MUMBAI: From among the few non-film albums that released last year, it was only Pakistan born singer Shafqat Amanat Ali’s first debut solo album Tabeer that hooked listeners.
The former Fuzon singer is now back with his second album with Music Today titled ‘Kyun Dooriyan’ and is due for release in February 2010.
Speaking about his new album from Pakistan, Shafqat Amanat Ali says, “Tabeer was more traditional and upbeat in its approach, but my new album will have a lot more emphasis on the lyrics.”
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Kyun Dooriyan features 10 tracks, but the album will have an additional punch as all the songs will have a music video. Ali explains why, “We wanted to have a couple more videos for Tabeer, and I really regret not making videos for songs like Kartaal and Rang Le.”
As far as the sound and the feel of this new album goes, it will be more on the lines of Saagar which he released when he was a part of Fuzon. Amanat Ali left Fuzon in 2006 amidst a lot of controversies and allegations from his former band members. “Some of the songs that have been included on the new album were actually written for Fuzon,” he reveals, “but I have taken them back and rearranged them in my own style.”
Shafqat Amanat Ali will be doing a multi city tour in India in the second week of February to promote the album.
‘Working across the borders has become challenging’- Shafqat Amanat Ali
Shafqat Amanat Ali had performed in several cities to promote his last album Tabeer, however, he does agree that since 26/11 working in India has become more challenging. “Whenever I come to India I make sure it’s for multiple assignments and not just one recording – the process to come here has become a bit challenging,” he reveals. In such a scenario, one of the easiest way that musicians from across that border have discovered is working and exchanging music files online
After 26/11, a certain section had boycotted artistes coming from Pakistan. On this, he says, “I am not really worried about that – but post 26/11 things have gone awry, and that definitely hurts me emotionally. I was planning a tour with SEL and bring them to Pakistan but it could not work out because of the security reasons – there are lot of people who really like SEL in Pakistan but considering the given situation I don’t think I can tour with them in Pakistan.”
