Spotlight - Catching up with Atif Aslam & Lanny Cordola
Spotlight: Catching up with Atif & Lanny
By Shahzeb Shaikh
Atif Aslam is on cloud nine these days.
Reason: his project Peace through Music in collaboration with the
members of Guns ‘n’ Roses and songwriter-guitarist Lanny Cordola,
members of bands like Giuffria, House of Lords and Magdallan (also known
as Magdalen after Ken Tamplin’s departure) is on full song.Atif
has already penetrated the Hollywood and Bollywood markets, but with
this project the pop icon bags further glory. Images on Sunday recently
caught up with him for a chat regarding the project, his future plans
and new Bollywood ventures, along with his thoughts on the recent floods
in Pakistan
Q. How has the response been to the project?
A.Amazing. A lot of musicians are really excited about jumping onto the
project. Artistes who want to play at different places with different
people will have a lot to explore through it.We
started off with a team of three and after the jam session, we are five
at the moment. We have many artistes who we expect to join in with the
likes of Saeen Zahoor, Abida Parveen, etc., from Pakistan and Matt
Sorum, Gilby Clarke, etc., from the West. However, nothing is finalised
yet
Q. Some basic details of the project?
A.
It’s about how the Americans should see the brighter side of Pakistan
which they haven’t as yet. This is why it’s called Peace through Music.
The point of teaming up with American musicians was that there was no
better way than that of music to let people from both the sides know
what either of them thinks about the other. It’s not just going to be
single song; it will be a documentary, a DVD that’ll include the
backstage footage of the performances, studio shoots, etc. We will come
up with new seasons every year.I
have recorded a couple of songs. One is in Punjabi and another one is
called Pakistan. Then there is a beautiful melody, Dreamer Awakes, by
Lanny Cordola that I will sing with different famous musicians and
artistes.The songs that I have recently composed are the English track Adam’s Coming out of Heaven and the Punjabi Ek Mein Ek Tu.
Q. How many tracks do you plan to compose?
A. You never know, we might come up with 15 songs, 10 on the CD and the rest on DVD.
Q. When will the project be completed?
A.
We haven’t decided a specific date because we don’t want to limit our
creativity due to time constraints. When one gets time duration, one
becomes very restricted and hence creativity suffers. However, we
probably plan to launch it by the end of next year.
Q. Will it be launched season-wise?
A. Yes, but that depends on the response of the first season.
Q.Are you planning to shoot any videos?
A.We haven’t shot a video for this project however we recently shot one
for The Sonic Peacemakers Project in Swat for a song called We Will Rise
Again composed by Todd Shea in English and myself in Urdu. Urdu lyrics
were penned by Shahzad Aslam. It was a great experience.For
this project, there will obviously be many videos but at this time, we
are looking for resources because the scope of the project is very big.
Q. Which international artistes are you planning to take onboard?
A. There are many. We have spoken to Chris Martin (Cold Play), Bono (U2) and solo act, John Mayer.
Q. Which local artistes have expressed interest in the project?
A. There are many. To name a few, Strings, Noorie, Saeen Zahoor, etc.
Q. Is this project in competition with Coke Studio?
A.Well, you never know. It might become a part of it. It’s just that we
are not going to be egotistic about it. We just want the musicians to
come together, be it under any banner; it’s about cultural exchange.
Q. What’s next on your agenda?
A.I will be going to the US to meet up with different inspirational
people like humanitarian and writer Greg Mortenson, who wrote the book
Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build
Nations ... One School at a Time, which was about building schools in
Gilgit; and author Beo Zafar who wrote the book, The Dreamer Awakes. One
of our songs has the same title as that of her book.Apart
from that, Lanny Cordola is going to come to Pakistan and we will be
recording a couple of new songs. The idea is to bring the cultural tone
with string instruments such the violin, etc. We are constantly
exchanging compositions and verses.
Q. You donated your collaborated song with Strings, Ab Khud Kuch Karna Parega, to Azm-i-Alishan. How is the feeling?
A.
I thought it would be better if we donated the track to some youth
forum because our youth is very distracted right now. I want to create
an awareness that we have to do something on our own. We don’t need
resources for cleaning up our homes, roads, putting smiles on our faces,
etc.
Q. How have you been involved in flood-relief activities?
A.I visited Swat and Charsadda with Todd and Lanny. I am involved with
different NGOs and we are sending trucks of food and other items of need
to the affectees.
Q. What are your future plans?
A. I will be touring Australia soon.
Q. Any Bollywood projects coming up?
A. A few acting offers are there. I didn’t like one of the scripts. Nothing is final though.
California-born renowned guitarist, songwriter
and producer Lanny Cordola is also well known in this part of the
world. He has been a member of bands such as Giuffria, House of Lords
and Magdallan. Before joining Giuffria, Lanny was the main songwriter
for his original bands named Lights, American Heroes and Mondo Cane. He
has been an inspiration for a myriad of Pakistani rock stars.However,
his latest project entitled Peace through Music in collaboration with
Atif Aslam and ex-members of Guns ‘n’ Roses has earned him a distinctive
place amongst the music community of the country. As this project aims
at cultural exchanges and to broadcast a positive image of Pakistan
globally, throngs of local and international artistes intend to be a
part of it.Lanny
recently visited Pakistan to promote the project. During his stay, he
also visited flood affected areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa and took part
in flood-relief activities. We talked to him about the theme of the
project, his views on Pakistani music, his involvement in flood relief
activities and of course, how the project would be beneficial for
projecting a positive image of Pakistan in the US and on the
international front.
Q. Why did you choose Atif Aslam for the project?
A.
Todd Shea and I were both extremely blessed to meet, connect and become
musical/spiritual and cultural friends with Atif. This is a blessing of
the highest order as Atif is not only a musician who is gifted and
dedicated, but also a humanitarian with a heart for peacemaking and
poverty crusading.
Q.Do you plan to take other Pakistani artistes on board?
A.Todd, Atif and I have had the great joy of meeting many of Pakistan’s
finest musicians who have shown great interest and support for the
projects we are undertaking.
Q. How do you compare the present catastrophic situation with that of the 2005 earthquake?
A.It seems that the impact of the recent floods has affected many more
people across a wider geographical spectrum. This is not to lessen the
tragedy that the earthquake of 2005 had for suffering is suffering. The
floods, however, have cut a wide swath through Pakistan.Todd
Shea is the expert of flood relief. Atif, Todd and I visited Swat and
Charsadda to lend assistance and bring gifts to the kids and offer hope
to our brothers and sisters in those regions.
Q. To what extent do you think this project will change the negative image of Pakistan in the US?
A.
I believe to the depths of my being that this project will have a major
impact on helping to bring about the transformation of Pakistan and
America as well for that matter. Music is the healing force of the
universe and we have the story which we have to tell. There is so much
light in Pakistan, so much hope, so many angels, so many incredible
sights and sounds.
Q. Any favourite Pakistani artistes?
A.I have many favourite Pakistani artistes: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ali
Azmat, Laal the band, Call, Abida Parveen, Noori, Shehzad Roy, Arieb
Azhar, Sain Zahoor, Zarsanga, Sanam Marvi, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan,
Overload, Zeb & Haniya and of course Atif Aslam among others, whom I
have had the great pleasure to become friends with.
Q. Do you think you would be able to achieve the peacemaking goals which politicians have yet to achieve?
A.
What history teaches us is that music helps us to learn, heal, unify
and transform. Dedicated practitioners of music are healthier, happier
and have higher brain function. So perhaps we must get musical
instruments into the hands of our politicians for peace. Love is a
melody and the world is a rock ‘n’ roll band. — S.S.
