Riaz taught himself percussive guitar, a style that relies on a sharp striking of both the strings and guitar's body—as well as harmonica, mandolin, harmonium, and percussion through internet. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
Riaz, 22, a multi-instrumentalist and filmmaker, will be the youngest TED fellow ever selected.
Born in Karachi, he was trained in piano at the early age of six. Later, Riaz taught himself percussive guitar, a style that relies on a sharp striking of both the strings and guitar's body—as well as harmonica, mandolin, harmonium, and percussion through the Internet due to the scarcity of music teachers in Pakistan.
Riaz first time performed on the stage of TEDGlobal 2012, after one of his video “Fire Fly” caught the attention of TED curator Chirs Anderson.
His talent is not only confined to music, he also writes and directs short films to compliment his compositions. He had also painted the cover of his music album "Circus in the Sky".
Currently Riaz is in his first semester at Berklee and is pursuing a dual major in composition and performance.
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stop fighting about being karaachi wala or islamabad wala,, dat does not make u superior to each other,, just simply unite on the fact that this guy made pakistan proud ,, he is reffered as a pakistani there,,
@Hassan: @True Karachiwala: Waiting for the day when news items coming from Karachi itself will make Karachiites proud. Regards, Islamabadi
Then stop taking pride in Ms.Saeeda Warsi, Bhatti of Paris and many more Pakistanis around the world. Islamabad does not nothing except sitting on money collected from Karachi and boast of capital of Pakistan. Is it less a news item that makes us the Karachiites proud that we are the most dominant single source of income of Pakistan ? Request: admit facts, regards.
@Doli Pashmir: well i guess its indeed Berklee, Berklee school of music ! :)
http://www.berklee.edu/news/berklee-student-usman-riaz-named-ted-senior-fellow#.Usrcr26LhH0.twitter
A Pakistan student at Berklee College of Music, Usman Riaz, has been named one of the 12 TED senior fellows who will present at the next four TED conferences, starting in 2014, "Berklee" said on Monday. Its Berkley not "Berklee"
@Hassan: City that fuels the country and has largest number of educated people does not deserve such statements. This talks of the sick mindset and oblivion of Punjab!
Brilliant!!...a true master piece from a maestro.
Simply delighted. Congrats to Usman and his parents.
Bravo brilliant composition!
Bravo brilliant composition !
@True Karachiwala: Waiting for the day when news items coming from Karachi itself will make Karachiites proud.
Regards, Islamabadi
Not a big fan, almost all of his work is derivative. Certainly also helps to be related to an Executive Director of the production label he works with. Though, hopefully his time in NYC will inspire something original out of him. All the best.
I love this guy. He made Karachiites proud.
Proud of him
He is not 22 and is in fact 23 so kindly amend this
Proud of Him.
A very fine artist and a very decent guy. I met at a TEDx function here in Islamabad and he has a very down to earth personality. He deserves something like this and TED is CLASS.