Odhogan: The Melodic Start of a Music Journey

Published in Unrated Magazine, on April 4th, 2010

by Sadaf Fayyaz

The interview is of a very talented alternative rock band named Odoghan. The band started their music about five years back in 2005, when Jose Visconti asked his friend Cesar Nocetti to join the project as the lead guitarist of the band. Jose Visconti was born in Cordoba, Argentina. Jose Visconti is the song writer, singer and guitarist of the band. Cesar Nocetti is the bass guitarist of the band Odoghan. His birth place is San Luis. Later on, Enrique Paglia, who happens to be a cousin of Cesar, joined the band as the drummer and engineer. He also played in three different bands before being Odoghan's drummer, "Cables en Corto", "Santos Pecadores"," Medium". The band music genre is definitely alternative rock. The members belong to Argentina and all exhibit great talent. Cesar Nocetti played some bass in "Unimog" before joining Odoghan. Cesar Fernadez is the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and graphic designer. He played in a local band "Medium" too. The band comprises four members and all are very talented men. Their songs include "Sail to the Moon", "Beautiful Soul", "It Ain't Over", "Mankind" and "Stranger". Their song "Sail to the Moon" stood at local number one. According to their press items, the song critique Frenchy Gloder says a few words about the song "Sail to the Moon":

"Sub Steely, Dan Rocky offering, everything from vocals to drums is completely played. It is well recorded and well produced. Pleasant rock track to shine your cowboy boots to"
According to Frankie Briggs, "Very good, I like the chords a lot, the production was really cool and the tune is cool!!!!"

You can find their music at the following link: http://www.myspace.com/odoghanmusic
Sadaf Fayyaz: Tell about your inspiration.

Inspiration comes from daily living. The victories, doubts and feelings you confront and experience every day. Looking to your inside, writing while traveling, switching places and people, exposure to different cultures, time on your own. Love, observation, people, adversity and willingness to speak up your mind, or what at a certain time feels like your mind. It comes from bringing your inside out.

Sadaf: Give a brief introduction of the band members.

Jose Visconti: Songwriter, singer/guitarist, born in Cordoba, Argentina.
Cesar Nocetti: Bass. Played in "Unimog" before joining Odoghan. Born in San Luis, Argentina.
Kike Paglia: Drums and engineering. Played in three different bands before being Odoghan's drummer, "Cables en Corto", "Santos Pecadores"," Medium". Born in Cordoba, Argentina.
Cesar Fernadez: Lead Guitarist, backing vocals. Graphic Designer. Played in "Medium", a local band that's been in the local scene for ten years, with Enrique playing drums. Born in Cordoba, Argentina.

Sadaf: How and when did you guys get interested in music?

J.V: When I was a kid I loved listening to music, spent hours and hours listening to the Sex Pistols, The Ramones, and The Doors, 90 minute cassette's tape rolling and rolling. Felt so many things with my headphones on, music was moving me in every sense. Very liberating and full of truth. In high school, I saw some of my friends on stage playing with their bands, I felt like had to be there, and wanted to be onstage very bad. I hated watching from my seat.
C.N: I used to listen to my dad's albums, lots of "Beatles music" and later on started putting together my own "cassette collection" and started to broaden a little the whole thing.
K.P: I first got a lot of music from my older brothers, bands like Seru Giran, Pedro y Pablo, Sui Generis, Charly Garcia, Riff, Orions and Polifemo. I spent long lasting afternoons listening and listening but it wasn't until 9 when I was completely blown away by KISS' "Dynasty" LP. Later watched them perform on T.V. and had a blast. I could not believe my eyes and thought to myself: "This is what I wanted to be". At nine being a Rock Star seemed like the best plan.
C.F: Music caught my attention for the first time when I listened to a "The Police" album during a family trip to the coast, the album belonged to Enrique, my cousin.

