Inspiring a Generation - 2012 Summer Olympic Games

sports

Once every four years, the best athletes from all over the world get together at a chosen location to showcase their remarkable physical abilities, and remind the rest of us how we seriously need to consider joining a gym. For the latest session of these convergences, an estimated 10,500 sportspersons have come together in London this year, participating in 302 events in 26 sports. Prepare for round-the-clock coverage as the Games of the XXX Olympiad commence, and London attempts to “inspire a generation”, as per the Games official motto.

Logo

Many logos – Olympic or otherwise – receive criticism, but few cause a furore quite like the one triggered by the 2012 London Olympics emblem. The jagged 2012 design that reportedly cost £400,000 – yes, that’s four hundred thousand pounds! – was unveiled in 2007 to an avalanche of criticism. A representation of the number 2012 with the Olympic Rings drawn within the zero, the logo comes in shades of orange, green, pink, and blue, and “aimed at reaching young people”. Instead, it ended up receiving attention for all the wrong reasons; it was derided for resembling a distorted Swastika, appearing to spell out “Zion”, and for being just plain hideous. Others still feel that the design is modern and edgy, and that the £400,000 – yes, four hundred thousand pounds…really! – was money well spent.

Mascots

One of the more unusual ideas for a mascot, London 2012 has chosen to embrace two drops of steel as its official mascots. Wenlock – named after the town of Much Wenlock, which held the forerunner to the current Olympic Games – and Mandeville – named after Stoke Mandeville, a village which held the forerunner to the Paralympics – are created from droplets of British steel used to build the Olympic stadium. The one-eyed creatures that have cameras for eyes supposedly “reflect the personalities and appearances of the people they meet”, and Wenlock wears five friendship bracelets on his wrist, one for each colour of the Olympic rings. As for their unusual appearance, what can display the Olympic spirit better than a pair of mutant Teletubbies? They’re a hit with children, and both locals and visitors seem to have warmed up to them after giving them a less than enthusiastic initial reception.

Music

Fans of British music have plenty of reasons to get excited. The region that has given the world some of the best musicians of all time now gets to showcase its musical talent by tying up music with the Games in various ways. The most prominent tune that will emerge in the coming weeks comes from alternative rock band Muse, who have composed the official song of the Olympics. Sure, the Olympics aren’t the first – or second or third or fifteenth – thing you would think of when you hear Muse, but wait till you listen to their new song ‘Survival’… and then hear snippets of it about a gazillion times again in the next two weeks. A rock anthem armed with a rousing intro and suitably cheesy lyrics, ‘Survival’ will be broadcast at the events and sessions as well as during Olympic reporting and other coverage. Also keep an ear out for alt rock band Elbow’s ‘First Steps’, which was written for the BBC coverage of the Olympics. But that’s not all! Expect some live music to accompany the Games. Sir Paul McCartney is slated to perform at ‘The Isles of Wonder’ opening ceremony as well as the ‘A Symphony of British Music’ closing ceremony, which will also feature performances by Take That and The Who. Additionally, the likes of New Order and Blur are expected to appear at a closing ceremony concert at Hyde Park.

So watch the sports, enjoy the festivities, and keep hoping that this will be the year we end our medal drought! May the force be with us!

- S.A.

Us Magazine, The News - 27th July, 2012

“We have finished our second album and have titled it Inteha-e-Rock”

interview: music mix

Lahore-based rock act Inteha talk music, India, and load shedding

Lahore-based rock act Inteha usually stay out of the news unless they're making new music. The group that was formed in 2005 and released their debut album, Kehna Chahta Hoon, in 2009, however, is looking at a comeback. They have finished their new album and have named it Inteha-e-Rock. Like Noori, Inteha is a sibling-act with Naukhez Javed taking on the role of vocalist and Nausher Javed serving as guitarist for the band.

The release of Inteha's second album is imminent, and Inteha-e- Rock, “will be released in Pakistan, India, and in the US in October 2012,” reveals Nausher. “This is a more commercial and more fun album than the previous one.”

And the band recently proved its mettle as a live act at the launch of Omore's Buzz ice-cream a few days prior to Ramazan. “The performance went really well,” vocalist Naukhez Javed said after the show. “It was our solo show, but a couple of performances by underground bands took place to open the event. To date it is the hottest performance by Inteha because of the superb crowd and a very hot and humid evening!”

