Continuing with our series of interviews with music bloggers, this time we have a very talented singer Azam Khan with us. Check out Azam’s songs at his blog, Expression of Heart and Soul.

Azam_Khan

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am originally from Karachi, Pakistan. Mom is from Delhi and dad from Rampur and hence, Urdu and Hindi languages have been of primary interest to me from the beginning. After high school, I moved to the US in early 90s. I completed my B.S. as an Electrical Engineer and have been working as a Firmware Engineer for more than a decade.

Your voice has strong resemblance to Mohd. Rafi’s. What effect has that made in your musical career?

Well, I personally have never agreed to that assertion. However, the fact remains that many listeners state the very exact account. My suspicion is that it could be more of a psychological outcome instead of a technical one. In any case, it is a pure honor and delight to receive such accolades. To me, comparison to Rafi sahab’s voice (or style) is more than “a dream come true”.

This may surprise some but the reality is that ten years ago it was Kishore Kumar whom I idolized more than anyone. However, as I heard more and more of Muhammad Rafi, and specially his songs from 50s and 60s, my favoritism skewed progressively. The truth is that there was hardly a film and/or music director who did not want to have Muhammad Rafi. At one time, the success criterion of the hero was whether Rafi sahab’s voice could suit him or not.

As a matter of fact, I do not know what effect it has made towards my musical career. I do not even know if I have a musical career. One obvious possibility is that it has raised expectations of fellow singers and listeners which, again, I accept with an utmost sense of honor and pride. Nevertheless, I do know that I have learned a lot by listening to the maestro. How to induce emotions and expressions, how to develop vocal control, and how to make a song come alive in front of your eyes are some of the questions that have been answered by listening to his songs. For me, Rafi sahab’s singing is the ultimate standard of male-singing.

Did you have any formal training in music?

None until a few years back when I started to learn Hindustani Classical music. That went on for a couple years. I passed my first exam from Swaranjali Music Academy. I had to stop in 2007 to shift gears towards advancing my education and career. I am hoping to continue with my musical training in future.

When did you start music blogging and what lead you to it?

Officially, my blog started in 2006. However, I joined Tarana.com in November of 2005 and that I consider my actual start of Audio blogging. Another factor that eventually led me into it was my continuous practice of recording with Anirudh’s Karaoke CDs. I had released an Audio Cassette (… yes, you read me correctly, an audio cassette) in 1997 called “Sandese Mohabbat Ke” on the insistence of my close friends and family.

Can you write about how music blogging has helped you compared to your musical life before music blogging?

It has helped me tremendously become more educated in the area of music. I saw a huge network of bloggers develop with in a short period of time. Their contribution in the form of revival of the forgotten music and music legends, keeping the audience updated on what is current and in vogue, and everything in between has been phenomenal. Also, the sheer amount of talent that has surfaced through online blogging is overwhelming.

What is the best thing that you like about music blogging?

It provides me with the option to express myself in an effective fashion. And I can share that expression with the whole world instantly. Moreover, while feedback from family and friends provide me with guidance, a feeling of fulfillment and accomplishment, and love, comments from complete strangers are another source of true surprise, joy, and happiness.

What do you dislike the most about music blogging?

I am not sure if it is a ‘dislike’ or simply an area of concern for me but the scope of music blogging is limitless. I like to treat others the way I like to be treated. I am a kind of person who enjoys having a one-to-one relationship with each person and treat each person as a unique individual. However, it is very difficult to practice when this social circle is constantly expanding. And hence, it has been a struggle to figure out a solution to that problem.

Another pet-peeve of mine is the lack of criteria of expectations in the music-blogging world. People blog for different reasons and to achieve different objectives. For some, the goal is to become a professional while for others it is pure pastime activity. Similarly, listeners also have different objectives in mind under which they provide feedback. I have seen confusion arise when the expectations of singers and that of listeners get misaligned. Fortunately, for the most part, people simply like to see a positive comment about their performances and move on.

What were your activities in the field of music before you started music blogging?

I have been participating in music related activities for a while. Before music blogging, I sang for local shows wherever I resided. Currently, I am part of a musical band in Portland called Tarana.

Have you done live/stage shows? Could you please share any unforgettable musical moments or concerts that you had?

Yes, I have sung in a number of live shows. From time to time, I also organize “mehfils” with a group of close friends and acquaintances.

Singing in a show with Tasawwur Khanum, who is a well-known singer of ghazals and movie-songs in Pakistan, was extremely pleasant and memorable. She was very kind, humble, and gentle. I have also sung in the same shows as Alamgir and Saleem Javed who are considered pop-music icons in Pakistan. One of the most noticeable ‘musical’ moments, however, was in 1998 or 1999 when I had a chance to meet with Sonu Nigam before his concert in Minneapolis.

What are the pros and cons of live and studio musical performances?

Well, there are quite a few major differences in the two types of performances:

  1. In live shows, you cannot ‘replay’ whether it is a mistake you made (one would not want to replay that anyway) or positively outdid all of your previous performances. Luckily, a good performance outweighs minor mistakes and leaves a much lasting impression.
  2. Live shows entail organized practices with the band to improve collaboration and final presentation.
  3. Live shows demand good care of your throat and health, in general, before and on the actual day of the show.
  4. Live shows carry risks of inferior performance quality that is proportional to the number of people in the band and their individual contribution.

What equipments do you use for home recording?

1.    Yamaha mixer
2.    Cool Edit Pro
3.    SM58 Microphone

What kinds of Music do you like?

Usually, soft and classical with an emphasis on poetry! However, depending on the mood I will go with any kind of music, in general. Lately, my kids have been asking me to play Adnan Sami’s ‘India se aaya, life banane’ from movie Kehta Hai Dil Baar Baar and I have learned to enjoy it with them.

Your favorite musician, singer and genre – and the reasons for you prefer them over the rest.

Well, Shankar-Jaikishan, OP Nayyar, Naushad, and Kalyanji-Anandji are amongst my favorite musicians. In my opinion, when they produced a song, the quality of poetry, music, and vocals was in excellent harmony. This balance was the result of their hard work, creativity, and good understanding of their final goals. It would be impossible for me to prefer one over the other. They all have contributed to the music industry in a way that is impossible to forget, replace, or imitate.

Amongst the singers, I can go with Rafi, Lata, Asha, and Kishore without hesitating for a second. As I have said in one of my blog posts, they were way ahead of their time. The types of songs they have sung are simply out of this world. The bottom line is they knew how to surprise their listeners and that kept the audience desirous.

What are your other hobbies/interests apart from music?

I like to read and collect books. I have a personal collection of more than 1000 books on several subjects ranging from religion to fiction.

Have you got any breakthrough in the music industry or is there something in the pipeline?

I have had a couple of chances to sing for Pakistan television and radio during my college years. However, based on several factors, biggest one being the unavailability of time as a student I never pursued seriously. Most importantly, as I said earlier, there are many objectives of performers. Mine, for the most part, has been to achieve self-satisfaction and happiness and I have been quite successful at that.

Thank you Azam, for spending time to answer our questions. We appreciate it very much and all the best for your continued musical journey.

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