Abbas Ali Khan's ‘Kabhi’ is perfect for the winter blues

Acclaimed singer, composer says he has moved towards more 'simple' melodies

KARACHI: Over the past few years, music producer and singer Abbas Ali Khan has focused more on film music, rather than his solo career. Besides composing for big screen projects such as Jalaibee, Dekh Magar Pyaar Say and Chalay Thay Saath lately, he released his last solo album Tamam Alam Mast in 2015.

‘I don’t want people to think of me as a Sufi singer’

While Rehan Sheikh’s Azad, which is set to release on February 9, will also feature Khan’s music, he recently released a solo track Kabhi. The song packs strangely melancholic verses in an easy-going melody which shuns all stylisation. It’s a perfect song for winter blues and cold, lonely sunsets, where one reminisces of a love bygone.

PHOTO: FILE

Speaking with The Express Tribune, Khan said Kabhi sort of marks his comeback as a solo performer and that he was at the stage where he was delving into simpler music and thus, Kabhi came about. “I deliberately try to make my sound distinctive,” he said. “My earlier music leaned more towards Sufi ideas, if you listen to my previous album Tamam Alam Mast. But at this stage in my journey, I find myself more inclined towards simpler melodies. Even in Kabhi, you will find that it has a 80s vibe to it.”

PHOTO: FILE

Khan shared that it has been a natural transition. “I don’t even know if it’s the right time, but I always listen to my heart and go along with whatever I feel,” he said. “Right now, I want to experiment with different genres and do contemporary music. I feel like the music I create has to move me.” These days, Khan revealed he’s been enjoying The Weeknd, Daft Punk and Mogwai.

Abbas Ali Khan won't give up solo career for film music

The disciple of Ustad Fateh Ali Khan admitted that he had not been taking music seriously until recently. “My problem is that I make music and disappear. It isn’t my bread and butter. I have been working as a graphic designer for 20 years and that is what I relied on,” said Khan.

PHOTO: FILE

He added, “Recently, I just moved from Islamabad to Karachi and now I intend to focus on music fully. I plan to release at least one new track every month or two. The point is not to vanish and reappear but stay and keep putting out new music regularly.”

Khan is currently making another music video: a project with Patari. He’s also in talks for another film project by a Dubai-based filmmaker.

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