Jimmy Khan: Music therapy

New kid on the block Jimmy Khan is inspired by Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan.

LAHORE:

Local singer Jimmy Khan – who made inroads in the mainstream music scene as a solo artist two months back – believes in the therapeutic power of music.

Khan, a former student at the Beaconhouse University and a House singer at Gunsmoke restaurant, is quite popular in Lahore where he has been performing for nearly three years. His music, which has a touch of folk to it, draws inspiration from Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan, amongst others.

However, Khan’s journey into mainstream Urdu music took off with his first single “Pehla Pyar”, which was well-received by the public and has been playing regularly on the radio for the past month. He creates music in a rather unique way – producing a melody first and then coming up with suitable lyrics. Typically his songs are about relationships and love.

“For me it’s a storytelling process which can be fictional but with a touch of personal elements as well,” explains Khan.

Live music, which is Khan’s forte, gives him the opportunity to connect with not only the audience but also himself. Even in a heavily crowded place like Gunsmoke, amidst the constant din of people chatting, he manages to find a way to interact with listeners through his music.

“These songs have a personal touch which I feel helps me associate with people better,” says Khan, who attempts to bring his own unique sound to each song he performs. “It’s therapeutic as I interact and connect with the audiences and so I never want to step.”

Earlier in the week, Khan performed his first live plugged-in concert at Nando’s restaurant. He was backed by Jamal Rahman on guitars, Sameer Ahmad on bass and Kami Paul on the drums. The performance was a well-coordinated display of rock music. The concert also included a preview of his second single “Aisay Kaisay”, due to be released on Eid.

The show started with an amazing performance of “Pehla Pyar”, followed by an English cover of Jack Johnson’s “Better Together” and then a uniquely arranged version of Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle”. Khan,  who has earned respect for his vocal control, also sang complicated English songs such as Elvis Presley’s “Blue Suede Shoes” and Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire”.

Khan’s childhood friend Buzzy Rasheed who is also his self-proclaimed biggest fan, could not contain his excitement during the show. He jumped and cheered during each performance. “I’ll travel to every concert to see him,” said Rasheed. “He is so dedicated to his work that he practices and jams everyday. There are times he has been in the studio till 3am.”

Meanwhile, underground musician Zain Ahsan feels Khan has a powerful voice and the ledger in his performance is commendable. “He is trying to go for this contemporary and groovy feel that one finds in Maroon 5’s songs.”

Khan also played an interesting original romantic number “Tell me”, while the show closed with Kings of Leon’s “I Want You”– an impressive performance of instrumentals incorporating several delicately played bass rifts and guitar chords. The song also included clever vocal performance by Jimmy which paved a way for a fast paced and smooth drum solo by Paul.

Meanwhile, Khan is currently working on his next album which is scheduled to be released in 2012.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2011.