Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

JAN 10 - With the flowing mystic tunes of traditional Qawwali music, you travel  back to a decade ago. Encompassing these traditional sounds is an energetic contemporary aura, musician Rahat Fateh Ali Khan believes that music needs to have a subtle blend of conventional as well as modern day melodies. Nephew to one of the most revered Qawwals - Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahat proudly states that his uncle is his idol and is responsible for all that he has learnt.

“Khan saab was a guru as well as a friend. When we did our riyaz together, he was nothing but a musician. But at other times he was the most jovial person I have known,” says Rahat. Trained under Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan since he was seven, Rahat was the Ustad’s conscious choice to carry forward his musical tradition.

“I am very lucky that I got an opportunity to grow with his music. Although I might need to amend my music a little considering contemporary choices, my roots will always remain the same,” he asserts.

Despite his proud inheritance, one is hardly surprised with the humility with which Rahat lets us comprehend his musical philosophies. “Love is the definition of my music because only love can eradicate the vengeance that exists in the world today. ”

With his latest venture ‘Jiya Dhadak Dhadak’ topping music charts in India, Rahat claims that certain traditional sounds are always predominant with Pakistani music lovers, whereas India is much more receptive to newer sounds.

“A lot of people in Pakistan are more familiar to ghazals in darbars and therefore expect more of such music,” he informs. Ask him about Pakistani artists like Strings and Junoon trying to create a space within the Indian industry and he says, “It is going to be a tough journey for everyone.”

Amongst the few artists with major international acts to his credit, Rahat has given vocals to Shekhar Kapur’s version of the Victorian adventure epic ‘The Four Feathers’ with composer James Cornor.

Rahat will be in Mumbai for a live performance on Jan 15 for Channel V’s Big [V] concert, as well as for the promotion of his newest album ‘Charkha’.

(Courtesy: Daily News and Analysis, India)