Sadaf: What was the first instrument you learned playing and at what age? (Education, music training)

J.V: I've been singing since a kid (always loved it) and gave it a try to play guitar when I was around 12. The teacher (my mom hired back then) really mastered me being completely bummed out, the songs totally sucked, were very uninspiring, so kind of hate it and quit, and then my ambition to be a guitarist made it back when I was 18 that I started taking guitar lessons from one of my best friends. Later I took formal guitar and singing lessons. Then I studied at music school for two years, to approach music academically and dig into reading music and some theory. Meanwhile I did sing in two different choirs for three years.
C.N: At 12 I grabbed a bass for the first time (from a friend of mine, who had his own band) and had a crush on the instrument already, hooked me completely and felt very comfortable with it. It was then at 15 when another friend taught me the basics that I put my first band together.
K.P: I gave the guitar a try when I was 10 years old, but quickly realized that it was not really my thing. After messing up my mother's tupperware kits and making everybody in the house go nuts (due to the noise), I took some drum classes at music school, and at 16 had my first drum kit.
C.F: Started playing guitar at 15, was such an enormous change to be able see music from the inside.

Sadaf: Who are your favorite bands and musicians?

J.V: I am a big fan of The Beatles, The Ramones, Pearl jam (Eddie Vedder), Nirvana, Radiohead and Coldplay.
C.N: I am influenced by different sorts of music, Blues, heavy, grunge, Jazz, classic, bosa nova. Bands, to name some: Iron Maiden, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Rolling Stones and some local bands like Papo and Spinetta.
K.P: My favorite bands: Led Zeppelin, KISS, AC/DC, The Who, Deep Purple, The Police, Genesis, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth, and Slayer.
C.F: Great bands and guitarists: Incubus, Metallica, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani.

Sadaf: Share a few lines on your album. What are your expectations from fans?

The album got 11 songs, written during the last 5 years, so they are quite a mixture of experiences and things the band and me had gone through. It is very diverse and we are very proud of that. Sometimes gets very hard not to repeat yourself. If you write a couple of songs and that's it, may work, but if you want to go further and you intend to put an album together and go out and play live a 60 minute gig, there's were the real challenge begins and you got to start thinking of ways to put an interesting piece together. We wanted the songs to express different moods and wanted the listener to be exposed to those different moods, stories and feelings and not sense that they may get bored after 3 or 4 songs, having sorted out the band's style. Though we remain loyal to a style or genre or however we would call it, what stands out is what we want to say on each song and therefore the music we pick to express it.
We expect from our fans that they simply like the songs and enjoy the album.

Sadaf: What is your music genre?

Vaguely, Indie rock, Alternative rock, though the genre should by no means limit the power of expression, labels should not..., though it is hard not to fit one. We want to believe, we just play music.

Sadaf: Have you ever played cover songs?

Yeah sure, plenty, we gave lots of "cover songs gigs" (We would play 30 songs sets, songs from our favorite artists). We even took part on contests playing cover songs. I believe it is very hard to start from scratch writing your own songs, it's just too many things you simply lack of. Though cover songs are needed experience and formation you have to be wise enough, to let the cover songs go, before it's too late and they may influence your style in a way you are not allowed to discover and shape your own style. You got to leave the "comfort zone", jump and believe in what you do, face a crowd with your own material, meaning what you sing and play.

Sadaf: What is your source of learning?

Listening to music, studying, being critical (very), and trying out, recording yourself a lot, and listening to yourself is the real deal. Be acquainted to the way you actually sound, not the way you "think" you sound.

Sadaf: How do you define music?

A great means of self expression and a great way to connect and share with others

Sadaf: What is your message to fans?

Hope they enjoy the band and songs and relate to them (make them of their own). We would be very flattered if the songs get to be part of their lives somehow. And one last thing: Keep on listening and supporting your artists. Bands and their music are nothing without the fans. It is such a great motivation to think that somebody you will never ever get to know, at the other side of the planet, in a little corner, going to set his/her MP3 player and be listening to your tunes...crazy.

Help! The Captain Threw Up: Avid Instrumentalists

(INTERVIEW BY SADAF FAYYAZ)

Published in Is This Music Magazine, on April 29th, 2010, Under Features

Help! The Captain Threw Up are a trio from Istanbul in Turkey. The band has three members, although the trio at times collaborate with others such as Tolga Celik. They formed in 2009 by guitarist Ozan, drummer Uygar and bassist Mert. Instrumental and - well, we’ll let them tell us about the music they make.

