Mizmaar set to release single featuring Shubha Mudgal
Band front man Kashan Admani talks upcoming album, remains mum over ‘Coke Studio’ appearance
Shubha Mugdal has sung Jogi alongside band’s new vocalist Asad Rasheed. PHOTOS: PUBLICITY
KARACHI:
With the latest Abida Parveen and Salim-Sulaiman track Noor E Ilahi out, it seems Indo-Pak music collaborations have taken a new direction.
The last time Pakistani rock band Mizmaar teamed up with an Indian act, we saw the release of Ae Dil – a song celebrating the independence of both India and Pakistan from their colonial masters. With the Palash Sen collaboration already behind them, they went ahead with plans of working alongside Indian singing veteran Shubha Mudgal.
The song Jogi, which was supposed to be out in March, is now set for a release real soon. Talking to The Express Tribune, Mizmaar front man Kashan Admani was quite confident about the interesting nature of the project. “Whenever you collaborate with someone from across the border it sends out a bigger message,” he said, adding, “Shubha Mugdal is a Padma Shree winner. She was kind enough to lend her vocals to our track.”
Jogi is a signature Mizmaar tune which has been laced with classical singing. “Our new singer Asad Rasheed is young but he has an understanding of classical music. So it is an interesting collaboration of a budding singer and a trained veteran.”
Admani said Mizmaar has never made songs just for the sake of making them. “Our music has always had a message to it. Jogi is about seeking peace. Seeking God,” he said. The guitarist said being good and being bad is in the hands of every individual. “We all make these choices and we can be good if we want. It is all inside us.”
He agreed that the song and its music both have Sufi inclinations. When asked why he chose to write new lyrics instead of opting for an arifana kalam penned by a Bulleh Shah or a Bhagat Kabir, Admani said, “I think it is more of a challenge to write something new. For today’s times we need today’s writing. Old poetry may or may not be relevant to today’s issues,” he added. Saying that he does not intend to undermine the legacy of any of these saints, Admani said good lyrical content can still be produced. “We do have people who are writing good stuff.”
On a side note, he said old poetry is being done everywhere. “It’s in Coke Studio. So many other people are doing it. So we thought why not write something new that revisits the same Sufi message of coexistence and peace.”
The musician said for him Sufism is belief in a higher authority. “Anyone who has faith in that is a Sufi for me.” He draws his understanding of Sufi music from the very idea.
The video of Jogi is almost done and will be simultaneously released in India and Pakistan. “It is a performance-based video. Part of it was shot in Delhi where Shubha ji recorded her vocals. Part of it was filmed here in Pakistan.”
While he said material for their upcoming album is already recorded, the issue of record labels and the general state of the industry is causing a delay in release. “I’d advise new artists not to sign up with labels. You should retain rights to your work,” Admani said.
He said there have been incidents in the past where labels have forced decisions on artists and even caused financial problems to them. “It is like that everywhere in the world and not just in Pakistan.”
Admani agreed that Patari and Taazi are promising platforms and will benefit Pakistani artists in the long run.
Jogi, too, will hence be an independent release. “We had signed with Universal Music for the last album. This time we will go independent. The avenues are all there to put your work out,” the band front man said. The song is expected to come out within two week.
Separately, Admani has also been involved with the upcoming season of Coke Studio. This comes as a surprise considering his legal battle that he had initiated against the beverage company and its popular TV show. While he chose to remain mum over his appearance on the show, he did confirm that he is part of the musician line-up. One can assume, now that things seem smooth, the two parties are no more at loggerheads.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2016.
With the latest Abida Parveen and Salim-Sulaiman track Noor E Ilahi out, it seems Indo-Pak music collaborations have taken a new direction.
The last time Pakistani rock band Mizmaar teamed up with an Indian act, we saw the release of Ae Dil – a song celebrating the independence of both India and Pakistan from their colonial masters. With the Palash Sen collaboration already behind them, they went ahead with plans of working alongside Indian singing veteran Shubha Mudgal.
The song Jogi, which was supposed to be out in March, is now set for a release real soon. Talking to The Express Tribune, Mizmaar front man Kashan Admani was quite confident about the interesting nature of the project. “Whenever you collaborate with someone from across the border it sends out a bigger message,” he said, adding, “Shubha Mugdal is a Padma Shree winner. She was kind enough to lend her vocals to our track.”
Jogi is a signature Mizmaar tune which has been laced with classical singing. “Our new singer Asad Rasheed is young but he has an understanding of classical music. So it is an interesting collaboration of a budding singer and a trained veteran.”
Admani said Mizmaar has never made songs just for the sake of making them. “Our music has always had a message to it. Jogi is about seeking peace. Seeking God,” he said. The guitarist said being good and being bad is in the hands of every individual. “We all make these choices and we can be good if we want. It is all inside us.”
He agreed that the song and its music both have Sufi inclinations. When asked why he chose to write new lyrics instead of opting for an arifana kalam penned by a Bulleh Shah or a Bhagat Kabir, Admani said, “I think it is more of a challenge to write something new. For today’s times we need today’s writing. Old poetry may or may not be relevant to today’s issues,” he added. Saying that he does not intend to undermine the legacy of any of these saints, Admani said good lyrical content can still be produced. “We do have people who are writing good stuff.”
On a side note, he said old poetry is being done everywhere. “It’s in Coke Studio. So many other people are doing it. So we thought why not write something new that revisits the same Sufi message of coexistence and peace.”
The musician said for him Sufism is belief in a higher authority. “Anyone who has faith in that is a Sufi for me.” He draws his understanding of Sufi music from the very idea.
The video of Jogi is almost done and will be simultaneously released in India and Pakistan. “It is a performance-based video. Part of it was shot in Delhi where Shubha ji recorded her vocals. Part of it was filmed here in Pakistan.”
While he said material for their upcoming album is already recorded, the issue of record labels and the general state of the industry is causing a delay in release. “I’d advise new artists not to sign up with labels. You should retain rights to your work,” Admani said.
He said there have been incidents in the past where labels have forced decisions on artists and even caused financial problems to them. “It is like that everywhere in the world and not just in Pakistan.”
Admani agreed that Patari and Taazi are promising platforms and will benefit Pakistani artists in the long run.
Jogi, too, will hence be an independent release. “We had signed with Universal Music for the last album. This time we will go independent. The avenues are all there to put your work out,” the band front man said. The song is expected to come out within two week.
Separately, Admani has also been involved with the upcoming season of Coke Studio. This comes as a surprise considering his legal battle that he had initiated against the beverage company and its popular TV show. While he chose to remain mum over his appearance on the show, he did confirm that he is part of the musician line-up. One can assume, now that things seem smooth, the two parties are no more at loggerheads.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2016.