The evolution has begun

interview

Since they first emerged onto the music scene, EP has managed to carve a niche for alternative rock in the Pakistani music industry. With a critically acclaimed album under their belt, the band has established a solid fan following in the country. We caught up with the guys to find out what's been happening in the Entity Paradigm camp...

EP is:
- Ahmed Ali Butt - Rap/Backing Vocals
- Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan - Lead Guitars/Composition
- Fawad Afzal Khan - Lead Vocals
- Hassaan Khalid - Rhythm Guitars
- Salman Albert - Percussions/Backing Vocals
- Sajjad Ali Khan - Bass
- Waqar Ahmed Khan - Percussions

Us: Your debut album has done quite well since its release. Were you guys expecting the success?
Hassaan: Initially everything was a bit uncertain, as we were trying to bring a revolution in the music industry. We were not quite sure if people would be accepting our music or not. We were not expecting that much, but in the end things turned out to be quite satisfactory. The evolution has begun.

Us: Is an international release of 'Irtiqa' on the cards?
Sajjad: Yeah definitely, we are in the process. You will soon hear about the international release InshAllah.

Us: Do you plan to go down the same path next time round or try something different?
Hassaan: You guys might see a huge change in the next album. I won't be telling you much about it; just wait for the blow.

Us: Now that you have an album out, do you think that the Battle Of The Bands has, in any way, shaped the sound of EP or affected 'Irtiqa' in any way?
Hassaan: BOB did not shape the sound of EP or affect the stuff; it is based on our influences and what we actually wanted to do in the album. I think there is no doubt that the band rose through the Battle Of The Bands, which we consider one of our achievements so far, along with our debut album 'Irtiqa'.

Us: EP went from the original eight to seven members last year...what happened?
Ahmed: Well it wasn't something we planned on; there was some debate over this issue and people's priorities towards the band. Anyway Ali (Khan) is still a good friend and we wish him all the best toward his future projects.

Us: Give Us one word to describe each member of the band...
EP: According to the making of 'Aghosh' and Ahmed Ali...
Xulfi: Endogenous
Fawad: Tool
Hassaan: Romeo
Sajjad: Dear
Waqar: Must
Salman: Cooler

Us: EP's sound is very different from the others. Did you intentionally set out to do something different? Or is it natural?
Hassaan: I would not say that the sound emerged naturally. A lot of work has been done on the production. I guess that's where we have spent more time while doing the album. As I said already, it's based on our influences and we actually produced exactly what we had in mind.

Us: What do you think about this latest inclination of our music industry towards more experimentation?
Hassaan: During the past two years, quite a number of bands have emerged in the music industry. Some of them have been seen experimenting and maturing with time providing a wide variety of music as compared to the past. Bands are coming up with good sounds, high quality productions, and interesting concepts, which means increased competition. New music channels have been launched, providing a platform for the upcoming bands to show their work, which was missing previously. High budget and good concept videos are also being seen lately. As I said the evolution has begun, the music industry has, I think, made its way to a respectable level, and will soon be making its way to the top.
The entire scene depends on our audiences. We need all the encouragement to get to the top. I think now people are more aware of the fact that music is not just entertainment, it's also a form of expression, a way of communication, a way of educating people.

Us: You guys have been performing at various venues all over the country. How do you like the experience?
Waqar: It's really great! Mostly we have fun performing and going to different places, hanging out. But yeah we have had our good and bad experiences. But the most important thing with different venues is different kinds of crowd. So it's interesting performing in front of all types of audiences. Up till now, we have been touring just Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. But we are looking forward to performing in other places as well, so...organisers/promoters, do something!!

Us: Is there any performance that stands out from all the others, something that you all will never forget?
Salman: Well, we've had loads of good experiences but I think that none of us can ever forget the Battle Of The Bands. I mean, it was our first experience together and the first ever EP performance...so as a new band, and especially a 'hard to digest' band, we enjoyed on the stage, performed to our extreme, and lost by 0.5 points...hehehehehehe...