What inspired you to make music?
Mert: Our inspiration is to create melodies that we enjoy and the beautiful things around us, the movies, songs, people.
Ozan: It comes from the urge to create and the music itself.
Uygar: We started playing and practicing as Ozan insisted that we shouldn’t just “listen”.
Mert: I was playing a little, then I met Ozan in college and we started playing together.
Uygar: The real thing is, we just loved music and waiting for some sort of Ignition to start.

What are the bands and musicians that shape your sound?
Ozan: In our songs, the traffic and the instruments’ tones, you could easily feel we were influenced by the classic rock bands like Pink Floyd, The Beatles and The Who. Along with these, the bands and musicians from our generation like John Frusciante, Jeff Buckley, Ataxia, Do Make say Think, Explosions in the Sky, God is an Astronaut, God Speed You Black Emperor have also influenced us.
Mert: There are of course some bands that we haven’t been influenced by, but loved - like Jaco Pastorius, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Supertramp, David Bowie, Modest Mouse, The Raconteurs and many others.
What musical genre would you put yourselves in?

Uygar: We don’t tag our genre as anything and limit the things that we can do. Even though we are tagged with genres like indie / post rock / experimental / instrumental on the internet, we can always do more - or less.

What is your source of learning?

Ozan: What we listen to and watch is actually our best resource. Today’s media has a weird way of teaching - and not in a good way. The era we are growing into is actually disconnecting people through the media, and thus our way of life changes into an individual’s perspective more than a rich, wide-spread and common life. Of course not all of the media is necessarily evil, as we learn about the events that inspire us through the media - using our own filters to filter the information, that is. So our best source of learning is a hybrid - evil incarnate and us filtering it!

How do you define music?

Ozan: Instead of defining music, it will be more rational to define what it means to us. Because I think defining music with words will not be adequate.
Mert: I agree, although there are dictionary meanings for music, it only defines the word itself. However music is beyond a word and it defines, it is a phenomenon.
Ozan: There are musicians and musicologists who try to get a better understanding of music; they have worked for some answers, some definitions, and they redefine it. Erkan Ogur has a saying that I wish I had said: “Music is the space between the notes”.

What is different in your music from other bands?

Mert: It is us. We play the things we feel, never try to be a fake version of a band. (But in the process there will be of course inspirations at this matter). We are as different as all the other bands who are trying to just to be themselves, because the expressions that we have are the combinations of the expressions that just the three of us have.
Finally, what is the next step for the band?

Uygar: We don’t have a record label yet, but we’ve got a few offers and we’re thinking about it. We are actually trying to find a producer who won’t limit us and can think the way we do.
Mert: We try not to control our music, so this makes that the point we reach with our instinct is never the same in the end.
Uygar: There is a fact we cannot overlook, it is that we make instrumental music. As Mert said before, every each of the listener taste different experiences and finds new answers.

http://www.myspace.com/helpthecaptainthrewup

Madsic: Moving Ahead With Confidence

(INTERVIEW BY SADAF FAYYAZ)

Published in Is this Music Magazine on April 6th, 2010 under Features

Madsic was formed in late 2003, shortly after storming into the local music scene, bringing with them sounds with touches of metal, hardcore, and industrial blended with darkness and showmanship.

This band’s influences include such bands as Slipknot, Chimaira, Machine Head, Soulfly, and Hatebreed.

Madsic has accumulated quite a list of accomplishments over its six year history. The band has played shows from Miami to Tallahassee, and is currently undergoing plans for an East Coast tour. Let us see what they have to say about their music journey.

itm?: Tell something about your education, your musical training.

Madsic: We are mostly self-taught, but always looking for inspiration, usually from bands we listen to. We all grew up on old school but want to stay on the cutting edge of what is happening now, in order to become what is happening next.

itm?: Tell about your inspiration.

Madsic: The music of Madsic is made up of different tastes that we all have thrown together into one big pit. Even as a metal band, we are very groove oriented. We aim to get people’s heads banging up and down for three to four minutes at a time.

itm?: Introduce us to the band members.

