The album we made is my greatest source of pride: Haniya
Haniya Aslam, guitarist and member of musical duo Zeb & Haniya, on hope, jazz guitars, and changing the world.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Gadgets and guitars.
What is your current state of mind?
I’m feeling productive.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Sacrifice.
On what occasion do you lie?
To avoid conflict.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
The camera!
Which living person do you most despise?
Nobody really.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Self-assurance.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Self-assurance.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“I don’t know” and “That’s not cool”.
When and where were you happiest?
The years I spent in Quetta as a child.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My sleeping habits.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
So far, the album we made is my greatest source of pride.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
A tree.
Where would you most like to live?
In the mountains.
What is your most treasured possession?
My Ibanez jazz guitar.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Loss of hope.
If you didn’t do your current job, what would you choose to do?
I’d probably be an academic.
Who is your hero of fiction?
Sam Gamgee from Lord of the Rings.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
I admire many people, but I’m not sure who I identify with.
Who are your heroes in real life?
Normal, everyday people in Pakistan who manage to stay positive and keep forging ahead.
What is your greatest regret?
None yet.
What’s your favourite quote?
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world” — Margaret Mead.
What kind of super powers would you like to have?
Some kind of teleporting ability… I hate airplanes.
What are you more scared of: lizards or cockroaches?
Lizards.
If you had a time machine, where would you go?
Back in time to meet Amir Khusrau.
What’s the one thing you wish someone would invent?
Alternate power sources.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what’s the one thing you’d take with you?
Any musical instrument.
Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, March 20th, 2011.
Gadgets and guitars.
What is your current state of mind?
I’m feeling productive.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Sacrifice.
On what occasion do you lie?
To avoid conflict.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
The camera!
Which living person do you most despise?
Nobody really.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Self-assurance.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Self-assurance.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“I don’t know” and “That’s not cool”.
When and where were you happiest?
The years I spent in Quetta as a child.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
My sleeping habits.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
So far, the album we made is my greatest source of pride.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
A tree.
Where would you most like to live?
In the mountains.
What is your most treasured possession?
My Ibanez jazz guitar.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Loss of hope.
If you didn’t do your current job, what would you choose to do?
I’d probably be an academic.
Who is your hero of fiction?
Sam Gamgee from Lord of the Rings.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
I admire many people, but I’m not sure who I identify with.
Who are your heroes in real life?
Normal, everyday people in Pakistan who manage to stay positive and keep forging ahead.
What is your greatest regret?
None yet.
What’s your favourite quote?
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world” — Margaret Mead.
What kind of super powers would you like to have?
Some kind of teleporting ability… I hate airplanes.
What are you more scared of: lizards or cockroaches?
Lizards.
If you had a time machine, where would you go?
Back in time to meet Amir Khusrau.
What’s the one thing you wish someone would invent?
Alternate power sources.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what’s the one thing you’d take with you?
Any musical instrument.
Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, March 20th, 2011.