Us: EP has been at many shows with various other bands...any band that you particularly like performing with?
Waqar: Well, performing along with other bands is great. Not just about having fun there but you actually learn a lot. And this learning applies in every way, not just playing and performance but other things as well like management, sound, etc.As for bands with whom we like to perform, I think that would be Noori. Every time we have done a show with them, the crowd is always on their feet, screaming and going bonkers. It's like a 'vs.' sort of thing! (Laughs) So it's a jam-packed full hyped up sort of scene with them. And, not to mention, Noori is a great band, and Gumby, is one of my all time favourite drummers. Other than that we recently did a show with Fuzon in Islamabad. That was great.

Us: Are there plans to release any more videos from 'Irtiqa' after 'Waqt'?
Sajjad: We have just released 'Waqt'. It's exclusively on air on The Musik. 'Hamesha' is in the pipeline now and is going to be directed by Kamran Yar.

Us: Comparisons to Linkin Park and Tool: flattering? Or do such comparisons tick you off?
Ahmed: Well I don't know about the others, but I find it very flattering. I look for inspiration everywhere and yes some of these bands have inspired me in a lot of ways but at the end of the day what we make is our work alone which comes from the heart.

Us: What can we expect from EP in the coming months?
Salman: You can expect a lot of energy, a couple of new videos, some nationwide and international tours and some head bangin'...and maybe tattoos on my body! :)

Us: Any message for your fans?
Ahmed: Sure, why not! Respect and tolerance is the key baby! Learn to give it to others and do your best.

- By Sameen Amer

Us Magazine, The News - 6th August, 2004

Maazi, haal, mustaqbil

interview

With the release of the band’s latest album ‘Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil’, Mizraab has become a well-known name in our music industry. We caught up with Mizraab vocalist/guitarist Faraz Anwar for a little chat about the band…

Us: How did the band start off?
Faraz Anwar: Mizraab was formed in 1998. It’s always been my band. For the first album, I took Khalid on bass and Akhter Qayyum. Now with the second album, the band has Jamal on Rhythm guitars, Irfan on drums and Faraz Arshad on bass. I remain the lead vocalist and guitarist and the composer. Hopefully these will be the final members now.

Us: What does the name of the band signify? Who came up with this name?
FA: Mizraab is the thing that one wears while playing the sitar. My father suggested the name.

Us: How would you describe the sound of Mizraab?
FA: It is alternative progressive rock.

Us: Are there any personal influences that reflect in the sound of Mizraab?
FA: Yes, all the songs are based on my personal experiences, on my feelings and thoughts.

Us: Your album ‘Maazi Haal Mustaqbil’ has been released. Tell Us about it…
FA: Alhamdollillah, the album is doing very well in the market. Our fan following has increased a lot. The album has been released only in Pakistan but it has been appreciated all over the world. A lot of people who don't even understand Urdu like the music and are requesting for the English version of the album.

Us: Do you guys have any favourite tracks on the album?
FA: For me all songs are equal, but yes the members enjoy playing ‘Aag’, ‘Panchi’, and ‘Insaan’. ‘Kitni Sadiyaan’ is also one of their favourite.

Us: Tell Us about the video for ‘Kitnee Sadiyaan’…
FA: It was shot in the month of March at the Lahore Railway Station. We had a wonderful time there as the band went by train to Lahore along with the song director Baber and the camera crew. I was not feeling well in those days but still enjoyed the train journey due to Baber’s jokes. He kept us all laughing throughout. The song is basically a commercial number, showing the touch of love and happiness in ones life.

Us: Will we see the videos for any other tracks on ‘Maazi Haal Mustaqbil’? If so, then which ones? And how soon can we expect the next video?
FA: Inshallah! We have plans to do videos of ‘Maucee’, ‘Panchi’ and ‘Muntazir’, but first we are looking for sponsors. We will try to give at least one video by the end of September.

Us: Mizraab has also done some live gigs. What do you like better: recording tracks or performing live?
FA: Of course performing live, as that's where the people can judge a band's performance. Recording and playing live are two very different things. For the market, a recorded album is better and for the concerts, ones performance should be hundred-percent live.

