Regarding the JJ interview/article in Express Tribune

My comments regarding the article here: http://tribune.com.pk/story/578139/junaid-jamshed-and-the-maternal-instinct

So much is wrong in this article. Usually I wouldn't be bothered about the falling standards of journalism in our newspapers. But this is a new low. Such incompetent writing coupled with lackadaisical interviewing would seem to fit in a post on a fan club forum, but seems out of place in a national newspaper.

My biggest issue is how Junaid Jamshed (JJ) is presented as a reformed / born-again pious Muslim. To present him as a hero for abandoning singing/music does nothing more than further confuse young, impressionable minds. JJ was a celebrity and still is. The only difference I see is that his CDs and cassettes (at Rs. 80 and 35 respectively) were far more accessible to the common man than his Kurtas (which run into several thousands of Rupees). Music and poetry has been in the land that forms Pakistan as it stands today for hundreds of years. By presenting him as a better person now for abandoning music, we are only further confusing and contributing to the extremism in society and only furthering the agenda of the likes of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, LeJ, and JuD.

Other issues in the article include:

1. The title - Junaid Jamshed and the ‘maternal instinct’. Maternal instinct specifically mean feelings that a mother may have towards her offspring. It has no relevance here as nothing in the article talks about any motherly instincts of JJ. Yes, he has been working with a charity that has been focusing on maternal health - a far cry from 'maternal instincts.

2. "Sitting in Shahi Hasan’s studio, his fingers, a couple of times, delicately traced the contours of the guitar strings." Guitar strings don't have contours. You either touch a guitar string or you don't. A string is not big enough to have a contour (contour: n. the shape of the outside edge of something).

3. The song Us Rah Par's lyrics are quoted: "hum kyun chalain uss raah par jis raah par sub hee chalain. Kyun na chunain wo raasta jis par naheen koi gaya." There is nothing new about the path that Junaid has chosen. He isn't the first naat-khwaan, nasheed artist, or charity worker in Pakistan. He isn't even the biggest Ramadan quiz show host on TV. There can, ofcourse, only be one Aalim online. Moreover JJ says that, at the time of writing the lyrics above, Shoaib Mansoor "knew that something had changed in me.” This is really not true. One only needs to see Khuda Ke Liye and read up on Mr. Mansoor's interviews around the time the movie was released to understand which 'raasta' he would have liked for his protege.

4. [FROM THE ARTICLE: I lived that (Vital Signs era) part of my life to the fullest. But now that is the past,” he said, with a direct look, again defying the pre-conceived notion that he no longer talks to women directly or makes eye contact with the opposite sex]. Whose pre-conceived notion? Surely with regular appearances in the media, JJ is bound to be interacting with women. In any case, it would be downright rude of him to not look at the interviewer. Shouldn't the fact that he's being inteviewed by a female reporter mean that he is 'liberal' enough? Though I'm really not sure what the point is here - is the fact that he has a beard but can still answer questions to female interviews "with a direct look" supposed to be laudable?

Really shoddy journalism. The land of Bulleh Shah, Mian Muhammad Baksh and Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai derserves better. Thankfully we have people like Arieb Azhar who can still talk, and sing, about tolerance and humanity which is needed more in these times than Kurtas.

Rachid Taha - Zoom

After months (years?) of being untraceable, Rachid Taha has finally resurfaced with a critically acclaimed album. The new video from one of my favourite tracks of the album - Now or Never - is out and available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEeB3l5eJgU and a live version is here: http://video.mytaratata.com/video/a1b55479c45s.html

Taha has been my favourite musician ever since I discovered him through this collaboration he did with Brian Eno here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jde6OjPtunw. Good music to me is music that is sincere. Not only is Rachid Taha's music a great mix of Arabic melodies and western instrumentation (along with the wonderful mandolute played by his longtime collaborator Hakim - see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIiCqbqCec0), each lyric seems to be delivered straight from the heart.

The sound is refreshing and raw. For me the new album comes as a testament to the fact that, despite the headlines and general impending sense of gloom, good things can still happen. My favourite track from the album is the remake of Voila Voila - a work of pure genius,  produced by Brian Eno: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAtAXMrsoi0

Glad to report that Taha will be performing live in London in June 2013 along with Souad Massi at the Barbican.

