[ad_1]
Chat with the Pakistani singer-songwriter who is in town promoting his new song.
Photo: KT/Rahul Gajjar
“I’m a firm believer that excess ego is something a person should pay close attention to. When you are adored by millions and have a huge following, success has the potential to hit you in the head and you can lose your sense of life, relationships, and Control of everything you work hard for.”
It was a confession from an artist who tasted great success at the age of 16 and was loved around the world, whose songs soon became national anthems and were signed by left, right and center brands.
In a short period of time, Asim Azhar has become the voice of choice for music producers, filmmakers and brand managers. But when you talk to him he feels like he is a boy next door and he is very grateful for what he has achieved; however, he also notices that if he takes it all for granted, then the dream The journey may soon be over. “Today, you’re as good as your last project, so I don’t take my reputation for granted. I don’t have time for distractions,” he said.
What keeps Asim awake
But for me, it’s important to know how a well-known artist with millions of followers keeps his sanity. As someone who is used to all the noise, applause and cheers around the clock, does silence scare him?Almost immediately, Asim replied, “Absolutely not. In fact, I would make sure I do nothing during the day and just spend an hour in peace, away from Shaw Saraba. It keeps me awake. That’s when I connect with myself, my thoughts, and it’s become an anchor for how I go about my day. “
His new single “Habibi”, which was promoted in Dubai, has already broken records and hit the top of the charts. Currently dominating platforms such as TikTok and YouTube in Pakistan, Asim’s new song is also resonating in India. Singer and rapper Badshah took the time to slip into Asim’s DM and rave about the song. He wrote: “Trapped by Habibi! What a great song you wrote bro, great melody.”
According to Asim, the song is about “the ego should not enter between two people who are in love”. “There’s no harm in apologizing first, because it just makes you a better person. There will always be disagreements and arguments, but it’s okay to say sorry first,” he explained.
Inspired by this, I asked him some questions about every rock star I met. Do artists, especially singers, need to experience heartbreak to become better singers or performers?
“I don’t think that’s a prerequisite for good poetry or melody,” he claims. Best breakup songs I’ve ever sung like “Tera Woh Pyar” and ‘Tarasti hai nigahein’ at my happiest. I would say not only being in a romantic relationship, but being in any kind of relationship will help you become a better artist. My observations and imagination help me sing songs like this with ease. I didn’t have to experience heartbreak firsthand for it to have an impact. “
Protect intellectual property
In light of the recent controversy over the use of Pakistani singer-songwriter Abrar-ul-Haq’s song “Nach Punjaban” in the Bollywood film “JugJugg Jeeyo”, we asked Asim what steps are being taken to ensure his work remains his own intellectual property.
He explained: “The criterion of success for any artist is that his work crosses borders and touches the hearts of millions of people all over the world, and only good music can do that. That being said, music or song is also What you release for public consumption and production, there is obviously some risk. An artist today, has to understand the legal aspects and have to protect his work through contracts and copyright. I have a team that makes sure my songs are licensed, To avoid any potential abuse. I would also like to take this opportunity to urge all artists to have a legal counsel on board who will ensure your content is legally safe and remains your property despite being on a public platform.”
Asim is not only a singer, but also a composer and songwriter. So does he also face writer’s block? Asim recalls the pandemic period when the whole world came to a sudden stop. “I just didn’t have enough energy to write or compose. There was no music scene happening and no such activity. It really made me realize that in order for me to be a better son, partner or friend, I really needed to create something something, but the situation was that it didn’t happen.
“I kept my faith the same, I knew it was a phase and it would pass. I told myself that day that I would never write under pressure or try to compose. Now I let it flow naturally, and when it comes, I will Goosebumps. I can’t explain the sudden urge my body feels when a thought clicks and captures it. Then I put the pen in there and know that’s it. This will be my song. And ‘Habibi’ is the process product.”
classic playlist
Finally, we asked him to show us what his playlist looks like. It’s truly amazing to see him worshiping idols from a bygone era. Asim shared: “I grew up listening to quality music. Whether it was Mehdi Hassan or Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, or pop icons like Nazia and Zoheb Hassan. I don’t have a particular go-to list because of my playback The list is a mixed plate, it doesn’t stick to any genre. But I’m a big fan of Mohammed Rafi and Noor Jehan. I think they’re institutions and the treasures they leave behind will immortalize them.”
Sadiq Saleem is an Emirati writer who can be reached on his Instagram @sadiqidas
[ad_2]
Source link