Us: Faraz, you were on tour with Ali Haider. How did that go?
FA: Yes, I manage the guitars for Ali. The UK tour was ok but I did not enjoyed much this time as I was not feeling well throughout the tour.

Us: What do you think about this latest inclination of our music industry towards rock music and more experimentation than we have seen before?
FA: First of all, it's a relief! At last people has started to listen to rock music and to count it as music. Our music industry is not so much supportive towards rock and alternative kinda stuff but at least they are playing the heavy songs now. Media plays a very important role in improving the listening of the local public. The changes are good but we need more rock shows and publicity to let people know more about metal and stuff.

Us: What can we expect from you guys in the imminent future?
FA: Nowadays, we are all busy jamming as we hope to have lots of concerts and yes, InshAllah, Mizraab will be performing on the 29th of May in Karachi. We also look forward to performing in other cities. We have plans to get some sponsors and do new videos. We are working on our website as well and have plans to bring out some merchandise stuff. And there are many TV shows and recordings.

Us: Any message for the readers of Us and for all the Mizraab fans out there?
FA: First of all, we would like to thank the readers for liking Mizraab and voting for the band (in the music poll that Us conducted last month). Mizraab has fans all over the world. Our album ‘Maazi Haal Mustaqbil’ revolves around the life of ‘insaan’ so we want to give the message of peace and strength to everyone. Today’s life is very tough. One faces a lot of tensions and grief but remember always ‘maucee gunah hai saans hai to zindagi ravan hai’. Stay cool!!

- By Sameen Amer

Us Magazine, The News - 4th June, 2004

Rockin' Us!

music poll - results

Yes, it's result time for our music poll! We asked you guys to vote for your favourite Pakistani artist/band and we would like to thank all of you who participated! Let Us give you an overview of what we saw. On the average, bands got more votes than solo artists. Rock music, in its many forms, seemed more 'in' than any other genre. And there's a tiny little thing that I couldn't help but notice: not even a single vote was cast for any of our female singers...not that I'm complaining, but, well, it's a sign!
So, before we give you the top five, here are some bands that deserve a special mention for coming oh-so-close:
- Aaroh
- [eP]
- Fuzon
- Jal
Should we get to the results now? Yeah, I could go on with my gibberish all day, but I'll spare you guys! Here are the top five Pakistani acts, as voted for by all of Us!

5. Junoon
Probably the biggest rock act of the sub-continent, Junoon have come a long way since they started off in the early 90s. With Ali Azmat on vocals, Salman Ahmed on guitar and Brian O' Connell on bass, this 'Sufi Rock' band from Pakistan is not only respected nationally but has also gained international recognition. And now, seven studio albums and multiple awards later, the group is still going strong. Here's hoping they keep making such fine music for many years to come.

4. Strings
With the release of 'Strings 2' (the follow up to their 1990 debut 'Strings') in 1992, the album that hosted the hit 'Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar', the Strings managed to make an impact on the Pakistani music scene, and even though the band disappeared for many years, their comeback in 2000 was more than noticed; it was felt. And now Faisal Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood are among the most valued musicians of the country.

3. Ali Zafar
Ali Zafar: singer, songwriter, artist, model, actor; this multitalented young lad has established himself in the industry in a very short period of time. His debut album 'Huqa Pani' has been one of the most successful albums to hit our music scene in the recent past and I've lost count of the number of weeks for which it has reigned the album charts. At the peak of its sales, the album was selling ten copies for one copy of any other Pakistani album! And, yes, Ali Zafar has been placed at number three according to all your votes. Here's what the very modest star had to say:"Third out of 1.3 million, I'm content :)"No wonder you all love him so much!

2. Mizraab
Faraz Anwar (vocals, guitar), Jamal Mustafa a.k.a Jamie (rhythm), Faraz Arshad (bass) and Irfan Ahmed (drums) make up Mizraab, one band that sure has a very loyal fan following. Upon being placed second in our poll, Faraz Anwar said, "We are very happy...it's great news!" and Jamie added, "That's good news for us I guess. What else can I say. I'm surprised. Since no one really wants any thing to do with us from concert promoters to TV channels. Not bad."Yeah guys, not bad at all!

