Welcome To My Blogs


This forms a compilation of all my written work done so far!!!!!!
The work involves celebrity interviews that I have conducted so far, my journalism work and literary work, my fiction work...and my TV plus radio shows...
I did radio, I did TV, and I always to find the real me..
As a writer, I could write more openly and that explored the real me..
Stay Blessed..
Cheers...
Sadaf

Monday, November 15, 2010

Exploring Sumptuousness of Asad Ahmed




Published in Desi Issue of INK

[Interview by Sadaf Fayyaz]

[Photography by Syed Qasim, Kohi Marri and Rizwan ul Haq]

He is a classy musician with lot of miscellany. Having played with The Barbarians, Junoon, Vital Signs, Awaz and Karavan now, he really masters different genres of music. He has also worked with renowned artists Sajjad Ali, Ali Haider, Haroon and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. His music journey dates back to two decades ago in 1987 and his experience stretches over twenty years; he has touched almost every genre of music. He doesn’t talk much and seems a deep kind of person. The legendary song “Hum Tum” of Vital Signs portrays deep touch of his tour de force and grandeur. The coke studio sessions are truly ritzy and opulent. “Life is good!!! Everyday above ground is good...not much too complain about...work hard, play hard!”


Tell something about your family and education.

I grew up in Dubai. I am the youngest of three brothers. I went to school in Dubai till 8th grade and then we shifted back to Pakistan where I went onto to complete my O and A levels and got a Bachelors degree in Finance and marketing.

How did you get interested in music and what was the first musical instrument you learned to play?

My mother is an artist so art runs in the family. Both my brothers were big music fans and also owned guitars, so it was only natural for me to pick it up at an early age. It was all natural.

What is your inspiration?

My inspiration was definitely a group from NYC called KISS. Afterwards it would be all the great guitar players I grew up with like Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Hendrix and countless others.

Which is your favorite track from “Sara Jahan”?

It is difficult to say since they are all great tracks. The one I love is called “Deewana”.

What is good music according to you?

Good music is anything that takes you away from your everyday life and makes you feel good.

What you expected from "Sara Jahan", has it fulfilled those expectations?

It cannot be answered at the moment.

Why is there a wide gap between your two albums “Sara Jahan” and “Gardish”?

There is because we were all busy doing individual projects. We were all apart and not together at all. Albums are worked on and made when members sit together. I was busy with coke studio as well as touring with Haroon and recording with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.


Tell us something about your musical training.

I am a completely self-taught person.

What message does your music reflect? Is it peace, love or any other?

All of the above, also I think it’s good to be positive which is why we did songs like “Aagay hi Aagay” and “Saara Jahan”. It is to move ahead and to be optimistic and affirmative too.

Is it easy these days, to manage with the competition in the music industry?

Yes it is very easy. Our band Karavan has a very loyal fan following.

How often do you jam? 

We jam a week before a tour: what we do is that we go over the songs that we might not have played for a while and generally tune into things like harmonies and performance moves. We do some practice for it and we are very well choreographed on stage.

How do you see the future of live music in Pakistan?

I perceive it as very healthy. There are lots of bands coming out now but I only wish if we had better venues to play at like arenas and theatres.

Your motivation and learning comes from?

It comes from my inner self belief and confidence within me to go one step further every time.

How do you take criticism?

Criticism from a music critic is useless for me, however if a fan has something to say the heart speaks. So I go more for critics of an ordinary man and I listen to them very closely. I give a lot of weight age to it.

What are future/long term plans of Karavan?

We take it one day at a time. The fact that we have outlasted every single band out there is a testament to our longevity and the fans’ love for us.

What is easier to play for you: a cover, an instrumental or something new?

It is my own music.

What is one thing that you would like to change about the music industry?

I'd really like to put real people who care about the industry in the right seats. The biggest tragedy is that self serving people are running the show.

When you four work together, and everyone has a different opinion about something, how is that managed?

We manage to take the best out of us. We bounce things off each other and in the end you get Karavan music.

Share a few lines on state of music industry (Pakistan).

Currently it’s healthy but, there are ignorant people running channels and record companies and crooks doing the distribution, it will always be the artist who suffers while they fill their pockets with our CASH.

As a band how would you like to be remembered by people?

I want people to remember us as the best live show they ever saw.

Lastly, what is your message to readers of INK?

Buy Saara Jahan and hear the difference between us and the little boys who imitate us.

10 comments:

  1. Hey, my name is Jasim. I am a Film grad, Currently working as Director/Producer MTV Pakistan. I have been reading your articles for sometime and I believe that I was wrong, thinking there cant be another bigger Vital Signs fan then me:) I feel happy to find one and you are doing a fabulous job so far. I am one musician who actually started playing guitar in my 6th grade because of these guys (VS). Till today when ever i pick my guitar I sing their songs. Keep up the good work, write more stuff related to VItal Signs. Although in this article you havent asked Asad his experience with the Signs but good luck for future hope to have more from you. Take care.
    Regards,
    S. Jasim Haider.

    ReplyDelete
  2. you should also do video interviews and then put those on u-tube :)

    AA sounds pretty honest in his answers,interesting read.

    Next time,could you ask all of your celebrities that what are they doing individually,besides their talent,for Pakistan ?

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  3. Sadaf,

    EID MUBARAK. MAY ALL THE HAPPINESS BE SHOWERED ON YOU.

    Take care

    PS : Will be back to read pending posts.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks jack for the wishes.........:)

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  5. Sadaf,

    It may seem I am repeating myself but I have to say that your interviews are always in depth.

    Take care

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  6. Thanks Jack......Its because I work very hard on them.............

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  7. a very decent interview, not the witty questions you had asked jahazeb afzal khan before in the inklings!

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  8. err.........Jahangir Aziz Hayat you mean? different interviews for different artists......:P

    ReplyDelete

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