An artist is a beggar and king at the same time: Asrar

Singer Asrar Shah ready with new single titled ‘O Mastanay’

KARACHI: Despite the many highs and lows that the Pakistani music industry has been seeing, there still exist artists who believe in less talk and more action. Asrar Shah is one such self-made artist who has in no time become a star in his own right.

Known for his shabby look and inclination towards devotional music, Asrar gained mass recognition through his Coke Studio stint and even made a name across the border with Afghan Jalebi that was part of Kabir Khan’s Phantom.

The singer is showing no signs of slowing down and is ready another single, O Mastanay. “It is different from my usual Sufi style. Of course, there is that vernacular touch but the music is close to what you may consider metal and death rock,” he told The Express Tribune.

The song is a social commentary about the prevalent class system. “If you listen to it and understand it, I would say it will truly shake you,” he maintained.

Talking about the criticism he faced after singing for Phantom, the film that was considered anti-Pakistan, Asrar added, “Look, you can’t complain about how a listener reacts. It’s their opinion. But look at how it [the song] will change the perception when people realise that a Pakistani singer contributed to an Indian film which was deemed anti-Pakistan. It will possibly make people think we Pakistanis are not as bad as we are made to look.” However, he does have one complain towards his contemporaries. “It’s just that we don’t experiment enough. A singer comes out with a song, and if it works, they keep on repeating the same stuff and release a whole album with that style.”

The Shakar Wandaan Re vocalist said that he is happy his music stirs debate among people. “If you go on my page, people will be debating about religion and society rather than my music or singing. I take that as a compliment because I want them to think about what we are trying to say. Of course, there are some personal attacks about me having a beard and singing and all, but that’s not an issue.”

Asrar often looks for inspiration in poetry written by greats such as Waris Shah and Bulleh Shah, as well as popular modern-day poets. “They just open up a whole different world hence I look for inspiration in their work. The thing is, every famous poem written by every famous poet has already been sung before … I try to look for texts that have not been touched yet. I believe there should be no repetition.”

What he really enjoys, however, is singing the verses of these giants. “It is just a different experience, something new for me. It feels great to be able to perceive the poet’s message because every poet has an idea, a message that he wants to convey.”

Amidst the ongoing chaos in the country every now and then, one wonders how an artist or a musician must find his motivation to create art. “It’s true that hard times do serve as a catalyst, but it doesn’t mean that we should deliberately create obstacles for artists. I would say we must really support arts and sports in our society,” maintained Asrar, adding that artists must be given due respect and space.

“They always say PTV created a lot of artists. How about we say these artists helped establish PTV? Isn’t it true? I think an artist is a beggar and a king at the same time. For me, an artist is the one who pays back to the society,” he concluded.

Asrar revealed he is also in talks with Abida Parveen for a project and is also negotiating with some Bollywood artists, but refused to disclose further information.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2016.

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