1. Noori
And the winners are *drum roll* Noori!! Ali Noor, Ali Hamza, Mohammad Ali Jafri and John Louis 'Gumby' Pinto, the foursome who have been rocking this country since the release of their hit debut album 'Suno Ke Main Hun Jawan' have been crowned as your favourite Pakistani act according to all your votes!So we told the lads they'd won our poll and here's the word we got from the noori camp:"All we can say is that it is a great feeling...we must thank all our fans or rather our greatest supporters and we hope to make music that will win their hearts for all times to come...InshAllah."

- By Sameen Amer

Us Magazine, The News - 7th May, 2004

12 memories

album review

Album: 12 Memories
Artist: Travis

'12 Memories', the new Travis album, is not just a logical follow up to their previous CDs. It is the result of the happenings of the last two years. Incidents like Neil Primrose's near-fatal accident (which was almost the end of the band) and the war in Iraq have clearly influenced the album - the album that nearly didn't happen - making it a whole lot darker and downright depressing...especially if you listen to it at three in the morning when you can't sleep and your head hurts...

Anyway, the album is loaded with dark lyrics and themes. 'Re-Offender', a song about domestic violence, is sandwiched between two antiwar tracks: 'The Beautiful Occupation', the acoustic version of which can be heard on the War Child album 'Hope', and another antiwar song, which features Celtic fans singing out the chorus. 'Walking Down The Hill' and the hidden track (or the 12th memory rather) 'Some Sad Song' are both mellow, and, well, sad. And 'Quicksand' and 'Mid Life Krysis' are just as cheerful as their titles suggest!

'Love Will Come Through', which was featured on the 'Moonlight Mile' soundtrack, is probably the song that sends out the most positive vibe. The track was also released as a charity single after Neil's accident and has been announced as the next single to be taken off the album.

Being a Travis fan doesn't ensure that you'll like this CD. '12 Memories' is clearly different from 'The Man Who' and 'The Invisible Band'. At first listen you might write this off as another average album, but this is one set that grows on you with every listen and once you acquire the taste, you'll see how you can relate to so many things Fran is singing about and hear those melodies that'll make you want to sing along too!

- By Sameen Amer

Us Magazine, The News - 30th January, 2004

Natural Selection

album review

Album: Natural Selection
Band: Fuel

Natural Selection: the struggle for survival; the process by which those less adapted to their environment tend to perish...but if 'Natural Selection' has anything to say about it, then Fuel have absolutely nothing to worry about.

With hits like 'Hemorrhage (In Your Hands)' and 'Bad Day', Fuel's sophomore set 'Something Like Human' was a big success. Following a hit record with a new album is always tough and usually leads to one of two things: either a record that sounds exactly like the previous one (trying to stick to the "winning formula" ... in other words, a major slump!) or one that is solid and consistent. Thankfully, Fuel have gone down the second road and created a record that totally rocks!

Three years after the success of 'Something Like Human', Fuel's new release 'Natural Selection' has twelve tracks...and all the elements of a hit record! The album kicks off with the hard-hitting 'Quarter' and goes on to reveal some excellent tracks like 'Down Inside Of You', 'Million Miles' and 'Luck'. 'Running Away' and 'Most Of All' drive on melody without loosing the Fuel edge. 'Die Like This', 'These Things' and 'Days With You' see Fuel moving around without a hitch in the familiar territory of power ballads.

The album also includes the single 'Falls On Me' as well as the 'Bring You Hell Remix' of 'Won't Back Down', the track that originally found home on the Daredevil soundtrack. With Kevin Miller on drums and Jeff Abercrombie on bass, Brett Scallions' powerful vocals perfectly complement principal songwriter/lead guitarist Carl Bell's angst driven lyrics.

