Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan has never had a song flop, whether in films or private albums. The Pakistani singer coyly admits, “Honestly, it’s nothing short of a miracle that my songs have always worked. I can’t thank the music composers that I have worked with enough.”
“Music culture in Pakistan is very different as we don’t have an organised film industry like Bollywood, and people make songs for creative satisfaction. But I think that the music directors in India do a great job. Their task of composing for specific situations is tougher,” the Patiala Gharana exponent points out.
His Bollywood songs, in particular, have such high recall value that the audience at the concert last Friday couldn’t get enough of them. While Shafqat obliged them all, he did falter with the lyrics at times. Does he get tired of singing the same song over and over again? “That’s an important question,” says Shafqat, before adding, “But it’s my job. I have to make the audience feel like I’m singing a song for the first time. These are the songs that they love so I need to be energetic.”
Some of his songs like 'Yeh Honsla', 'Phir Wahi Raastey' and 'Khamaj' are very moving. Has he ever been choked with emotion while performing live? “We can’t allow ourselves to get emotional to the extent of not being able to sing or distort the melody, because there are people in front of you as well as on stage. It is a part of my training. But while recording 'Phir Wahi Raastey' in Pakistan, I was moved. I took coffee breaks to spring back,” shares Shafqat.
Interestingly, the singer makes sure not to improvise too much during live concerts. “People get shocked if you strike a chord outside the melody (which they aren’t familiar with). These are songs with sentimental values. But I do take some liberty while performing 'Duma Dum Mast Kalandar',” says the singer, who is looking forward to the release of his title track from 'Yaariyanas' as well as his next album.