“And the sound was good too,” adds guitarist Nausher Javed, “which is a source of relief for every live artist. The venue was Engro Foods Limited Regional Office Lahore. Almost two thousand people were present and the best part is each of them was responsive, so it was a memorable event for us with the miracle of no load shedding or power failure, thanks to the generators!” The country's power crisis has left everyone frustrated, and musicians are no exception. “Currently the load shedding crisis is really creating hurdles in the productive work of an artist or musician,” he vents, “because when you are making something creative and the electricity goes off, you are left in the middle of nowhere.”

Since their formation in 2005, they have performed in various cities, and have even had successful performances across the border. So how did Inteha become involved in this commercial event? “As Inteha has been working with the corporate sector for the last couple of years regarding jingles and music production, we were approached by Omore's brand team for a rock night as part of the launch of their new ice-cream, and they wanted us to perform at the event, keeping in view our growing fanbase,” explains Naukhez. “Considering the dying music scene in Pakistan as compared to yester years, I think [the organizers] did a fabulous job making an effort to revive concerts in Lahore. We did it for the fate of music and I think it was a good boost for the band's image.”

The setlist comprised of a wide array of tracks, including originals, covers, and even mash-ups. “We kicked off the concert with 'Bolo Bolo', a cover of Sajjad Ali's great [image]hit,” says Nausher. “Then we performed 'Daastan', our debut track along with 'Jaan-e-Jaan' a famous Bollywood classic. Then came 'Pappu Yaar', a Junoon classic and the crowd was totally rocking, followed by 'Ye Pyaar', our greatest hit to date, along with 'Pyaar Humain' which is, again, a Bollywood classic from the film Satte Pe Satta. After that we performed 'Anjana' with a combo of 'Bulleya', and then 'Rahon Main', which is a new song from our upcoming album, and ended the concert with 'Lal Meri Pat'.”

The group says the crowd particularly enjoyed 'Daastan', 'Pyaar' and 'Pappu Yaar' the most. But why did Inteha choose to do covers instead of sticking to material from their own catalogue? “We chose these songs as during our last India tour in December 2011 we performed our songs in combination or medley with Bollywood and Pakistani classics, and I must say it was a killer combination for the Indian crowd. They were over-excited so we tried this new idea in Pakistan and the response was awesome,” explains Naukhez. “We perform covers as we think that these were songs made by legends. We grew up listening to them, dancing to their beats, and now it is our time to pay a tribute to their efforts. In our view, performing their covers is the best way to make them live forever.”

The brothers admit that having only two members in the band has its challenges, especially when it comes to live performances and training session players, but they are very pleased with how their band performed at the Buzz launch. “On the second guitar, we have Shakib; on the bass guitar, we have Mobeen; and on drums, we have Raza.  They performed exceptionally well considering they were all new, except Shakib, and were performing with us for the first time,” says Naukhez. “I must say that all the band members did really well,” compliments Nausher.

The group is proud of what they have achieved so far, and are pleased with the success of their first album. “Our debut album, Kehna Chahta Hoon, was released in 2009 by The Musik Records,” says Nausher. “It was the top seller of 2009 and remained at the number one slot for three months. Also, we were given the Rising Star award by BBC UK, and our track 'Ye Pyaar' was declared the best rock song of 2009, courtesy of The News, Mag, The Nation, etcetera.”

In addition to their upcoming album, fans in the subcontinent can also look forward to live performances by the group, as they plan to tour the region soon. “We are going to India again in July for concerts in Delhi, Noida, Lucknow, and Mumbai,” says the duo, “and we also have a few concerts lined up in Dubai, then in Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore after Eid.” A new video is also on the cards. “The video of the track 'Rahon Main' is scheduled to be shot in August and will hit the screens in September 2012.”

- By Sameen Amer

Instep Today, The News - 24th July 2012

“We are really excited to learn that we already have lots of fans in Pakistan” - A chat with pop group A1

interview

The ‘90s were a great time for boybands, and British-Norwegian pop group A1 were one of the many acts that emerged during this era and dominated the airwaves. After joining forces in 1998, Ben Adams, Mark Read, Christian Ingebrigtsen, and Paul Marazzi (who left the group in 2002) had a number of hits, including ‘Same Old Brand New You’, ‘Caught in the Middle’, and a cover of a-ha’s ‘Take on Me’. A hiatus followed Paul’s exit from the group, until the remaining trio reunited to once again continue their musical journey. Last year, the group collaborated with Pakistani pop singer Annie Khalid on the song ‘Just 3 Words’, which has now been released. The group was nice enough to chat with Us about their music, working with Annie, and their future plans. Here’s what they had to say:

Background and music

Us: How did you guys come together as a group?
Mark Read: Christian came over from Norway and was living in Liverpool studying at the Paul McCartney Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), when he was recommended to a top UK manager putting a new band together. He met up with the management and landed a place in the band. Myself and Ben were in a band previously, trying to break into the business at the ages of 19 and 16. We also met with the management and were invited to be a part of the band as well. The main focus was on songwriting and musicianship. Paul was chosen through an earlier audition process.

