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LAHORE: His business card has a portrait of himself in a crisp white kurta next to his buddy, pop star Atif Aslam against the backdrop of young children huddled together sporting the peace sign with their fingers.
Guitarist Lanny Cordola
— has performed with the likes of Ozzy Osborne and Guns N’ Roses. He
came to Pakistan not looking to hold concerts in urban centres, instead
he trekked all the way up to Swat to promote peace, through music. One
doesn’t normally associate rock stars with spirituality, but Cordola’s
deeply attracted to sufi mystics and shrines and is hoping that on this
second visit he might be able to experience Lahore’s famed Shah Jamal
dhammal. And when the politically ravaged country of ours has no faith
in itself, Cordola sighs deeply and says "heaven is right here in
Pakistan”. Against the backdrop of the Al Hamra, The Express Tribune spoke to the multifaceted musician on the country he, now, considers ‘home’.
Why Pakistan? Why now?
You need to ask God that (pointing to the skies). I wanted to explore
the idea of using melodies for peace and social causes; to entertain
people and give a voice to the voiceless. Initially a friend got me
excited about working in Uganda, but that didn’t materialise, then I
wanted to work in Haiti and even that, didn’t work out. I was really
bummed out about that and then I decided to help out Todd Shea with his
humanitarian work and that’s how Pakistan became it.
How was the Swat experience?
Swat was illuminating! It’s a place that has suffered immensely, yet
people there have incredible resilience and hope. The next step for us —
the Sonic Peacemakers — is to finish the song "[Pakistan] I have a
dream” with Matt Sorum and Gilby Clark. It is a song that is inspired by
Pakistan and by Martin Luther King.
What’s the agenda now for the Sonic Peacemakers?
We need to put together the right team, to create a world class
operation, to attract major musicians and artistes and get the spotlight
on Pakistan and in the beauty, within the country. We want to bear
witness to the struggles of people, especially poor children and, to
empower, young girls and women.
Tell us about the project you are currently involved in. It’s an
ambitious undertaking with Saeen Zahoor, Arif Lohar, Ali Zafar and Atif
Aslam.
I am really happy that this collaboration with Saeen has come about. I
am really hopeful that this will generate lots of possibilities and I
may be able to produce a record with him. I love discovering these
threads between artists such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Saeen’s
mystical sounds. There’s a whole spiritual arrangement to the set we are
performing, ‘love supreme’. I am in the middle of the set performing
the modern rock song ‘Sweet Child of Mine’ which was written with such
innocence and purity so it gels well with the overall intention of the
music.
What has impressed you most about Pakistan?
Everything and everyone has impressed me. From the spirit of the
people and the musicians to discovering Pakistan’s great legacy — deep
thinkers and poets like Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Bulleh Shah. I loved
visiting the Abdullah Shah Ghazi mazaar in Karachi and want to go to
Shah Jamal in Lahore.
What have you enjoyed most about Pakistan?
I have enjoyed touring the country; however, I have yet to go to
Bal0chistan. I want to discover more but my friends here are concerned
for me so we have to be a bit cautious. My friendships in Pakistan that
started with Atif, then Sameer Shami (bassist) and Sarmad and the people
in the band that we have worked with, have all become like family. This
just goes to show that music will connect, wherever you go.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2011. 
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