A rendezvous with Faakhir

The singer talks about his new song ‘Atom Bomb’ and his evolving style.

KARACHI:

The prevailing situation in the country has shifted the focus of musicians from ballads and slow numbers to jumpy songs about bombs and corruption bubbling in Pakistan. Ali Azmat dressing up like Hillary Clinton and shouting “Bum Bum Phata” was just one example, but this time around it’s Faakhir who is back with his second video “Atom Bomb” from his new album Jee Chahay.

Don’t you think the term ‘Item Bomb’ seems more apt for your new, dance-dominated video?

That is exactly what director Saqib Malik said the first time he heard my song. He recommended me to change the name from “Atom Bomb” to “Item Bomb” but I chose not to. As weird as this may sound, the song is about absolutely nothing. There is no story, no concept and no thought behind it, just a random dance number. I like working according to the thought-process of my directors and this is what they wanted from me.

What do you have to say to the fans who liked Faakhir’s old signature style more?

Apart from three experimental songs in the album, every track pretty much has my trademark music in it, so my fans will find the old Faakhir in the album. On the other hand, evolution is a natural process and repetition means stagnation. I’m changing my style constantly because I know that there would always be a certain group of people always complaining no matter what benchmark you set.

You assert that you’re not a corporate sellout, then why did you associate your new album with a mobile phone company?

The harsh reality is that these days, Pakistani music is either being made for corporations and brands or Bollywood. I signed up with a mobile phone company after my album was complete and the first video was released. I never gave the creative license of my album to the company.

What is different about the video you are currently shooting for?

The next video is of a typical Faakhir melody called “Bailiya” and I’m playing the character of a pre-partition nerd in it. The video shall be out in three weeks.

You seem to change your look in every video. Comment why?

I believe that be it making music or videos everyone should try something different. That is why my style statement and avatars keep changing according to the requirements of the video. The Faakhir that you will see in “Atom Bomb” is very different from the one in “Allah Karay”.

Are you heading out for Bollywood? A few of your songs sound like they were tailor-made for Indian film industry?

I don’t have any plans to go to that side of the border at the moment. I’m just making videos and releasing them in the market. I will consider Bollywood at some point since it is the most culturally relevant market and that too, a huge one. But the problem is that India has stopped releasing individual Pakistani albums so the only way to go about is the film industry.

Do you think the newer breed of musicians is bringing anything new?

Sadly, the only new thing they have come up with is Bollywood, which in itself is quite an old trend. The new musicians are heading to Indian entertainment industry but eventually only the strongest of the lot will survive. Atif Aslam, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Shafqat Amanat Ali are the ones who have left a mark.  The rest, I believe, are just one-hit wonders.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2012.