Madsic: We have had a number of member changes over the years. Fifteen people have been through this band since we started in 2003. Actually, the fact that we have had so many member changes is what keeps everything fresh and new. Coke (vocals) and Evil (keys, samples), are the only two original members, Chris joined us on bass in 2007, and we have two new guitarists, Scott and Franz. Every lineup change we have had has made the band stronger, and each has brought their own thing to the tunes. At this time, we are auditioning drummers, so it will all be fresh again.

itm?: How and when did you guys get interested in music?

Madsic: We were inspired from other bands that we would see at concerts, and then knowing that on the stage is where we wanted to be. There is nothing like the adrenaline rush of playing live, and the bigger the crowd, the better.

itm?: What was the first instrument you learned pto play, and at what age?

Evil: I started out playing drums when I was 18. But the biggest drawback about playing drums is that by yourself you can’t really play a song, so after a few years of drums, I learned guitar. After a couple of years of guitar, I felt I couldn’t get the range of sounds that I wanted to make, so I took up keyboards. I like it a lot.

itm?: Who are your favorite bands and musicians?

Madsic: Anything from Mudvayne, Hatebreed, Chimaira, Machine Head, Korn, Static X, Pantera, Soulfly, Fear Factory, Slipknot, Sepultura, Deftones, and System Of A Down.

itm?: Share a few lines on your album. And what are your expectations from fans?

Madsic: The title for our CD Prison of Hate was Coke’s idea. It came from one of the lines in our song ‘Buried In Skin’ and it goes “I’m in a prison of hate I can’t escape. I see the signs but you’re blind and now it’s too late.”

Our music has been said to be very marketable, and we have had four CD reviews, five of our songs have been on compilation CDs, and two of our songs were included on a BMX Bike video. Just check the comments at any time at our website atwww.myspace.com/madsic (shameless plug), and you will see the feedback of new and old Madsic Fans.

itm?: How would you describe your musical genre?

Madsic: We are listed as Metal/Rock/Industrial, but we prefer for our fans to draw their own conclusion as far as whom or what we sound like.

itm?: Have you ever played cover songs?

Madsic: As a matter of fact, at our last show we played the first cover Madsic has done in the six years we have been together, ’Power Trip’ by Chimaira. It went over great and we will be performing it at future shows.

itm?: What is your source of learning?

Madsic: Self taught, but influenced by the bands that we listen to.

itm?: How do you define music?

Madsic: Anything that provides an adrenaline rush of metal and mayhem.

itm?: What is your message to your fans?

Madsic: We would like to make a promise that Madsic will always be on a path to create the most brutal, in your face, intensifying music and performance for our fans. We have had the pleasure of gaining and meeting over 186,000 friends on our MySpace site, and we will not stop until we have had the chance to play for every one of you!

Vital Signs: A Celebrated Legend of Pakistan

An Excerpt From my Book and Diary, On 13th May, 2010

 

It is very hard to flashback two decades old memories, but I’ll try my best to portray them. It was an uninteresting and droning evening somewhere around mid of 80’s. My dad was posted in Azad Kashmir and then to Siachen. We were staying at our grandparents place in Baffa. Life was quite slow and boring at the village house, with little creativity and almost no entertainment for young kids. Village folks use to have food around 8pm and went to sleep around 9pm. Television transmission programs used to be so dreary and unenjoyable for young kids.

One evening, we were watching local television routine transmission. It aired a song with four teenage boys, holding musical instruments and singing in an entirely new style. We kept watching the song called “DIL DIL Pakistan” and didn’t move until the song finished. “WOW, that was amazing”, ejaculated my little 4-year old brother, “I love it’. I had the same notions as well. They just mentioned the singers’ names. They later came to be known as “Vital Signs”, a top-notch and first official band of Pakistan. They produced some more hits like “Chehra”, “Tum Mil Gaye”, “Gorey”, “Sanwali Saloni”, but “Dil Dil Pakistan” was a sky rocket hit, which brought them under the limelight. National songs aired those days were usually picturized indoor in PTV studios. “Dil Dil Pakistan” set a totally novel trend in the history of Pakistani patriotic songs. It was something stunning for the new generation. When my dad came from Siachen, we insisted on buying a cassette of Vital Signs. “But how are you going to listen to the song? You don’t have a music player.” He replied.