On Imran Khan and Religion

A young, intelligent lawyer who goes by the name of Jibran Nasir, and who I had the privilege of doing some charity work with a few years ago has decided to stand for elections. He will be contesting two seats - NA-250 and PS-113. Jibran has put up his manifesto on Facebook and I highly recommend reading it.

In a recent TV program, when asked why he did not join PTI, Jibran responded "I did not join PTI because any political party that sells Islam to get votes betrays the ideology of Pakistan." This brought forth a barrage of comments from pro-PTI facebook users who wanted to understand how PTI sells Islam. Here is my attempt to explain how (copied from facebook comments I just posted):

All those trying to understand how Imran Khan is selling religion, I would advise you to note the special efforts made by PTI to appease the extremists. This is most notable by PTI sending it's people to Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) rallies. DPC rallies have been a platform for extremist organisations (including some who have been banned and are now operating under different names). Have a look at the list of parties here listed here: http://www.difaepakistan.com/about-us.html

You will note that PTI is the only recognisable mainstream non-religious political party mentioned on this list. This fact was highlighted by Najam Sethi in his interview with Imran Khan on his show a couple of months ago. Writing later in the Friday Times editorial, Sethi commented: "He (Imran Khan) is opposed to religious extremists and jihadists. But is ready to share the platform from which they spew hatred and violence. His argument that he is engaging with them only to wean them away from their beliefs and practices is a hangover of his continuing respect for and fear of the powerful military establishment that pulls their strings."

The point is that Imran Khan, by appeasing to extremists, is compromising on fundamental principles without which we can never have a progressive Pakistan. It is sad that he is doing this at a time when we need strong voices against the violence and injustice that is happening on our streets every day. It would have been great to have our heroes voice concern about the no.1 issue affecting our country. That they choose to remain silent is very unfortunate for the nation and condemnable. 

Steve Reich on making good music

"the bedrock of anything I’ve ever done is musical intuition. Whatever ideas I’ve had the test is: how do they sound on Monday, how do they sound on Tuesday, how do they sound next month? And do they keep sounding good? And if they do, then they are good. And if they don’t, then they’re not good" at the Red Bull Music Academy.

http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/london/lecture-videos/steve_reich_the_music_maker

i am

a son

a brother

an uncle

a Londoner

a Pakistani

a leftist

a Muslim

a knowledge-worker

a tenant

a music-listener

a commuter

a South-Asian

a twitterer

an insomniac

Things I've been asked of recent...

Are you a doctor? (Barber - understandable)
Are you a doctor? (Neighbour!)
Are you single? (Unsober guy at a party)
Are you straight or gay? (Same guy)
Are you sure you're not twins? (overheard someone saying to my sis at a wedding. Possibly best compliment ever)
You're turning into the music intellectual of our team aren't you? (music novice, I corrected)

this big city with small-hearted people...

... does not deserve a generous celebration like Ramadan. Seriously.

Found what I'm looking for, or have I?

Moments...

I was born to be with you
In this space and time

Sometimes there are moments when every thing seems purposeful. Every action - from requesting to leave an hour sooner from work earlier in the day to downloading that catchy song you had just heard in a friend's room on a fateful evening many years ago and, in the way discovering a sound that would stay with you forever. A moment when every preceding decision you've taken seems right.


... of surrender



At a talk in London earlier this year, the avuncular Brian Eno described the notion of 'surrender,' as the opposite of 'control.' Control , according to him, is when our actions are triggered as part of prescribed rules and instructions, mostly passed on from higher, more powerful entities. His definition of surrender was not to do with acceptance of a victor's authority, but the one-ness of one's self and actions with the surrounding. Organically giving in to the environment. If there is one place you could experience a 'moment of surrender' today, it would be at a U2 360 concert. By the time you hear 'moment of surrender' in the final song in the setlist, chances are high that you would have experienced several such moments.


