LIBAZ!!!!!

Atif started off in life with da dream of becoming a fast bowler-he was even selected 4 under-19 pakistan cricket team. However an intervention came in da form of his parentswho found it to be an unstable and unsuitable career. Somehow, they agreed with music as a career choice. U know wat dey say, mother knows da best!

Atif discovered his talent for singingwen sitting in an empty room, singing 2 himself. He realized dat his talent nd gift was God given and dat much cud cum of it. He started off by participating in music competitions around da country, his first being at Gymkhana, in which he won first place. Thus came his first hit, Aadat, nd his meeting with Gohar, his ex-guitarist.

Wen asked hw it felt to be a household name/*** idol in Pakistan, Atif said he felt really good abt it! He believes that his talent is a blessing of God, and if Gods blessing turns him into a *** idol, hats off! He says, people r lukin forward to me and my presence on stage, I just giv dem wat dey want. Da success of his song Lamhey in India is no secret. It has inspired many spin-offs, and remains a popular favourite on both sides of da border.

Hard on his heels of success in India, he has been approached by a Hollywood director of Irani descent, Ramin Bahrani. This director has chosen three of his songs to feature in his film Man Push Cart�. After Nustrat Fateh Ali and Strings, Atif is the only Pakistani whose voice has been introduced in a Hollywood film. The film is being featured in festivals the world over, and received a tremendous response at the London Film Festival. It also won the Fipresci Critics Award for the best film at d festival

Libas: What is the main inspiration behind your lyrics and what drives your voice it reach its limits?

Atif: My lyrics are born thought observations. I observe everyone around me, their actions and words and these fuels ma creativity and help me to write. My voice on other hand is something That comes naturally, a gift from Above, hence I let it flow as it must. When on stage however, the feeling of power that enters me when I see my fans cheering away makes my voice push itself to the max! (All those screaming young ladies must have an effect in some way!)

Libas: Have you had any professional voice training?

Atif: No, I have never had any professional voice training. However, I would like to have some in the future. I feel that basic voice training is essential for any and everyone who wants to sing, as it makes your vocal chords catch on to certain notes better. However, after those basics, it is all up to the vocalist, mainly his talent, where his voice will take them.

Libas: How did Lamhey make it to India? Where you satisfied by your reception there and what is the current situation there?

Atif: Its strange story actually! Mahesh Butt heard my song �Lamhey� on the internet, made some inquiries and out of the blue I get a call from him saying that he would like my song in a film! This was a great feeling for me and the exposure to India was beautiful. The reaction in India was fantastic and an amazing experience. However, you can never compare it to the feeling of playing for your own country with your own fan following. I feel I have to play the most in and for Pakistan as I dont want my country people to feel that I have gone over to other side and discredit me. Musicians often lose their fan following when their fans feel that they have abandoned them and are playing for other people in other countries. This is

actually due to the closed mind-set of the general public in Pakistan

Libas: How do you feel about certain copies by India musicians of your song Lamhey and will you do anything about the copyright theft?

Atif: People ripping off my song just makes me think that I am making a lot of money through my own hard work and talentz and they jump on the bandwagon. They are basically trying to steal my glory. When a song comes out and makes it to the top as the charts, everybody lays claims to the song and insists that the chart topper stole it and follow by releasing their own horrible copies. This doesnt really affect me as people know better than to believe them, and since my song is already on the top, I don�t feel threatened.

About copyright theft, there is nothing much that can be done about it because in Pakistan copyright laws dont really exist, and the few that do, are not enforced. There are no properly structured record labels and government laws to protect artist in the country but even without them artists seem to fare well, despite people copying and laying claim to other�s music!

Libas: How much of your success do you attribute to your highly talent current band members?

Atif: The first album was recorded in four days! My band members were a huge help and it couldnt have been done without them! My new band set (Farhad Hamayun on drums, Sameer Shami on bass and Mehmood Mooda(On guitars) is a pleasure to work with and all of  dese musicians are highly talented

L: Is dere any animosity b/w u and ur ex-band Jal? How much of ur current success wud u attribute to dem?

 A: dere is not animosity frm my end at all! Watever dey and others say, I dnt believe I retaliating as dis is sumthing of da pas which shud be forgotten abt. I did no wrong and I dnt want to linger on da issue. Dey never played a part in my success. I dint gel with dem. Gohar was an excellent guitarist but sumhow he cudnt play in da studio. We split and dat was dat. The following rumours shud be discarded as random conjecture!

 L: Any plan for a future album? When is its released planned?

 A:We are currently working on an album. We plan to release it , hopefully, after 5 or 6 mnths

 L: Which three musicians do you draw inspiration from da most?

 A: I draw no inspiration from musicians actually. However, I can name 3 musicians/bands dat I lyk to listen to! They r Nusrat fateh ali khan, Bono(U2), and the Foo Fighters.

 L: Wat is ur view on da current situation of music in Pakistan? Any potential or upcoming bands?

A: I feel dat music in Pakistan has become far too commercial nd tpp much of a rip-off. A culture exists in da country where every1 is copying every1 elses music and ideas. For instance since Aadat was released, most songs nowadays have alaap (vocalizing os notes, not wrds, sur), sumwhere in dem.

I fell dat dat dere is NO potential talent in da market at all at da moment. (Atif says dis after much thought). I feel da bands lyk mekaal hassan  band r da one who shud really make it. However dey dnt get enuf media attention and popularity, which I deem to be unfair and hard luck! I dnt see much talent in da market at all. However I feel dat one band, The Call is gaining popularity and has a chance to make it big.