We later came to know about all the four enigmatic boys of the band. Shehzad Hasan was light-eyed, camera-shy bassist, and an energetic Rohail Hyatt was on the keyboards. They worked really hard on the song and it was rated “The World’s 3rd most popular song” by BBC World in 2003. It is indeed a highly patriotic song. Later Nusrat Hussain (guitarist) was replaced by Salman Ahmad, a student at medical College. Vital signs kept producing rocking hits like “Aisa Na ho”, “Rahi”, “Yehi Zameen”, “Hum Tum” and “Aitebar”. Their videos even sketched swinging moods, ranging from ecstasy to extreme angst. “Dil Dil Pakistan” showed patriotism, “Tum mil Gaye” depicted marital failure and ending relationships. “Wo kuan thi” depicted a typical college boy’s flirtatious attitude, with writing love letters, standing outside college gates, and talking to girls on the phone. “Gorey” and “Sanwali Saloni” had cultural roots, shot in Kailash and Thar. All of these were luminously directed. One thing I liked about their videos was that females were never exploited. They even used to model in their own videos and almost eighty percent of the videos were picturized without any female models. Even then they were big miraculous hits. Videos like “Wo Kon thi”, “Yehi zameen”, “Chehra”, “Do pal”, “Aise Hum Jiyen”, “Mera dil” and “Dil Dil Pakistan” didn’t have even a single female model.

My younger brother was so inspired that he decided to play the cover for “Dil Dil” on his Parents’ Day in 1989. He asked us to get the same kind of jeans and shirt, that Junaid was wearing in the song and a small guitar as well. For the whole night he kept practicing the song, though he was so young that couldn’t utter words properly.

In 1993, the band came with an amazing program named “Guitar 93”. I remember it used to be my favorite program and next day in school, we used to discuss their songs and hum during the recess.

Even today, almost after two decades, they have a huge list of fans, listening to their songs and playing covers. They managed to create relishing and mesmerizing music in a highly islamized era, where there wasn’t any concept of concerts and shows, Vital signs had euphoria and charisma of their own. They were different individuals with their unique set of traits. The band produced only four albums in its eleven years, with some of the songs going dreadful flops. Towards the end of 90’s, the members started drifting away and shifted their core energies to different fields. They are still legends, but the way they set a fresh trend in a dictatorship epoch, was distinctly appraising. Even today, little is known about the band’s disbanding reasons, but they will always be admired by millions of aficionados all over the world.

"Old Wine in New Bottle": Go Saabjee Go

Published on www.koolmuzone.com, under category Reviews, on 11th May, 2010

 

He knows what to make music about. We see something rocking this time by this startling guy. All we are talking about is the brand new video “Go Saabjee Go”, from his album “Haroon ka Safar”. Whether it is a patriotic song like “Dil Se Maine Dekha Pakistan”, or romantic song like “Jao Tum”, or a typical family kind naughty song like “Mehendi”, Haroon has really done something remarkable this time. Remembering his “Mr. Fraudiye”, that reflected societal loopholes and social deceptions. Haroon has come up with something quite avant-garde this time. The stimulus behind the video is wretchedness and daily life problems of an ordinary local citizen. The eccentric and unfathomable maestro Haroon is a true enigma. A gleaming venture by Jalal Amir and meaningful placid lyrics, the video depicts common man’s problems like shortage of electricity, CNG, food commodities, and increasing inflation, reflecting these in a much emblematic manner. It portrays the dilemma of a common man of Pakistan and how he/she struggles against, poverty, corruption and fraud. It is something we need badly these days. Being a fusion of visual and melodramatic imagery to elaborate the mind-set and perceptions of a general citizen, the video sounds enjoyable and compelling, for audience of all age groups. The song “Go Saabjee Go” shows little echelon of irony and political sarcasm as well. In every reign, parties come in people want them to quit after wards. In the end, restriction on freedom of speech is shown, as a tape on his mouth. The anti-corruption video is tremendous, but hasn’t been able to attract many fans yet. It is not fair to say that this theme is exclusively an experimental video by Haroon, since “Mr. Fradiye” was on an analogous issue too. However, Haroon has a totally changed and fresh look with a new hair style and make over. Nevertheless, it is a courageous and bright attempt to highlight some knotty issues of ordinary man of Pakistan. Making something critically and politically acclaimed is not an easy task these days. So not exactly a video with an “out-of-the-box” conception, but still can be called a gallant endeavor.