Us: Why did you decide to part ways? And what prompted you to get back together?
Mark: After five years of nonstop travelling and promoting, we felt it was time for a break, and what was originally intended to be a short break ended up being seven years. But the three of us remained active in the music business during those seven years, [working on] solo projects, songwriting, and producing for other artists.
We got back together because Christian was asked to perform some A1 songs on a big TV show in Norway, so he asked us to come along just for fun. It got such a great response that it sparked off a series of comeback concerts, new album, and tour, and it’s just snowballed from there.

Us: How would you describe your music?
Mark: Our music back in the day, was fresh energetic pop with a British sound to it, which reflected what was going on in the UK pop scene at that time, but over the years developed into a more universal, timeless sound with big international hits like ‘Caught in the Middle’. Now it’s very contemporary pop rock, but without being pigeonholed into one category as we each bring something very different to the writing process.

Us: Which of the songs in your catalogue do you feel would be the best introduction to your music (for listeners who aren’t familiar with your work)?
Mark: ‘Caught in the Middle’, ‘Don’t Wanna Lose You Again’, ‘Waiting for Daylight’, ‘In Love and I Hate It’, and ‘The Life That Could Have Been’.

Us: How have you guys changed since you first started out in the music business, both as people and as musicians?
Mark: We’ve obviously grown a lot as people in the 14 to 15 years since we first appeared on the scene, with a lot more life experience to draw upon when writing new material. Plus we’ve gained so much experience as a live band and since reuniting our live shows have been on a completely different level; we’ve had some of if not our very best shows since coming back, particularly in Asia.

Us: And how has the industry changed?
Mark: It’s a totally different industry, which seems to be less dictated by record labels and more about social media and igniting your fan base by more innovative ways. When we were first around, there was no X-Factor, no illegal downloading, or even YouTube, so there’s a lot more competition, but you just have to adapt, and we’re more passionate now about what we’re doing than we’ve ever been.

Us: The concept of boybands has various negative connotations associated with it. How do you feel about that?
Ben Adams: To be honest, we have never received negativity in that respects. Probably because we aren’t really a boyband in the traditional sense. Yes we all sing, but we also all play our instruments on stage in a band set up and write and produce pretty much everything. Same as Coldplay, The Script, The Beatles, and any other group of guys making music.

Collaboration with Annie Khalid

Us: How did the collaboration with Annie Khalid come about? How do you know Annie, and how did the idea of a collaboration come up?
Ben: We met Annie at a charity event in Oslo for the floods and hit it off straight away, so we originally set up a few writing days in London for her, but loved the vibe so much we wanted to do something more, so ‘Just 3 Words’ was born and we laid it down as a duet.

Us: How was the experience of working with her?
Ben: Annie is a great performer, great singer, and most importantly a really nice person to work with. We had a great time recording the track and recently did our first performance of it at the Norwegian Grammys which went down amazingly!

Us: Please tell us about the song ‘Just 3 Words’
Ben: ‘Just 3 Words’ is a song about a single moment of somebody saying three words to someone that changes their lives. What are those three words? Listen to the track and all will be revealed! It’s not what you would first think!

Us: Can you please tell us about the writing and recording process of the song?
Ben: We recorded it at Planet A Studios in London and produced it at the same place. We have been writing and producing for some of the world’s biggest artists there since the studio started, and we’re all pretty excited to have had Annie there too to add to the list of big names!

Us: How has the reception to the single been so far?
Christian Ingebrigtsen: The reaction has been overwhelmingly good!  Everyone who hears it seems to get excited and want to dance. Great feedback from our fans, as well as industry people so far.

Us: Is there going to be a video for the song?
Christian: There are plans for making a music video very soon.  More info will be announced through our Twitter and websites.

