Interview: Shiraz Uppal “My next album is called Ankahi and it will release this Eid”

One of Pakistan’s most underrated singers talks about his next album and working with the legendary AR Rahman on the soundtrack of the upcoming film, Boys.

Maheen Sabeeh
Karachi

If with his first two albums, Tu Hai Meri (2001) and Tera Te Mera (2003), Shiraz Uppal was gingerly setting his foot in the Pakistani music industry, with Jhuki Jhuki (2005), he captivated everyone. Shiraz Uppal stands tall today as one of the most underrated composers and singers of this decade. The beautiful compositions, the intelligent songwriting and hummable gems like ‘Jhuki Jhuki’, and ‘Mann Ja Ve’ didn’t go unnoticed and the album has became a landmark in Shiraz Uppal’s career. Bollywood came calling in 2007 again and (without selling his existing music short like Atif or Roxen) Shiraz seized the opportunity and created ‘Roya Re’ for the soundtrack of Dhoka (2007). The tune is still memorable for its soul and bluesy notes.

Pakistan’s fiery rock star, Ali Azmat, maintains that “Shiraz Uppal is one of the best composers we have today. He is better than me, and many others.”

But lately, Shiraz has been lying low, away from the spotlight. In some ways, it is characteristic to his calm demeanour. But the man is now coming back. Instep Today caught up with Shiraz Uppal and here’s what he told us…

Instep Today: What have you been up to lately?

Shiraz Uppal: I have just finished singing a song called ‘Secret of Success’ for an Indian film called Boys. The music is by AR Rahman and it is the main song of the movie. Boys is an upcoming Bollywood movie, which has been directed by Shankar and features Siddharth and Genelia D’ Souza in the lead roles.

The soundtrack of the film is already a roaring hit in South India and now it’s releasing in Hindi, as is the norm with most of AR Rahman movies. I recorded the vocals in my own studio in Lahore as AR Rahman sent me the music track over the Internet. He has always been a source of inspiration for me and is the perfect music director to work with. He is simply a genius.

Instep Today: Your last record, Jhuki Jhuki released in 2005 and was a huge success. The expectations from your next record are sky high… when is your next album due?

SU: Yes, I’m aware. The response to Jhuki Jhuki was amazing. I have put in my heart and soul in producing my next album. It is called Ankahi. I’ve produced it myself. I’ve worked on the cover design as well. It will release this Eid…. Insha Allah.

Instep Today: So when will the videos start rolling?

SU: The first one from the new album is called ‘Rabba’ and has been shot in Karachi by Jalal. ‘Rabba’ should hit airwaves around Eid. Then the next one is with Ahsan Rahim and it’s called ‘Mann Laga’.

Instep Today: Will ‘Roya Re’ be a part of Ankahi?

SU: Yes. It never released as a single. So the film version will be in it alongside the original version.

Instep Today: Have you signed up with any record label?

SU: Yes. Ankahi will be released by Fire Records.

Instep Today: How was your experience of working with them?

SU: I had heard some mixed stories but so far it’s been a wonderful experience working with Fire Records. They are all professionals in this field and stand by their commitments.

Instep Today: Does Fire Records own the rights to your songs?

SU: Yes they do own them.

Instep Today: With the ongoing deals between channels and record labels – the biggest one being Fire Records – the cut in royalty, who does it go to under your contract or did you opt for a lump sum deal?

SU: As there isn’t any formal structure for royalties in our country so I opted for a lump sum deal.

Instep Today:  Have you heard about AMPP and/or Union of Pop?

SU: Yes, I have heard of it but I don’t know exactly what it is and who it belongs to.

Instep Today: Tell us about your foreign shows?

SU: The last tour that I did was of the USA. It was for three months and I performed in 16 different states.

Instep Today: What was the most fun show for you and why?

SU: The most fun show was in Las Vegas. Besides loads of applause, my wife and I got two Swiss diamond watches from one of the fans present there and there were a lot of other things to explore in Vegas (smiles).