Interview with Shahvar Ali Khan

Published in The Saturday Post, Issue 194


by Sadaf Fayyaz


Meet Shahvar Ali Khan, a newcomer in Pakistan's music industry. Leaving his corporate career, Shavar has embarked on a journey to do what he's always wanted - create soulful music. His song No Saazish, No Jang, has created much buzz not only in Pakistan but across the border as well. Read on to learn more about this talented singer, his inspirations and goals in life...

Tell us a bit about your background - your education and childhood.

I have done Bachelors of Arts (Honors) in Economics and International Studies from Trinity College, USA. I am still a child, but to answer your question I am a typical Lahorite. I did my schooling and high school from USA.

Tell us something about your musical training.

I am trying to learn classical from Ustad Basharat Hussain, athough I don’t think I would be able to learn it in this lifetime. The more you get into music, the more you realize that you know absolutely nothing.

What was your family’s response when you started music?

They encouraged me a lot since my parents themselves are artists and NCA graduates. I would say that the support has been unbounded and immense. The penchant to do something ‘creative’ is to some extent innate.

Does your music spread love or peace or both?

I aspire to be a “People’s” songwriter-singer and hence believe in writing and singing peace anthems, and concurrently, clichéd romantic songs that can be sung around trees. In terms of lyrics my mentors are Sahir Ludhianvi and Javed Akhtar who have given us the best revolutionary and romantic stuff. As long as my music emotionally resonates with the common man on the road, I would be content. Frankly, I have not been able to understand neither peace nor love up till this point. I am in love with the very idea of falling in love and romanticize about peace. Some people say I have a sense of peace in my voice, but if I say anything more than this, it would be deemed as too much of a self-obsession, so let me stop here.

What were the initial difficulties that you faced?

I am still very much in the initial phase of my career. Whatever little recognition that I have received from both sides of the border has been purely based on word of mouth and through the spread of the song No Saazish, No Jang on social networking sites and some air play on radio too. I thank all my friends for supporting me. I guess the most difficult aspect of my struggle has been giving up on a settled corporate secure career (9 to 5 day job). I remember the day I gave back the keys of my air conditioned company car and found myself strolling on the road within seconds. Many felt that I was wasting my education, my degree by throwing away a secure career, but that is the trade-off required to aspire for greener pastures.

There is so much competition in music industry, where do you see yourself after some years?

I am not here to compete with anyone at all; I just realize my own potential. I know that there are very competent singers, lyricists and far better musicians around, I just aspire to connect with my audience creatively. As a student of consumer behavior, I try to understand the pulse of our times. I want to position myself as a combination of a songwriter-singer.

In which language do you love singing?

I love singing in Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi.

How often do you jam?

I try to practice every day. The day I don’t practice, I can’t sing. I am not a very spontaneous artist. Things have to be really planned and rehearsed in my case to perform.

What is your inspiration?

My inspiration in terms of singing comes from Hemant Kumar, Muhammad Rafi, Geeta Dutt, Saleem Raza, Ahmed Rushdie, Asha, Nayarra Noor, Guru Dutt, Prasoon Joshi, Khurshid Anwar, O.P Nayar, Sohail Rana, Farida Khanum, Iqbal Bano, Asha Bhosle, Geeta Dutt, Muhammad Rafi, Manna Dey, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, Begum Akhtar, Noor Jehan, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Amanat Ali Khan, Salamat Ali Khan and Talat Mehmood, in terms of lyrics, they are Sahir Ludhianvi and Javed Akhtar. I am a big fan of retro South Asian Film Music too. Among western musicians, I am inspired by John Denver, Little Richard, Louis Armstrong, Norah Jones, Clapton, Beetles, Sinatra and Bob Dylan.

First instrument you learnt playing?

I have never played an instrument in my life. I compose a melody after writing my lyrics intuitively through singing and humming; by figuring out the scale on the keyboard/harmonium/tanpura and letting the words find the melody. I then develop an idea of the instrumental mood I require for my melody and work with various musicians and arrangers depending on the melody that I’ve developed and the mood I want to inject in the song.

When and how did you get interested in music?

My dad used to make us listen to Raags on PTV when we were kids. Slowly I was drawn towards that stuff, since it is an acquired taste. At school singing became a pastime; people were drawn to my voice I guess, that was the only thing that made me distinctive from my friends. I liked the attention. (Laughs)

Will you remain solo or form a band?

Solo for now, but will surely have a house band especially in terms of live performances. I have learnt a lot from some extremely talented musicians in this short journey and would love to collaborate with as many as possible.

Who are your favorite bands and musicians?

They are Strings, Shafqat Amanat Ali, Atif Aslam, Ali Zafar, Qasim Ali Naqvi, Syed Farhad Humayun, Qasim Mahmood, Shahzad Hameed. In terms of music prodcution, I like Rohail Hyatt. I also like Shantainu Moitra, Pritam, Vishal-Shekhar, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Salim-Sulemain, Himesh Reshamiya, and Sajid-Wajid.

You motivation and learning comes from?

My motivation comes from immortality and my learning comes from wisdom of seniors and the energy and innocence of juniors.

What is your biggest desire and expectation?

My desire is to become Pakistan’s global peace icon and a renowned songwriter-singer. My expectation is to become a famous star.

How do you take criticism?

I take criticism as a food. No artist can survive without it. My best friends are my harshest critics.

How do you define music?

Pyaar nahi hey ur se jisko, who murakh insaan nahi. (The one who doesn’t love music, is not a human being).

With whom are you currently working with?

I am working with my Ustad Basharat Hussain, Shumair Joseph, Bobby, Samar, Nasirsahib, Qasim and a few others from Bombay too.

What is your message to the readers of The Saturday Post?

Khwaab Dekha Karo (Do dream)…