Lights flash past Like memories

A speeding head, a speeding heart



'Intimacy on a grand scale' is what Bono is recently reported to have answered when asked what exactly the band intended to achieve with their enormous new rig. True to their word, the concert experience is intimate, but this is intimacy of a different kind. Though there are 'unofficial' queues to stand closer to the stage or inside the circle that forms the outer stage, intimacy on a grand scale works better when you are farther from the stage. With two massive arrays of speakers on each of the four sides of the stage, the sound will reach you wherever you are. And there is so much more to experience than a close up eyeful of the band while they jam, from taking in the fast-moving imagery on show at the gigantic 360 degree screen to the lights from the top of 'the claw' turning a stadiumful of spectators into one giant mirrorball, that you want to be as far away as possible from the stage.







Get on Your Boots

Having avoided Oxford Street on weekends, bank holidays, and boxing days of late it had been a while since I had seen tens of thousands of people. And what a sight it was, descending the stairs of Wembley Park station to see the stream of humanity ebbing slowly towards the stadium. The path to the stadium from the station had been converted into a U2 fan's dream street from hotdog vendors blaring U2 songs to stalls selling official and unofficial merchandise. Every few steps you would encounter intimidating men with heavily tattooed arms, selling tickets on "face value." Not everyone's job, selling tickets in black.



Ground Control to Major Tom

Commencing countdown, engines on

At first glimpse, the claw can be mistaken to be a space station or a similar object that would belong 'out there.' On close inspection though, it is hard to imagine a home for it. It fits the description of David Bowie's 'Space oddity' well which is the last song played before the band set foot on the stage. A strong link exists between David Bowie and U2 - Brian Eno has been the producer for many of their records.



Breathe!

As if to break the spell the venue and rig cast on the audience, the band invite the crowd to take a breath. Larry Mullen Jr. starts the proceedings on his drums and as Bono follows Adam Clayton and The Edge onto the stage, the audience roars. The Claw is suddenly alive and the screen tunes into the band. Three more songs from the new album followed and by the time the band sang Magnificent, the sun had conveniently set over Northwest London. With the sky too dark to spot any lines on the horizon, the band travelled back in time to perform their earlier hits returning only twice later to perform the more mellow numbers from No Line On The Horizon - Unknown Caller and Moment of Surrender.

Let me in the sound




A possible moment of surrender occurs when you're listening to the band playing songs that they've played, and you've heard, hundreds of times. Some of these can include songs that would always make you go for the skip button. At the concert though, you can't keep yourself from shouting out the lyrics with the rest of the stadium at the top of your voice.



Ambassadors of Cool



If there were a country called Coolistan, U2 would be the ideal choice for its ambassadors. The band's formula has always been cool-ness. Ofcourse there is an element of uncool-ness which adds to the coolness of a product and Messrs Bono & Co. are masters at that. But the packaging of every idea has got to be the stuff that would wow stadiumfuls of fans in western cities. The crazy tonight (remix) shares a place with discotheque and mofo (from the popmart tour) and zoo station and mysterious ways, ala the belly dancer who later became Mrs Edge, (from the zoo tv tour) as the coolest performances the band have presented.


Sorry your cause isn't 'cool' enough
The formula used in packaging ideas as songs is also followed in Bono's choice of causes. Iran, Africa and Burma are amongst the most popular topics in mainstream broadsheets and news channels.


Pic courtesy of flickr user p_a_h
Pic courtesy of flickr user p_c_w

If U2 concerts were your only source of information on foreign affairs', Iran would be the only undemocratic state and Suu Kyi would be the only prisoner in the world. Infact with no other undemocratic regimesl, or conflicts, in the middle east and no Guantanamo Bay the world according to Bono sounds like a much nicer place to be (except for Africa).

I come to a horizon and then I find another



Some songs you understand after you've seen them play live. To me "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" was one such song. As far as you knew what you were looking for, surely you should be able to find it. This was what I had been looking for, I told myself, singing along the first verse of the song with the rest of Wembley stadium at 14th August. This was stuff I wished I had have written in "My Aim in Life" essays at school. But aims, like causes, once fulfilled or achieved, need to be either replaced or replenished (Many U2 fans become ardent followers of the band, following the band in various cities during a tour and over the years). Just as Bono will need to find another Africa, when the continent becomes self-sufficient, this U2 fan needs to find a new aim for the rest of his life.