Pakistan

Us: What is your perception of Pakistan?
Christian: Our perception of Pakistan is that it is a country with a lot of people with a rich culture and great food! Getting to know Annie, we learn more and more about Pakistan, and we’re really excited to visit and experience it for ourselves.

Us: Have you ever been to Pakistan? Do you plan to visit the country or perform here anytime soon?
Christian: We haven’t been to Pakistan yet, but there are plans to visit with Annie to promote this single.  Again, more info about this will be released through our Twitter and websites as soon as we have concrete dates.

Us: What can we expect from A1 in the coming months? Is a new album in the works?
Christian: A1’s newest album, Waiting for Daylight, is only recently released in the Asian territories, so we will continue to promote that this year.  But we are simultaneously working on a new album, which will be out next year.

Us: Any message for the readers?
Christian: We are really excited to learn that we already have lots of fans in Pakistan, and we can’t wait to meet everyone and learn more about what we understand is a unique and wonderful country.

- Sameen Amer

Us Magazine, The News - 6th July, 2012

Men in Black 3

movie review: in the picture

Men in Black 3 ***

Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Emma Thompson
Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld
Tagline: Back to the past… to save the future

When the agents of the “secret government organization that polices and monitors alien activity on and off of planet Earth” first took over the big screen in 1997, the world simply couldn't resist their charm. Men in Black was a huge summer blockbuster, and in many ways, it deserved to be; it was amusing, exciting, inventive, and altogether entertaining.

But that was 15 years ago.

A sequel, MIB (2002), missed the mark on most counts, and was all the more disappointing because of the standard set by the original. So the news of a third Men in Black film was understandably met with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, although the latter outweighed the former when it was revealed that production had to be halted midway to finish the script. Was this going to be another subpar attempt to capitalize on the success of the sci-fi comedy series? Or would they manage to salvage the franchise with this third offering? The result, it turns out, lies somewhere in the middle.

The story begins when an alien criminal, Boris the Animal (Jemaine Clement), escapes from a prison on the Moon where he has been locked up for 40 years. Seeking revenge, he goes back in time to kill Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones), who shot off one of his arms and captured him in 1969; the repercussions of his actions alter the present. It is now up to Agent J (Will Smith) to follow Boris back in time, stop him from killing K, and save the world from an alien invasion.

The time travel premise may seem standard for a science fiction film, but it is made interesting by two stellar acting performances. The first one comes from Michael Stuhlbarg who plays Griffin, an alien with precognitive powers, who is probably the most fascinating, and perhaps even endearing, character of the movie. Tangled in a web of possible futures and alternative realities, Griffin guides our heroes who seek the optimum timeline. The second and most impressive performance in the film comes from Josh Brolin who portrays young Agent K. His deadpan take on Tommy Lee Jones' laconic K (Jones himself is missing for much of the movie) is simply impeccable, and ultimately it's his performance that steals the show.

Barry Sonnenfeld's third time at the helm of a MIB project, the film can't compete with the original, but it's certainly an improvement on its predecessor. As always, lots of special effects are on offer, and there are a number of retro-futuristic gizmos and interesting aliens (courtesy of makeup expert Rick Baker) that will please the fans of the series. MIB3 keeps the viewer engaged for its 106 minutes runtime, and to offset the predictability, it even delivers a surprise payoff by way of a touching ending. And not only does it invoke nostalgia, but it also gives us a new perspective on our favourite MIB agents. It isn't the most original film ever made and it may require you to suspend your disbelief on occasion (and ignore a few plot holes), but the film does benefit from some impressive performances by its cast, and for those who are willing to give in to the premise, MIB3 offers a fun, enjoyable ride.

- Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 1st July, 2012

John Mayer grows up

album review

On his new record, the contemplative Born and Raised, John Mayer effectively infuses soft rock, folk,

country, and blues into his songs

Artist: John Mayer

Album: Born and Raised

We first met John Mayer in 2001 when his major label debut album, Room for Squares, earned him both critical and commercial success. Three subsequent albums further showcased his talent and ensured his presence on the airwaves for nearly a decade. But not content with just being known and celebrated for his soulful music, Mayer then decided to make a career out of saying inappropriate things. That, shockingly, didn't go too well. Public contrition (and supposedly a considerable amount of soul searching) followed. Now, the musician is back in form and (wisely) choosing to let his music do the talking through his fifth album, Born and Raised.

