Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is back in town this month for his ‘Back 2 Love’ Tour. Desi-Box caught up with the man at a special Skype Chat. We talked to the man about the show and a few other things!
Q – Performing live is synonymous with your name – how does it feel to be interacting with your fans in this way?
A: IN FACT IT IS THE ONLY ASPECT OF SINGING I KNOW. BELONGING TO A FAMILY WITH A LEGACY OF 600 YEARS OF MUSIC HERITAGE, THIS IS THE BASIC THAT WE ARE TAUGHT, WHICH IS TO SING LIVE.
Q- You’ve performed at Wembley before – tell us about this forthcoming show and what it holds for the adoring audiences. Are you excited about performing in Wembley?
A: I HAVE TRAVELLED THE WORLD AND I CAN OPENLY SAY THAT SSE ARENA WEMBLEY, REMAINS TO BE MY MOST FAMOUS / LIKED VENUE. I HAVE GREAT MEMORIES OF THE CONCERT IN 2012 AND I AM SURE IT WILL BE EVEN BETTER THIS YEAR.
A: I LOVE MY UK FANS TOO…………YES, THEY ARE IN FOR A REAL TREAT AS I HAVE SEGMENTED MY UPCOMING WEMBLEY ARENA CONCERT WITH TCO & PME TO SHOWCASE THE “BACK2LOVE” ALBUM FIRST TIME. IN FACT IT CAN BE LABELLED AS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE ALBUM LIVE. THEN I HAVE ADOPTED A MEDLEY OF MY SUPER HIT BOLLYWOOD SONGS, SIMILAR TO WHAT I DID RECENTLY AT THE IIFA AWARDS, THEN THE NORMAL HIT BOLLYWOOD SONGS I WILL BE SINGING, ALONG WITH THE EVER GREEN AND VERY POPULAR SEGMENT OF QAWALIS………..THIS UPCOMING TOUR WILL BE SHEER MUSICAL MAGIC !
A – ON THE CONTRARY I WOULD SAY THAT I AM HONORED TO BE LOVED BY THE LONDONERS AND COMING BACK TO WEMBLEY IS SOMETHING I WANTED EVEN LAST YEAR, BUT MY PROMOTERS TCO GROUP WANTED TO TRY O2 AND IT WAS AN AMAZING CONCERT AS WELL.
Q – Share with us some details of your band members and how you all work together.
A – I CLASSIFY THEM TO BE MY FAMILY AND A LOT OF THEM INCLUDING MY YOUNGER BROTHER, WAJAHAT ALI, COUSIN FARHAT ALI AND OTHERS WHO HAVE EVEN PERFORMED WITH MY UNCLE AND GURU, USTAD NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHAN ARE STILL THERE IN THE GROUP.
Q – Tell us about some of the highlights of this tour, in terms of music – what songs do you feel will resonate with UK audiences the most and will there be some surprises in store? What is “Back to Love” tour all about?
A – “BACK2LOVE” IS ALL ABOUT SPREADING LOVE THROUGH AND WITH MY MUSIC. IT IS TESTING TIMES FOR LOT OF FELLOW BROTHERS & SISTERS AND ALL I WANT PEOPLE TO DO IS LOVE EACH OTHER AND GET RID OF HATRED. LIFE IS TOO BEAUTIFUL TO WASTE. THERE ARE VERY SURPRISES AND BEST IF UNVEILED ON THE DAY! I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE AWAY THE “SURPRISE” ELEMENT.
A – YES THEY HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL FOR MY CAREER, SPECIALLY IN THE LAST DECADE. I HAVE RECENTLY DONE A SONG WITH MAHESH BHAT SAHAB FOR ONE OF HIS UPCOMING FILMS, ONE WITH SAJID-WAJID FOR A FILM OF ARBAAZ ALI BHAI, A DUET WITH KAILASH KHER AND ANOTHER HALF A DOZEN SONGS AS WELL AND THE SAME IN THE PIPELINE.
A – IT WAS A THOUGHT AND PERHAPS A BELIEF OF ME AND MY PRODUCER OF THE “BACK2LOVE” ALBUM. IT ALL HAPPENED LAST YEAR IN NEW YORK WHEN WE THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND THEN DEDICATED ABOUT 9 MONTHS TO IT AND IT IS AMAZING TO SEE THE WAY IT HAS BEEN LOVED. IN FACT ONE OF THE SONGS, “ZAROORI THA” HAS JUST HAD OVER 12 MILLION VIEWS ON YOUTUBE VEVO AND LABELLED AS THE BIGGEST LOVE SONG OF 2014, SO I AM OVER WHELMED BY THE RESPONSE. I AM LUCKY TO HAVE A VERY GOOD TEAM WITH ME.
Q – Qawwali and Sufi music is very enchanting – you have kept the legacy of this music alive, to the enchantment of fans. How do you see this form of music evolving and continuing to appeal, as you are a pioneer of taking this abroad, as did your eminent Uncle. Please share a key memory of your extensive touring with him. Will we see your son also following suit?
A – THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY MEMORIES TO SHARE, BUT ONE OF THEM I CAN NEVER FORGET, THAT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAD TO WAKE UP AT 5 AM ISH (IRRESPECTIVE WHEN I WENT TO SLEEP) TO DO “RIHAAZ” (Music practice). SOMETHING AT THAT TIME I FOUND TO BE UNFAIR THAT THIS RULE WAS ONLY IMPOSED ON ME, BUT TODAY AND LOOK UP IN THE SHY AND THANK MY USTAD NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHAN FOR PUTTING ME THROUGH SUCH VIGOROUS TRAINING WHICH IN FACT HELPS ME EVEN TODAY.
MY SON IS SHOWING A LOT OF PROMISE AND INTEREST. THE REST IS UP TO HIM & HIS DESTINY, BUT YES FOR SURE IT WILL BE A VERY PROUD MOMENT IF I WAS ABLE TO SEE MY SON CONTINUE THE FAMILY LEGACY.
Q – You’ve been singing since the age of 3 and have inspired millions with your voice and vocal capabilities – what advice would you give youngsters, who wish to keep this tradition of singing alive, in terms of learning?
A – ONLY ONE THING, “HARD WORK”, BE IT PRACTICE, CONCERTS, PLAYBACK, BELIEF AND HARD WORK IS THE FORMULA. I KNOW NOTHING ELSE IN LIFE BUT JUST TO SING. SOMETHING I LOVE!