Talk with Umer Piracah: (Singer, Songwriter & Guitarist)

Published on www.koolmuzone.com, on 23rd April, 2010, Under Interviews,

by

Sadaf Fayyaz

Q1. Tell us a bit about your background, education and childhood.

Umer: I was raised in Multan in a very traditional family. I grew up in fortunate circumstances, with a strong yet intimate man as my father, three amazing younger siblings, and my mother and two aunts (who also lived with us) altogether providing thrice the usual intensity of motherly affection afforded to people. This provided a foundation unlike any other. After O levels, I went to Aitchison College for A levels, learned from the challenges of living in a hostel, and then went to USA to continue my studies. There, I encountered amazing teachers, colleagues, and disciplines, and fell deeply in love with philosophy, film, religious studies, psychology, and music. Now I live and work in Philadelphia, USA.

Q2. Tell us something about your musical training.

Umer: I always loved music, but I became particularly inspired studying music theory and techniques in western and eastern classical music while going to the wonderful Franklin and Marshall College in USA. I realized that the likes of Mozart and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, for example, have served as a medium for a very unique gift to humanity. Although I took a few weeks of guitar lessons when I was fifteen, I think eventually I learned what I know so far by perhaps the only possible way to learn music, which is to really listen; to pay attention to the rules inherent in the infinite universes present in each note played, and the potential for creating beauty in every chord struck, regardless of the instrument. So now most of my music is improvised based on what I hear, it’s as if the lack of formal training has forced me to either develop or recognize a pre-existing ear for music.

Q3. What message does your music reflect? Is it peace, love or any other?

Umer: I see the arts, particularly music, as a medium that uplifts the hearts and enables us to automatically glimpse certain spiritual truths, expressions of which are embedded in my music. I want to convey a vision of profound change in the way we see the world as individuals and as a nation; to develop Love as a spiritual capacity, and not just as a feeling; to live compassionate lives; to foster intimate relationships that result in complete equality between men and women; to study all religions of the world with equal love and view them as Fountains of the same Divine Garden, but most importantly, to create complete unity of the global family of people, where we may rise above the self-serving identity traps of nationalities, religions and races, and love equally and in every way all the peoples of the world. This internal change and the intimate relationships that result from this process would be a strong foundation for achieving peace.

Q4. How do you manage all the music industry politics?

Umer: To be honest so far I’ve kept my artistic undertakings far removed from politics. My day job helps provide stability too (although its time consuming), so I can pursue music without any major financial worries, which helps keep the superficial concerns at bay. But I see hints and potentials for politics in the feedback that I get related to protecting my songs as a ‘product’ or going for a certain sound in a commercial sense, but I am surrounded by artists who’s message is much more sincere and powerful, which is to keep creating and keep borrowing from honest inspiration and everything else seems to move along just fine. So I’m happy with that.

Q5. There is so much competition in the music industry, where do you see yourself after some years?

Umer: I don’t feel particularly competitive with my music, but I know that hearts are always receptive to sincere and fresh ideas. I’d like my music to spread and to be a source of entertainment, relaxation, and inspiration for people, but I’d also much prefer that a few people really grasp and internalize the message in my music, and can then talk about it, than say, masses of people who’ll passively listen and then just move on. I’ll be working towards releasing my first album soon called ‘The Depths’. We’ll see what direction the wind blows then!

Q6. How often do you jam?

Umer: Everyday somehow!

Q7.What is your inspiration?

Umer: My song ‘The Depths’ (title song from my upcoming album) is about the essence of ecstatic spiritual love, a spiritual reality I was touched by after living close to Maulana Rumi’s shrine in Turkey in the summer of 2005. This visit was funded by Franklin and Marshall College, where I studied for four years in USA, and that blessed institution provided an opportunity to follow many such glimmers that were equally as powerful. These pursuits shine in my life in the form of people, books, artwork, and of course, music. I have much to learn from them. My music in that sense is an expression of my continuing journey and it has made me even more fascinated with the institutions of science, religion, and justice and what they mean to humanity. This fascination, in turn, becomes an inspiration for my music that increases in intensity by the day. It’s a cycle I never want to break away from; there is so much to learn and share.

