of Pakistani National Anthem By Various Artists

Here Is The Video : Its A Must Watch

“Pakistani audience is not in the state of enjoying my music” Ahmed Jehanzeb

From the Pakistani land of Sufi singers, we have yet another talented singer knocking at the doors of Indian film industry. With his album Laut Aao, Ahmed Jehanzeb is making his entry into the Indian music world. Dreaming of creating better music, this young singer is all set to kiss success through his seer hard work and dedication.


Q. What is special about your new album Laut Aao?

A. You will get the different shades of vocals, music and everything according to the taste of today's trend. Many singers in Bollywood bear the influence of the legends in their voice. But I have a different tonal quality and it does not match with anyone. The album is also blessed with powerful lyrics. It is melodious and soothing to the ears.


Q. Is it a romantic album?

A. Yes, I would call it a romantic album.


Q. While working on the album, which audience did you have in your mind, Indian or Pakistani?

A. I only had Indian audience in my mind because Pakistani audience have not reached that state now and have gone towards more serious kind of things. The style of music across the border is very different from that of Bollywood.


Q. How did music happen to you?

A. During my time music was not given so much encouragement but my father was always fond of music. Ever since I was born I had all the music instruments in front of me. I was always attracted towards music and wanted to learn and play all the instruments. I loved the harmonium and one day my Abba asked me if I liked harmonium or not and when I said yes, he gifted me a keyboard on my fourth birthday. He made me rehearse with him and he never forced me to learn music. I started my journey at the age of four and at nine I released my first album named Ahmed Jehanzeb - The Wonder Boy.


Q. What kind of songs did the album have?

A. It contained national songs (Qaumi songs). These kinds of songs were more in trend; individual singing was not in trend at that time. My Abba made me familiar with the stage from the very tender age of mine, so that I don't get nervous or hesitate in facing audience while performing.


Q. At what age did you start your journey of stage shows?

A. I started my journey at the age of eleven or twelve. I used to experiment singing different kinds of songs then.


Q. What kind of songs did you sing?

A. I used to sing ghazals as well as the hit songs of that time like Papa Kehte Hai… and all other Bollywood hit numbers.


Q. When did you release your second album?

A. My second album got released in 2001 with the name Parastish, which came after a gap of 15 years from my first album. In the meantime I was doing stage shows all over the world.


Q. What kind of songs did it contain?

A. It had compilation of solid classical numbers. It was a big hit and gave me a lot of fame.


Q. How did coming to India happen?

A. There was a song of mine in my second album Parastish which became famous through internet. Then one day Sanjay Dutt called me when he had organized a Tsunami relief fund show and he wanted me to participate there. Two singers came at that time from Pakistan, one was Strings and the other was me and the other celebrities for the show were film stars from Pakistan like Meera, Moammar Rana and all. During this time I met Rajiv Sivani who was vice president of Tips.


Q. Do you feel that you are lucky?

A. I feel that I am lucky because Khuda gave me opportunities and I met right people at the right time. It is my good luck that I met someone like Rajiv who gave me a chance. I got all the facilities from the company while recording with them. They provide me very good directors, lyrics, crew members etc.


Q. You have given music to Khuda Kay Liye, any other films after that?

A. I had composed five songs for Khuda Kay Liye and I have sung those songs, too. This film changed the whole scenario of Pakistani film and no other film is being made yet to match that one. And if we talk about music it has to be something which will be cherished and enjoyed by all for a long time.


Q. Any film offers in India?

A. Who would not like to work in Bollywood movies but as of now I want to concentrate in composing good music only.

Source: RealBollywood.com

Warid's Summer Club Night– A return to live rock

Concerts may have become a rarity in Pakistan, but Warid's Summer Club Night brought back some of Pakistan's best talent to the stage, in a live show that musicians and audience alike were full of praise for. It brought back memories of days where concerts happened regularly and provided young people with entertainment and music at its best.

By Usman Raza Jamil


Growing up in Lahore during the mid nineties we, as alternative and rock music loving adolescents, would throng to concert halls and auditoriums to enjoy underground and rock bands in Lahore perform live and unadulterated versions of our favorite international and local rock songs. Back then it was all about the music. As times have progressed and with the injection of corporate entities in Pakistan, the scene has changed whereby nationally recognized pop acts play corporate events at hotels, where audiences are more prone to soullessly enjoying the performances from their tables rather than moving to the music.

Last week changed that. Warid hosted Summer Club Night, held at the Royal Palm Country Club, Lahore featuring acts such as Mauj, Ali Azmat, Zeeshan Parwez and Caramel and in the process, gave around 500 of us a musical experience which we wouldn't soon be forgetting and would transform us back to the good old days of Al-Hamra Hall One. This time the setting was much more like a club abroad, where the live music featured was mind-blowing, the ambience enriched the experience and the audience wanted more even after the lights went out on the event into the wee hours of the next day!