Capitalizing on the seasoned guitar riffs, Fuel have also added a touch of piano and cello to this album. The tracks flow smoothly from one to the next and each track is good in its own right. If you're a Fuel fan, then there isn't even a single track on this CD that you'll want to skip.

A well-rounded effort, 'Natural Selection' is a rock solid album that has something to offer from start through to the end. If Darwin's theory is anything to go by, then rest assured that Fuel ain't going nowhere!

- By Sameen Amer

Us Magazine, The News - 23rd January, 2004

Shut up!

album review

Album: Shut Up
Artist: Kelly Osbourne

Kelly Osbourne's debut album 'Shut Up' proves that children don't necessarily take after their parents! If you thought that Kelly, being Ozzy Osbourne's daughter, must sound something like Ozzy, well, think again. 'Shut Up' is a collection of twelve tracks that oscillate between punk-pop-rock, and nothing at all like Ozzy's work. Not that there's no mention of daddy dearest...'Papa Don't Preach' seems to have been done with grounds that went beyond covering an old Madonna track!

Granted, the girl has attitude (yes, brattiness and attitude go hand in hand!) but she lacks a lot in vocal talent, something she tires to make up for with an extra helping of attitude - and all that leaves us with is an over dosage of attitude. And the album seems to be over done at places. Kelly's vocals on 'Disconnected' and 'On The Run' are lost somewhere between the loud music and the really loud music. Parts of 'Come Dig Me Out' sounded more like screechy screams than anything else. And I tried my best to find something to like about 'Everything Alright' but failed miserably.

But the entire album isn't bad. 'Contradiction', 'Coolhead' and 'On Your Own', with their old-ish beats and style were cool. The title track 'Shut Up', laced with cheeky lyrics, has the potential to become an angry-teen-anthem. And 'Right Now' and 'Too Much Of You' might actually sound good if someone ever decides to do cover versions.

'Shut Up' probably sold more on its curiosity value than anything else. Oh and it didn't sell much, by the way, which is why it has been re-released (on a different label this time...Kelly claims the previous one didn't promote it properly!) as 'Changes'. 'Changes' has all the twelve tracks on 'Shut Up' along with live versions of four tracks and the recently number one crowned title track, 'Changes' that features Ozzy Osbourne and is a cover of an old Black Sabbath hit.

On the whole, the album isn't exactly horrible but it isn't stellar either! If you like punk-ish music, then this is what you should get...but whatever you do, don't try looking for any of Ozzy's darkness...Kelly didn't get any of it! So who did? Jack? Er...probably not!!

- By Sameen Amer

The News, Us Magazine - 16th January, 2004

Get real

cover story

A few decades ago, the concept of a little wooden box with a screen that showed 'pictures in motion' was the center of a lot of ridicule. Soon it changed into awe, as the same people who'd been making fun of it, now stood (or rather sat) glued to it! As time went by, sitcoms, soap operas, movies, sports and even the news took command of the waves…but things were about to change!

And before everyone even knew what had hit them, the reality television trend was in full swing…airing at all time of the day…on all channels…in all countries!

No really!

Survivor, The Amazing Race, Idols, Big Brother, The Real World, 1900 House…they come with all sorts of weird names and double it up with totally weird ideas! But, for most of such series, the people on these shows aren't celebrities…at least at the time when the show starts. They are just ordinary people, 'plucked from obscurity' who will be known country wide, if not world wide, by the time it ends!
It is generally observed that a movie or show with a star-studded cast is, more often than not, a hit. So if there are no celebrities in most of the reality TV shows, then just what has made these shows so popular?

The Real Deal

A reason for reality TVs success could be that the whole idea was new and fresh and a change from the same old rut of the regular TV shows was a welcomed change! Another reason could be all the hype that came as a result of the first reason! And, well, the absence of celebrities could've helped in making these shows a success. How? People view the contestants of these shows as 'real' people, not someone playing it out for the cameras (though it can be argued that these people ARE playing it out for the cameras but we'll just leave it at that!). The viewers can relate to the people they see on the screen. With some of these shows having 24 hour or daily coverage, the viewers get to be a part of the experience…

But there's another major cause why reality TV has been so immensely popular around the globe…it's interactive! Though this may not hold for all of these shows, but with series like Idols and Big Brother, the viewers get to vote for the people they want in the show and the people they want evicted! Neat, don't you think?

