The unpretentious Mulazim Husain
Budding ‘Coke Studio’ singer hints at collaboration with Atif Aslam
Mulazim’s performance in Coke Studio brought his unique tonal quality to the fore. PHOTOS: PUBLICITY
LAHORE:
Coke Studio Season 8 featured a buffed up, 25-year-old singer whose solo act reminded us of the earthy element missing with most crooning voices today. The appearance trumpeted his arrival on a scene whose door he had been knocking on for years. Having gained the seal of approval from the likes of Asha Bhosle, Abida Parveen, Ismail Darbar and Ghulam Ali, the singer has walked a barefooted journey that speaks for his mettle.
Mulazim Husain started testing his fragile fingers on the harmonium when he was only eight. He traces his lineage back to Jodhpur, Rajasthan from where his inspirations and distant relatives Mehdi Hasan and Reshma hailed. Growing up in an environment conducive to musical learning, he recollects times when even his mother would check if his singing was in tune. “Once I became a musician, I thought why not try my hand at singing as well,” he tells The Express Tribune.
Coke Studio: The juggernaut screeches to a grinding halt
This happened almost six years ago and just as he began his singing journey, auditions for an Indo-Pak singing reality show, Sur Kshetra, were announced. As luck would have it, Mulazim was not only selected but also finished as its runner-up. “I have been lucky enough to receive standing ovations for my performances. They always told me that I have a unique tone.” The very tone scripted Mulazim’s identity and he has every right to be proud of this gift.
His voice reverberates with a passion that he has for music and his country. This very passion has helped him garner a fan following soon after Sur Kshetra. He relates an incident from one of the recordings, “Atif Aslam complimented Ameer Ali, who was another member of our team and said no one can sing the way he does. Upon hearing that, an Indian from the audience retorted that he could sing better and started arguing with our captain. That made me angry and I challenged them to be able to match my pitch.” He further recollects, “At that time Atif told me we should spread love and not hate so I sat back down.” Mulazim still feels he was in no mood to take any prisoners. “They disrespected our captain and I never disrespected them back… I only challenged them in a professional capacity.”
Coke Studio 8: From boys to men
The show was soon wrapped up and Mulazim continued his journey when he stumbled upon Coke Studio. Talking about his solo song on the show, Rabba Ho, he says, “These days people compose and record a song in a few hours. I spent 3 years on this song.” The track that is very dear to him was inked by Syed Ali Khan and composed by his Ustaad Aslam Parvez. “I made Strings hear a lot of songs but when they heard this, they thought the composition was perfect and good to go the way it was.” Meri Humjolian was his other song for Coke Studio, for which he collaborated with Fizza Javed.
As of now, Mulazim is working on a few more songs and hopes to collaborate with his Sur Kshetra mentor Atif for one. As for releasing an album, he quips, “Ye zamana albums ka nahin hai. People make songs for films and release videos which people watch on their phones. Albums, on the other hand, take very long to piece together.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2015.
Coke Studio Season 8 featured a buffed up, 25-year-old singer whose solo act reminded us of the earthy element missing with most crooning voices today. The appearance trumpeted his arrival on a scene whose door he had been knocking on for years. Having gained the seal of approval from the likes of Asha Bhosle, Abida Parveen, Ismail Darbar and Ghulam Ali, the singer has walked a barefooted journey that speaks for his mettle.
Mulazim Husain started testing his fragile fingers on the harmonium when he was only eight. He traces his lineage back to Jodhpur, Rajasthan from where his inspirations and distant relatives Mehdi Hasan and Reshma hailed. Growing up in an environment conducive to musical learning, he recollects times when even his mother would check if his singing was in tune. “Once I became a musician, I thought why not try my hand at singing as well,” he tells The Express Tribune.
Coke Studio: The juggernaut screeches to a grinding halt
This happened almost six years ago and just as he began his singing journey, auditions for an Indo-Pak singing reality show, Sur Kshetra, were announced. As luck would have it, Mulazim was not only selected but also finished as its runner-up. “I have been lucky enough to receive standing ovations for my performances. They always told me that I have a unique tone.” The very tone scripted Mulazim’s identity and he has every right to be proud of this gift.
His voice reverberates with a passion that he has for music and his country. This very passion has helped him garner a fan following soon after Sur Kshetra. He relates an incident from one of the recordings, “Atif Aslam complimented Ameer Ali, who was another member of our team and said no one can sing the way he does. Upon hearing that, an Indian from the audience retorted that he could sing better and started arguing with our captain. That made me angry and I challenged them to be able to match my pitch.” He further recollects, “At that time Atif told me we should spread love and not hate so I sat back down.” Mulazim still feels he was in no mood to take any prisoners. “They disrespected our captain and I never disrespected them back… I only challenged them in a professional capacity.”
Coke Studio 8: From boys to men
The show was soon wrapped up and Mulazim continued his journey when he stumbled upon Coke Studio. Talking about his solo song on the show, Rabba Ho, he says, “These days people compose and record a song in a few hours. I spent 3 years on this song.” The track that is very dear to him was inked by Syed Ali Khan and composed by his Ustaad Aslam Parvez. “I made Strings hear a lot of songs but when they heard this, they thought the composition was perfect and good to go the way it was.” Meri Humjolian was his other song for Coke Studio, for which he collaborated with Fizza Javed.
As of now, Mulazim is working on a few more songs and hopes to collaborate with his Sur Kshetra mentor Atif for one. As for releasing an album, he quips, “Ye zamana albums ka nahin hai. People make songs for films and release videos which people watch on their phones. Albums, on the other hand, take very long to piece together.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2015.