Once the club began rocking with live music, there was absolutely no looking back. And everything about that evening, from the ambiance to the great sound certified that. The marquee at the Royal Palm was transformed, dividing the area into a dance floor on ground level and a lounge on top. The place was surrounded by an illuminating purple light set against a black backdrop. As we neared the end of the platform, the view of where the magic happened became even more prominent.


Atop the stage was the illuminating sign of 'Warid Summer Club Night'; the gigantic speakers surrounding the stage; the effective lighting and the dance floor with smoke machines in tow, for all those like us who enjoy being up front and close to the musicians. The event itself was organized by Elements, who in collaboration with the team at Warid did a great job in making sure that the event was branded subtly rather than an "in-your-face" way and for creating an environment which catered to the needs of the sophisticated yuppies and of the dedicated live music lovers such as myself!

Before the first act came on stage, DJ Muhammad Agha gave the audience some great house music to get us all pumped up for the performances to follow. With the smoke machines on the floor already bellowing out the mist and with large sections of the crowd making their way down to the floor in anticipation of wrapping their heads around some great live music, the ever-charismatic Ahmed Ali Butt came up on stage to enthusiastically introduce Mauj as the first act of the night.

With the House music played by the DJ fading out, Omran Shafique, Sikandar Mufti, Sameer Ahmed and Hamza Jafri got us all going with an awesome jam. With the release of their much awaited album still being hotly anticipated, we were treated to a set which included songs like Awaaz, Khayaal, Mona and the crowd favorites, Khushfehmee and Paheliyan. Omran Shafique, as the frontman for the band, seemed at ease, getting the crowd involved, belting out lyrics and shredding guitar solos for everyone to enjoy. It was a musically tight performance, which sounded great and set the tone for the night.

Next up, Ali Azmat was welcomed onto the stage by cheers and loud applause by the audience. Joining him on stage was the mercurial drum genius that is John Louis Pinto aka Gumby and the sensation tehno spinning wizard from Peshawar, Zeeshan Parwez; Omran Shafique on guitar and Kamran Zafar on bass. Churning out hits such as Mein Challa, Neend Aati Nahee, Dosti, some new numbers from his upcoming album Klashinfolk and an absolutely mind-blowing rendition of Garaj Baras, Ali Azmat - the showman and the musician - showed that he still is very much a force to be reckoned with. It was perhaps one of the best live sets ever to be heard to date, and it even got the 'oldies' in the crowd moving and shaking.

Following Ali Azmat came the dynamic duo that makes up Caramel - Kiran Arshad and Adnan Chaudhry, well supported by Fahd Khan, Muhammad Agha, Farhan Albert and bassist Atif - who performed covers of dancefloor hits such as 4 Minutes and Hit the Road Jack amongst others, that got the crowd dancing away into the night. Caramel lived up to its reputation as being true entertainers and performed their set with their trademark gusto and high energy, to which the audience responded to very enthusiastically. To top off what was already a memorable and absorbing night of great live music, a 'supernova' of the musicians in the shape of Gumby, Zeeshan Parwez, Sikandar Mufti and Omran Shafique collaborated to produce a unique jam of electronica, live drums and guitar that provided the audience with something fresh, new and different to really appreciate. It was indeed a crowd pleaser and a highlight, which showed the versatility of talent that our country has to offer!

Needless to say, the event was a success. It was a night where a recognized corporate entity gave the power back to music and gave credit where credit was due. It was a night that allowed different musical talents to combine as one and showcase their unique qualities. It was a night where people came to enjoy live music and show their appreciation and support of such well organized events, in view of the scarcity of such offerings in Pakistan. It was night where live music lovers like myself could not help but think that the best is yet to come and that what we witnessed as teens in the mid-nineties in Lahore, is truly back, but is bigger, better, stronger and meaner!

What the musicians had to say
Ali Azmat: "This was by far the best time we had playing a gig in a very long time: the sound, the atmosphere, the crowd, the stage and the people who organized this event. It was a breeze of fresh air. And I speak for the rest of the band too. Fun fun fun! All concerts should be done like that"

Zeeshan Parwez: "It was nicely done, especially the planning and the concept of bringing musicians together on one platform in a great setting. The venue was good, the sound was great. I personally enjoyed a lot performing with Ali Azmat and Gumby."

Gumby: "Club night was probably one of the very few shows where both the musicians and audience enjoyed thoroughly. I must say, very well arranged and an outstanding ambience. It was a pleasure being a part of the event."

Omran Shafique: "It was an amazing experience. The sound system, the lighting and overall setup was very impressive. It was definitely one of the best shows we have played. Big thanks to Warid for doing this, and having us on board!"

Sameer Ahmed: "The crowd and ambiance provided a great setting for a live performance. I hope we get to play more shows like this."