So which reason is it? Or is it a bit of all of these? Whatever it maybe, no one can contest the fact that reality TV is big all around the world! All around the world, that is, except maybe in Pakistan!

Ground Reality

So many countries have organized reality shows and now these shows have even been held on a continental level, but just why didn't the whole reality TV trend kick off in our country? The main reason could be the kind of interaction (like for instance 12 strangers living together in one house sharing rooms and all) that cannot be acceptable in this country…and even in some other countries for that matter! (Malawi went as far as banning Big Brother Africa earlier this year - a decision that had to be overturned later!)

The amount of investment and the security measures that would have to be taken could be another factor for no reality TV in Pakistan. Is any channel willing to risk heaps of cash to start a reality show when they aren't even sure the public will respond to it? Apparently not…

And there has been the long-standing accusation again these TV shows, which has been going against them: Rigging! It is generally believed that all such shows are fixed. Ever since Survivor 1, we've been hearing that the management of the show told some contestants whom they should vote to evict. Did they rig the show? Is Big Brother fixed? Who checks which part of the world voted for which contestant? Do they even tally the votes anyway? Same with Idols…do the viewers choose the idols or is it the record company that will give them the recording deal in the end? So who knows what's actually going on? It is television no matter what name you give to it…is there any reality involved anyway? Should we just watch the news if want to see something real? Wait…is the news real?

As 'real' as it gets

Real or not, reality TV is here and it looks like it's here to stay! So, how long do you think it'll be before we have Survivor Pakistan? A friendly advice: don't hold your breath! ;)

Reality Check

Some of the most popular Reality TV shows are:

• Big Brother: A group of people, who are complete strangers before the show, are locked up in a house for a certain number of days (usually a couple of months) and asked to do tasks that range from entertaining to totally wacky! The viewers vote to evict one housemate every week (or whatever the interval has been set to) and in the end one housemate walks away with loads of cash while other have to make do with *the experience*! Big Brother (Netherlands, 1999) is in the Guinness World Records 2001 for the most interactive drama-documentary!
• Idols: Thousands of hopefuls come for auditions and have to face the criticism (and sometimes the wrath!) of the judges. The selections narrows down until about a dozen (ten in some cases, twelve in others) are left. After many hearts break, the person that everyone (or was it no one?) likes, becomes the idol!
• Survivor: A group of strangers are stranded on an island (or some isolated piece of land!) without stuff like fire and shelter. (The latest twists include no food!) They are divided into two tribes. The tribes have to take part in challenges to get 'immunity'. The tribe that wins immunity is safe. The tribe that doesn't has to evict a member. The tribes merge as the game proceeds and the immunity moves to a personal level. In the end we're left with the 'sole survivor' who wins the cash!
• The Bachelor: A bachelor who doesn't want to be single anymore gets to meet women that he can *choose* from. After lots of 'rose giving ceremonies' and his parents endless you're-ruining-your-life concerns, the bachelor chooses one woman that he becomes engaged to…apparently!
• The Bachelorette: Same as the bachelor…only this time the bachelorette is looking for Mr. Right!ü Fear FactorPeople do totally unbelievable things (like eating worms…eww!) to conquer their fears…and, well, to win the ca$h!
• The Osbournes: The show revolves around the life of Ozzy Osbourne and his clan (the people who take part in the show are Ozzy, his wife Sharon, son Jack and daughter Kelly). 'The Osbournes' has literally made the Osbournes a household name!
• The Amazing Race: People race around the world so that they can…you guessed it…win money! The show…er…shows teams (one team=two people) go around the world, traveling different countries and the last team to reach a stop in eliminated. In the end, the first team that gets to the destination (which is the same place they started from) *win$*!

-By Sameen Amer

Us Magazine, The News - 24th October, 2003