Restoring Dreams

Jibran Zuberi

It’s been a long wait since Shafqat Amanat Ali walked out of Fuzon over a difference of interests, but the Pakistani singer-songwriter has finally come around with his first solo record, out last month. Take a listen to Ali’s Tabeer, and the difference of creative opinions that led to the fall out is lucidly brought out. His staunch vocals pillar the album but are nestled in compellingly softer tones ”“ an abundance of flute sections and acoustic string sets – when set against his vocals chasing Shallum Xavier’s heavy guitar lines on a Fuzon record. Today, Ali has betrayed his past association with pop-rock. “What is the point in doing the same thing over, I always want to attempt something different, the word ”˜tabeer’ means ”˜a dream come true.’ On this album I have tried to do justice to all the things I have wanted to do,” he explains. Ali’s vocal stylings on the record cull from Pakistan’s inherent sufiana traces and his traditional Patiala gharana heritage ”“ so the record busts the contemporary myth Ali had been living with Fuzon. “I can’t force in raging guitars, I have to be true to the sound and work the instrumentation respecting the environment and sensibility of a song.” Speaking of inspirations on the album, Ali has borrowed the wisdom of Sufi poets such as Bulle Shah and Amir Khusrao; and his gharana heritage ”“ “You remember ”˜Bulla Ki Jaana’ by Rabbi”¦ I have resourced the same poet and translated his poetry on some tracks like ”˜Bulle Shah’ and then I also took inspiration from my gharana wherein I did my own rendition of an old traditional family song ”˜Darbaari’.” Besides having successfully attempted playback singing in Bollywood, the man hasn’t performed live in India in four years. He finally obliged Indian audiences promoting his album through Mumbai and Kolkata in September.