His first new release in nearly three years, Born and Raised is a contemplative set that sees the Grammy winner effectively infuse soft rock, folk, country, and blues into his songs. The singer-songwriter has teamed up with producer Don Was to create twelve tracks that revel in their rustic appeal. “Looking for the song that Neil Young hummed, after the gold rush in 1971,” Mayer sings on 'Queen of California', hinting towards the '70s retro sound he is yearning for.

The album is shrouded in an air of introspection, and the gentle musical touches are effective from start to finish. Its deceptively laid back vibe conceals richness and variety, while the lyrics variously lean towards contrite, defensive, and redemptive. “It sucks to be honest, and it hurts to be real,” he confesses on lead single, 'Shadow Days', which deals with overcoming mistakes and moving on. The melodious 'The Age of Worry' dispenses hope and advice; “don't be scared to walk alone, don't be scared to like it,” the song counsels. 'Speak for Me' laments the state of the musical landscape. The title track, 'Born and Raised', sees Mayer harmonise with David Crosby and Graham Nash. And the touching 'Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967' tells the story of a man who “took a homemade, fan-blade, one-man submarine ride” in one of the most different and interesting songs of the album.

Both the musician and the producer admirably showcase restraint on the record; the songs are understated, and the production doesn't overwhelm the material. The album comes off as gentle and sincere, making good use of Mayer's warm vocals, and employing instruments like the guitar, harmonica, and trumpet to layer the record with diverse sonic touches. The vintage, mellow tunes convincingly display growth and elegance, and prove that his new makeover suits him. Somewhat misplaced amidst the efforts at sincerity, though, is a playful come-on directed towards House star Olivia Wilde in the form of 'Something Like Olivia'; albeit musically interesting, the inclusion of the song seems to dispel the image the rest of the record is trying to create.

Still, on the whole, Born and Raised does not disappoint. It is one of those records that aren't weathered with repeated listens; instead, the more you listen to it, the more you see its charm. John Mayer has used these tracks to simultaneously looks at the past and the future, which is why, based on the incidents that gave the singer infamy, there are plenty of chances to read into the songs and connect them to his personal life; that, however, does not do justice to the material, and the songs feel most compelling if they are encountered on their own merit and not under the light of the singer's past activities. Just allow yourself to enjoy the music, and you will discover some of John Mayer's most impressive work on this record. He might have made headlines for saying all the wrong things, but Born and Raised is proof positive that his musical capabilities and talent still have the power to impress, and are, therefore, the only things we should now be concerned with. 

- By Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 24th June, 2012

Back to basics for Keane

album review

On Strangeland, Keane return to the familiar territory of piano-led anthems. Instep lends an ear

Band: Keane
Album: Strangeland

Not many artists get to see their debut album top the charts. Fewer still know what it’s like to have five consecutive number one records. Keane, though, are lucky enough to be a part of this select group. Ever since they first stormed the music scene with Hopes and Fears in 2004, the band has consistently earned both success and praise, but the group has, quite predictably, also had to face perhaps a tad more than their fair share of criticism. Many appreciate Keane’s melodic pop sensibilities and enjoy their sublime tunes; others have labelled them Coldplay-lite and dismissed their efforts as middle of the road and dull. But while their sound might have been critically divisive, all of the band’s studio releases so far have conquered the UK charts and collectively sold millions of copies along the way. So it’s safe to say that as far as the mainstream audience goes, Keane is clearly doing something right, and their fans will be pleased to know that the band has chosen to stick to their strengths on their new album, Strangeland.

Best known for their piano driven pop rock tunes, Keane decided to take a detour into synthpop with their previous album. Now, with the electronic experimentations of Perfect Symmetry behind them, the group returns to the familiar territory of piano-led anthems in their first new full-length studio album in nearly four years. Produced by Dan Grech-Marguerat, Strangeland includes twelve songs (sixteen on the deluxe edition), and sees the quartet from East Sussex focus on anthemic ballads, with Tom Chaplin’s smooth vocals shining on a canvas of Tim Rice-Oxley’s twinkling piano.

There are shades of yearning, longing, and hope in Strangeland, as the band offers maudlin reflections on life. The vocals and instrumentation are in harmony and complement each other throughout the record. As far as the sound goes, it is still inherently the same as their earlier releases, and the stronger material is revealed as the album progresses. The lead single ‘Silenced by the Night’ is a crowd pleaser bound to satisfy fans; the nostalgic ‘Sovereign Light Cafe’ reminisces on times gone by, conjuring up a Springsteen-esque reveries; the uplifting ‘On the Road’ promises better things ahead; ‘Neon River’ deals with being left behind; ‘Black Rain’ brings Radiohead to mind; while the stripped album closer ‘Sea Fog’ brings the record to a sombre yet beautiful end.

