God doesn't stop feeding those who don't believe in him: Abida Parveen

KARACHI:

Some spell magic alone, others, relish in it together. Why bicker over who’s better? Why stand alone?

Tu Jhoom, the first Coke Studio 14 song that released last week, sees Abida Parveen and Naseebo Lal engage in a spiritual dance of harmonies. It isn’t as loud or aggressive as Xulfi’s prior hits but it isn’t entirely grounded either. It has a levitating feel to it, perhaps what a mystic’s musings are made of. True to its name, it takes its sweet time before reaching its zenith and then disperses.

“If you sit down and listen to it, it’ll grow on you,” promises Parveen in a conversation with The Express Tribune. “Xulfi Sahab has put his heart and soul into it. He has fleshed out its melody with purity and warmth and pairing me with Naseebo Lal was a great idea too. She too, is an old-timer just like myself and sings really well,” shares the now 67-year-old singer.

PHOTO: COKE STUDIO

The ‘Queen of Sufi Music’, who has delivered the message of the Sufis at sold-out venues across the world, says there’s no delivering without looking under your own skin first. And after having had worked with both Hyatt and Strings in previous CS seasons, she has come to the understanding that the makers know their music best.

“The person in control, the person putting everything together, knows best. Every music director comes with their own vision, a tune in their heart that they want to bring to life and when they bring so many people together to do that, it reaches a lot many others. Xulfi’s style, his sound is unique, it grips you,” the Ghadoli crooner remarks.

Perhaps the secret to Xulfi’s new approach to sound is his growing league of young musicians, including the likes of Abdullah Siddiqui, Sherry Khattak, Natasha Noorani, who are a part of Tu Jhoom’s ‘Think Tank’. Perhaps the machinery behind CS14 also aims to target younger listeners this time around. Whatever the case, it seems to be working. And Xulfi is to be credited for putting his trust in a new generation of artists.

Tu Jhoom’s video is hypnotic, too. But the excessive focus on dancers seems to be taking away from the limelight on musicians. Albeit, it’s nice to see they’re not being used as props, as witnessed previously on another music platform.

Shrine of corporate mysticism

However, on the unlikely marriage between corporate shows and Sufi music in Pakistan, Parveen has a lot to say. Starting off with the little to no difference she feels between performing in a studio, a mehfil (gathering) and a dargah (shrine).

“Buzurgaan e Deen ka kalam Jahan bhi parha jae, woh jagah dargah he banjati hai (Whatever space the message of our elated figures reaches that place turns into a shrine). He is there in every heart; we don’t need to switch places to talk to or about Him. There is no need for formalities. His mention is the tide that drives the dance of ecstasy.”

Whether Sufism is being used as a tool or not, Parveen does not care. But she agrees that mysticism and greed can never be bedfellows. “Money doesn’t even come into my mind,” she assures. “The purpose of being on any platform is to spread God’s message. The great thing about television is that it’s in every home. These kalaams don’t need a medium, to be honest. But this silsila is to make things easier for people, so the message is easily accessible for them,” she adds.

Why bicker over gender?

In a 2013 interview with The Guardian, Parveen had explained how she does not consider herself to be a man or a woman but merely a vehicle for passion. Seven years later, she doesn't recall ever facing sexism, despite helming a genre dominated by men, and details why gender is not something she bothers herself with.

“We create our own difficulties,” she claims. “A man is someone who loves God, protects humanity and delivers His message. At the end of the day, we’re all messengers. When man becomes a messenger, the concept of a man and woman becomes unimportant. Why bicker over gender?” she asks.

Parveen feels all genders must focus on humanity and Tassawwuf (Sufism) to collectively eradicate violence and hatred from the world. “Humanity helps man rise above religious, gender, political differences. That’s also God’s way; He does not stop feeding those who don’t believe in Him. He maintains impartiality. Allah saien Himself has set the example of humanity," she relays.

The Yaar Ko Hamne singer does not take credit for her achievements either, despite how popular her songs become or how ‘commercialised’ people call her today. “Being completely honest with you, I never planned on going to the places He took me. Nothing can happen without His will. We don’t do anything, even if we think we have achieved something, we haven’t.”

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