Dear Rahmaniacs, Singer & Guitarist Rashid Ali talks on Rahmania show. ( UK Accent... was really tough to gather his words.. spoke in a very low tone )
I had come down from London to Chennai, as I have been signed as the first artist for the KM Music Conservatory. We are recording to do an album. It would be quite soon. Q :- How did you start your music career ? RA :- Basically, my mummy is a singer. We were based in England, but she was regularly performing in Concerts. She sings Hindustani. She did an album with Ustaad Ghulam Mustapha azad. But Unfortunately, she became sick, and couldnt continue, and I used to accompany her to these places, and he used to ask me sing some covers.. , and thats how I started to sing. My parents actually put me into a violin and guitar, at the age of 9. I couldnt take to the violin, but took to the guitar, as it supported the same. Singing and Guitar went on side by side. I was a singer and I took into guitar. As a kid, I started singing some great Bollywood tracks like Kishore Kumar, MOhammed Rafi and all. I quickly learnt what Indian music is about. I also got readied with western Music. Learnt and teaching myself the Guitar. ( Self tutor ) . Whatever I have now, is whatever has been passed on my mom... I guess. I didnt learn Hindustani, but it was always playing in my house, and we get to hear so many tracks. Though, we were in England, we were in touch with Indian Music, and a lot of Indians there also like Indian music . I sometimes feel to myself, that I should have learnt Classical Guitar, but if I would have been into that, then probably I would not have done my improvisations and when you improvise, you create your own style. I never listened to Indian singers thinking that I would want to like them.. I was not formally Indian style, so what comes to me is a different style. I used to listen to the elements of Steve Wonders. But I never wanted to follow his style of singing. WHEN DID YOU MEET RAHMAN ? Actually, I met AR in 2001 in a concert. By chance, I mentioned that my mother had worked with Ustad ghulam Mustapha Azad. Immediately, it struck him, as my mother working with Ghulam Mustapha azad, had connection with his sons working for Piya Haji ali with AR. I also said that I was a guitarist and a singer, and loved Jazz Music. Immediately, he told me , " Oh. Thats different. for an asian guy to love Jazz music and alternative connection with Indian". He could relate to it, as he also has listened to those styles of music. We just started work on Bombay Dreams. My mother and father are from UP. My roots are in India. I havent been introduced to Classical Music, though as a kid, I also played th Tabla. Then, I started focussing on the Guitar and singing, instead of having hands on everything. I am trying to bring new elements, which I am exploring. Initially, I was born in HYderabad. Essentially, I was brought up in the UK. I have travelled with Rahman for concerts to the US. Experience working with Journey Home Really really good. It was nice to working with something close to home. It had subtle Indian elements, though a lot of Western style of music. We had some good sessions, with AR in night, and they were very very memorable. He just set up a studio, where he was working from. We used to have fun , and talk about a lot of things, and do the recordings. He essentially invited me many a times to come to Chennai. Then, we did one particular Tamil song. Nadhir Dhinna from Paarthale Paravasam. Actually, we recorded it in London to begin with. There were some spanish words in that ( as he utters, it sounds like A.R. Rahman, A.R. Rahman... which was notified by a member here before... ) I used to practice more of guitar, as a kid, and never used to practice singing that much. I used to practice for hours and hours,Trying to emulate various types of styles etc. I am not going to copy anybody, and am going to try my own syle in the Guitar. Essentially, elements come out in Spanish and Jazz. Jaane tu Ya Jaane Na Kabhi Kabhi That started couple of years back. Ar was looking for a kind of fresh voice. I would call it an essentially a non typical Hindi track. The beauty of that song is that it conists of varied elements of style in it. Its essentially, a very light hearted happy number. He asked me to come and play the Guitar in it, and he had me in mind, for singing it even. within 1 hr, we did the scratch track, and eventually, the producers liked it. Kabhi Kabhi is really really taken offf. Thats the first song in the album, and a great one for me. ( Lyrics translates and tells... Sometimes in life you find someone, who is for you. ) Kahin To I was actually asked to do another song, with Vasundhara . Ishq Ada - Its a completely different one, and people have been saying that its so different. Actually, AR told me to sing it in a different style, and its the characterisation in the voice which is most important. Its more of a heart pleading song. Its been specially sung with a lot of emotions, describing about emotional aspects of Love. Essentially, I want people to know what Rashid Ali is all about. I want to add new elements to Indian music. The forthcomign album is my venture into all this, and hopefully people would enjoy whatever I would offer them that way. A lot of people in the UK take to hearing Indian music, and get attracted to it. esp Bhangra music. They are really getting used to the sounds. -- regards, Vithur HELP EVER; HURT NEVER; LOVE ALL; SERVE ALL