Q8. What was the first instrument that you learnt playing?

Umer: Guitar! I bought one in 9^th grade when my mother and I went to Lahore one weekend; I don’t believe Multan has any instrument shops still, but I may be wrong. I also wanted to learn Tablas but someone stole them so I figured it wasn’t meant to be.

Q9. When and how did you get interested in music?

Umer: My father always sings at home, and loudly so. He’s not shy at all, which makes me feel like I also naturally belong on the stage when I perform. He also used to share Urdu poetry, and listen to songs from 60s and 70s when Pakistan was much more accepting of arts as culture, as much as one would expect the opposite. He always used to say that things of beauty find expression in the arts. Such passion naturally makes a child wonder about the source of such inspirations. So from an early age I learned that the relationship between music/arts and the human soul demands that we not only accept the arts but let it thrive socially and penetrate every aspect of our daily life.

Q10. What are your plans? Would you remain solo or form any band?

Umer: Plans are to go where the wind takes me! So far that has seemed to work out ok. I’m working on compiling an album now. The personal nature of my projects probably makes it difficult to form a band, but the inspirations behind the music easily connect with other artists and result in the most wonderful collaborations. For example, one of my instrumental works ‘Extremophile’ is about the life of microbial bacteria and astrobiology and its connection with spirituality, and I am collaborating with some modern dancers and improve musicians who will adapt movement to the ideas behind the song. It’s a production to be held in late May in a performance space in Philadelphia, I’m really excited for it and may improvise vocals.

Q11. Who are your favorite bands and musicians?

Umer: Michael Jackson, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Pathaney Khan, Radiohead, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen.

Q12. What is your biggest desire and expectation?

Umer: In my life time I guess it would be purification of heart and growing closer inwardly to the divine source of the beauty that I experience in music, and for my music to be an expression of this journey. Also I’d like to see my family and friends prosper. Expectation, however, is a tricky word because I’m also just an audience to how things are developing. A lot has happened since my childhood in Multan, and we’ll see what the future holds.

Q13. How do you take criticism?

Umer: I try to take it healthily, and hope that I’m successful in doing that. I want to create good and meaningful music, so I try to remain detached from it on some level to be able to take criticism. Naturally it’s not always possible to be detached, but I try. It’s much easier when it’s genuine criticism coming from someone who loves me and wants to see me develop and grow in my arts and as a person.

Q14. How do you define music?

Umer: I think of music as a ladder for the soul, a means whereby we can connect with our higher nature, and only hold on to things that unite us as people. For that reason then, the act of trying to perfect this art, similar to Sufi Mevlevi and Zen Buddhist traditions, is like worship that purifies the heart and unclogs the mind.

Q15. Where can we find your music online?

Umer: I’m working on setting up my own website. It’s also much more easily available now if you search for me on Google, Facebook, or YouTube.

Q16. As an artist, how would you like to be remembered by people?

Umer: I’d like to be remembered for the message in my music, but ultimately it’s the message that really needs to be remembered.

Q17. Lastly, what is your message?

Umer: A major idea embedded in my music is that a time is upon us where humanity as a whole is maturing very fast (just like a person matures from childhood all the way to old age), and maturing not only materially with advances in technology, but also spiritually. But in the spiritual arena, we need a clearer direction and more intimate relationships in our communities. The times require us to develop unconditional and ‘equal’ love for all peoples of the world and profound sensitivity to their suffering, whether they are in Palestine or Israel, America or Afghanistan, whether Hindu or Muslim, and whether from one’s own family, or that of one’s neighbor. I cannot emphasize enough the need to cultivate this inner change, which enables us to view all religions and nationalities as flowers of the same Garden; it only makes it more beautiful that they may be of different colors! Finally, my music embodies the recognition that the essence of all religions of the world is one, and they only seem to differ in ways that are ultimately non-essential to the spiritual development of a person or a community. For Pakistanis, particularly artists, I wish that they too would allow their life and work to become a channel for these truths, no matter how big the hurdles may seem. We must create a space in Pakistan where inspiration can thrive everywhere, held together by the vision of a spiritually advanced community. Our country really needs it.