Strangeland is an enjoyable album, despite some trite lyrics and occasional overload of schmaltz. It is a safe record that makes no effort to offer any dramatic switches or subject the listeners to  drastic changes; the group go back to the melodic sound that initially won them fame. The song structures are somewhat predictable, and at times the standard wistful piano ballads seem a little monochrome, but there aren’t any major missteps as far as the songs go. As such there isn’t much wrong with the tracks individually; however, put together the set might be pleasant but it isn’t very inventive or imaginative. It lacks the edge of their previous studio release, and it isn’t a daring experimental record, but then again, it doesn’t necessarily need to be. There are plenty of beautiful melodies, wistful sentiments, and tunes that make you want to sing along on the album. And while it might not be able to compete with Hopes and Fears in terms of immediacy and charm, Strangeland is very likely to remind fans why they fell in love with Keane in the first place.

- By Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 10th June, 2012

Looking ahead to 2012: Is the Atif Aslam year about to begin?

interview: catching up

Instep has a tête à tête with Atif Aslam who keeps his answers short and sweet and lets his journey speak for itself…

His fashion choices are controversial, his out and out commercial attitude has the hoity toity getting their knickers in a twist and Atif Aslam couldn't care less. There is a tide in the affairs of men and Atif Aslam is all about riding the wave. He follows up his Bollywood smash hits with soulful appearances on Coke Studio, moves on from there to pack the O2, one of the hippest arenas in London, and at a time when the Aman Ki Asha between India and Pakistan is gaining momentum, he will be seen on television screens on both sides of the border and around the world leading the Pakistani team against Himesh Reshammiya's Indian team in the ultimate desi style battle of the pop idols, Sur Kshetra. After that, he will think about releasing his next album. Love him or loathe him, you cannot be immune to this pop icon of the 21st century who puts the “roll” in rolling stone. Over to Atif about where he's been and where he's going…

Coke Studio

Instep: Tell us about your collaboration with Qayaas. 'Charka Nolakha' has quickly become a favourite?
Atif Aslam: I believe in supporting and promoting the youngsters and upcoming artists and if I feel I can help them in anyway which benefits them and their music, I would never say no. So when Sarmad approached me to collaborate with Qayaas, I decided to give it a try as I found the band really passionate and enthusiastic about their music. We initially wanted to do a rendition of 'Sun charkhe di mithi mithi kook' so we worked on the song and shared our version of the song with Rohail Hyatt who suggested to perform 'Charkha Nolakha' by Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan sahib instead as he felt it was much better suited to what we had in mind in terms of our music collaboration for Coke Studio. So we decided to re-work 'Charkha Nolakha' and fused it with sufi, folk and progressive rock elements which you all saw and heard in the first episode. Like Bilal Khan, Umair (Jaswal) has done well for his first time in Coke Studio.

Instep: What can you tell us about your new song on Coke Studio, 'Rabba Sacheya'?
Atif Aslam: 'Rabba Sacheya' is a question-answer session between your inner self and your thoughts about the purpose of mankind's existence. Also I wanted to introduce the beautiful poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Khawaja Ghulam Farid to this generation. There is nothing better in this world other than having an association with Kaa'ba, Qibla, Masjid Mimbar and Mushaf Tay Quran. In other words, bringing my fans and myself back to reality of the existence of Allah.

Instep: Can you tell us about the outfits you're wearing during Coke Studio recordings. The turban and frock coat had everyone talking…
Atif Aslam: Well, the first one was designed by my brother Shahbaz Aslam but I always wanted a turban with that so I had to tie it myself before the shoot and it took me 30 minutes to wrap that piece. For the second episode, the churidar was made by Shahbaz again and then I added the jacket and traditional khussa with it. For the rest of the episodes, wait and see…

Instep: How was it working with Rohail Hyatt?
Atif Aslam: The best thing about Coke Studio is Rohail Hyatt! He is open to all the ideas we share with him - even on the actual recording days. He has done so much for the country and a lot of credit goes to him for bringing in some really good talent and rediscovering the old gems in our country.

