Saad Sultan joins hands with Afghan, American artists

Composer to make songs of peace and unity

KARACHI: Pakistani musicians are avid collaborators with Indian musicians and producers but rarely do you get to hear of Pak-Afghan collaborations being initiated by our pop musicians. Lahore-based-musician Saad Sultan has taken it upon himself to change that, having recently released a song called Stars on the Mountain in collaboration with artists from Afghanistan as well as the US.

“Back in 2014, a friend of mine arranged a small concert in Kabul and I went there to perform. Later on, the artists got together in a small space which was part of a music school run by Humayun Zadran and Robin Ryczek, an American cellist,” Sultan old The Express Tribune. “The school is no more because they couldn’t sustain it. But we recorded the song there, although I only released it a month or two ago.” Besides Sultan, Stars on the Mountain also features Ryczek and Eden from the US and Zabi from Afghanistan.



By now, Sultan has performed thrice in Afghanistan, out of which two of the concerts have been with Noori. “Unfortunately, the venue where we performed, Istiqlal School, was blown up by Taliban in December 2014.”

Asked about the general perception of Afghanistan and how people fear going there, the musician responded, “I don’t know… it’s surprising. We always fear going there. But you’d be surprised to see the high number of American and European risk-takers and travellers — not tourists — there, helping out the locals and contributing to their society.”

Comparing the country to other places he has visited, Sultan claimed Afghanistan is very special to him. “I’ve felt more loved in Afghanistan than in India. The people are so welcoming and hospitable and they just love Pakistanis. We really need a cultural bridge between the two countries.”

Having worked in the music industry for over a decade now, one could say Sultan’s journey has had as many ups and downs as the Afghan society itself. He has served as a session player for Jal the band and Ali Zafar and even quit music in between, only to make a comeback eventually. He has also worked with several other renowned artists, such as Quratulain Balouch and Ali Sethi, and has gained solid footing in the industry. “It’s hard getting work here in Pakistan. It was only after 2011 that I thought I was getting somewhere,” Sultan confessed. As to why it’s difficult for up-and-coming musicians to get noticed, he said, “It’s because the senior artists don’t help the young ones. I am really grateful to Ali Noor and Shiraz Uppal for motivating me. Everyone else just wants to maintain their own positions.”

As of now, Sultan is working on multiple projects. “I’m working on Azaan Sami’s upcoming film and also with Ali Sethi. I’m planning my own album as well,” revealed the musician. When asked about his album, he replied saying, “It will be a concept album titled Shanakht and comes from my personal experiences as an average Pakistani growing up to understand society and realising everything that he knows is a lie.” The album was supposed to release it in 2014 but will probably see the light of day in 2017 now.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2016.

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