People prefer to download music rather than buy it: Atif Aslam

The musician talks about his career plans

NEW DELHI: Atif Aslam hasn't released any album since Meri Kahani in 2008 despite having a "library of 150 songs". The singer says the trend has now shifted from albums to singles and music lovers prefer downloading from online platforms rather than buying physical copies from brick-and-mortar stores.

"All these years I've composed my music as well. I have a complete library of 150 songs at the moment. I haven't released them because the business model has completely changed," Atif told IANS.



PHOTO: COKE STUDIO

"I'm again trying to do independent music now. I'm working on a couple of songs. I will release them by the end of this year. They are not going to be an album, just singles. That's the trend now," added the Lahore-based star, who was in India for the Royal Stag MTV Bollyland multi-city concerts.

"You don't want to waste your effort. You have to follow certain rules and regulations and business model. You don't run them. As far as creativity is concerned, of course, I can have power, but I can't run the whole business," said the singer.



"Not too many people buy CDs now. They are just into downloading and they need a gap of about a month or so for the next song because they get tired of the album," adding that he isn't "in favour of remixes" and prefers "organic music".

While his fans have to wait for his original work till the year-end, a new single titled Zindagi aaraha hoon main, featuring Bollywood's budding actor Tiger Shroff, will be launched soon.

Talking about the new track, Atif said, "It's not a preachy song. It's just about how you enjoy your life... whatever you are doing, just enjoy yourself."



Atif has appeared in a Pakistani film, but when IANS asked him if he had ever thought of acting in Bollywood, the singer replied, "I might act in a Bollywood film. I'm listening to quite a few scripts now, but nothing has intrigued me so far. Let's see... I probably could do anything other than chocolate boy kind of roles."

The singer also hopes to work with the renowned Indian filmmaker and his team again after Zeher and Kalyug. "I love the Bhatt company. I've always thanked them for introducing me to India and they've been very kind."