Instep: Your appearance on the second season of Coke Studio reinvented you as a musician. Tell us what to expect from your appearance on the fifth season?
Atif Aslam: I wanted to show a different side of me, which is a complete reflection of my music as can be seen in my performance, both in Coke Studio Season Two and Season Five, as that is the kind of music I've always wanted to do ever since I started my career. I feel this time it was much smoother - perhaps the video could have been different, I liked the audio mix this year.

O2 Arena performance

Instep: You recently performed at the O2 Arena in London. How was the experience?
Atif Aslam: Alhamdulillah, it was amazing. I was surfing the high wave of love and energy of the crowd from the start to the end of the concert. I loved every bit of it. It was one of my most memorable concerts.

Instep: How did the performance go?
Atif Aslam: I was enjoying the acoustics of the arena a lot and the crowd responded brilliantly, which gave me more passion to perform for them in a unique way, dedicated to the O2 Arena and its audience.

Instep: How did the chance to perform at the O2 come up?
Atif Aslam: Flex Effects always choose nice venues. Last time they arranged my concert at the Royal Albert Hall on the 14th of April 2007, and I was glad to perform there as the first Pakistani after Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan sahib. This time they planned to go even bigger and booked the O2, which is the highest rated, famous, and finest venue in the world to perform at. It's like a dream of every international artist to perform there. I am glad I am, Alhamdulillah, the first Pakistani, or you can even say the first South Asian singer to perform there. It was covered hugely by the Asian and British media in the UK. I am really happy Allah gave me this opportunity to present a positive image of Pakistan to the world.

Instep: Was Sonu Nigam set to headline the event? Why did he pull out? And how did that impact your performance/setlist?
Atif Aslam: I don't know the reasons and it didn't affect our set list. We performed all our songs that we planned, and seeing the unstoppable energy in the crowd, a few experiments and improvisations were done too, which they loved on the spot.

Instep: Which other artists and performers were part of the event?
Atif Aslam: There was a 10 minutes dance performance by the dance group Bolly Flex. Alhamdulillah, the huge success of O2 was shown by the houseful audiences at the Manchester and Glasgow concerts. Loved the tour.

'Juro Gey to Jano Gey'

Instep: Please tell us about your new song, 'Juro Gey to Jano Gey'.
Atif Aslam: It's a commercial advertisement song shot for a cellular company. The song has the right energy of a rock number and the cellular company wanted to connect their brand with the youth of the country, inspiring them with my career's hurdles and success which Allah has bestowed upon me. The advertisement was shot in Bangkok.

Instep: Why did you choose to work with Mobilink/Jazz Jazba?
Atif Aslam: I chose the project as it is related to young people who need to redirect their misguided passions in a right and fruitful direction, and I'll be glad I can be an inspiration to someone.

Sur Kshetra

Instep: How is Sur Kshetra coming along?
Atif Aslam: Most of the episodes are recorded already, and it'll be on air soon, Insha'Allah. It was a great experience, a test of physical stamina - 18 hours a day, 4 days a week, back to back shooting - and a lot of learning from the senior judges, Abida Parveen, Asha Bhosle, and Runa Laila on the show. I am satisfied that I tried my best to support my team.

Instep: How promising is Team Pakistan? And what can you tell us about the team?
Atif Aslam: If the results are decided on talent merit, then I am pretty sure the Pakistan team will win.

Instep: How soon is the show set to air?
Atif Aslam: In about a month's time.

Other projects

Instep: You recently made an appearance in a video for the Bollywood film Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya. Why did you choose to be a part of this project? And are you satisfied with the choice and how it turned out?
Atif Aslam: It was just a promotional video which was done to advertise the film's music. I was not very satisfied with my get up in that video, as the whole video was done on an ultra short notice. But my song is being liked by a lot of people, and has about 3 million views on YouTube already, so I am happy.

Instep: Do you have any other Bollywood films/ performances in the pipeline?
Atif Aslam: Yeah, some new songs will be coming, Insha'Allah.

Instep: You have been working on a project of collaborations with international musicians. How is that coming along?
Atif Aslam: The album is being prepared, and it will be released in due course of time, Insha'Allah.

Instep: What other projects are you working on right now? What can we expect from you in the coming weeks? And is there a new album on the horizon?
Atif Aslam: There's Coke Studio; Sur Kshetra will be on air soon. My album is already complete, so let people enjoy Coke Studio and Sur Kshetra first, and then I will think of releasing the album.

- By Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 3rd June, 2012