Faakhir Mehmood
Faakhir Mehmood is a Pakistani singer and music composer. He started out his career in a Pakistani musical group called Awaz. However to conflicts of interest the band split and they all went to become solo artists. The band Awaz also consisted of well known musician Haroon.
Faakhir has produced three albums as prior to 2006. His 2000 debut album, Aatish, was a big hit. His song in the album called Dil Na Lagey was the number one song for many weeks and was the best national song of the year 2000.
His latest album is Mantra. On that album there is a song called Jiya Na Jaye, in which Faakhir shares a duet with Indian singer Sunidhi Chauhan. Another song in that album called Mahi Ve won two awards in the India Sangeet Awards, in which he also performed.
One reason why Faakhir's music is popular is because of its unique use of diverse music and lyrics. He has a lot of Western and European influences in his music. His song Dil Ruba which is a track with Spanish influence and his song Kabhi Kabhi Pyar Mein were also instant hits. His single Sub To Suniyeh was also a big hit. As of 2007, Faakhir has decided to take a break on his music career so he can spend more time with his family.
Awaz
Faakhi attended the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore but moved to United States. After graduating with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the George Washington University in the United States in the early 1990. It was his university years when he met with Asad Ahmed and Haroon. Together, they formed the band Awaz.
Solo career
Faakhir started working on his album ‘Aatish’ in July 2000 by releasing his 1st single in August, a national song ‘Dil Na Lagay’. This national song become an instant hit and topped the music charts in Pakistan..
Riding on his wave of success he performed in New York and Washington DC where he sang to crowd of more than 30,000 people.
The same year he charmed a large audience in Dubai, UAE.
2001 was perhaps the most gratifying year for Faakhir as an artist as his other two releases, ‘Kabhi Kabhi Pyaar Mein’ and ‘Dilruba’ both topped the charts and became instant hits.
The song ‘Kabhi Kabhi Pyaar Mein’ won a Lux Style Awards while his other single ‘Dilruba’ (Pakistan’s most expensive Music Video, shot in Spain) was also nominated for best video and Direction at the same prestigious ceremony.
As a performer
“To me music is like the stars in the sky, it does to the soul, what the stars do to break the muteness of the stark black sky” -Faakhir
His acts are filled with energy, charged with unmistakable enthusiasm and a charismatic voice to compliment all the magic that unfolds on stage.
His ‘Sage Traits’ has enabled him as a much sought-after and liked performer. His heartthrob personality and melodious songs come together in perfect harmony to create a ‘concert; out of any ordinary ‘show’.
“The most promising act to come up these days is surely Faakhir” -The News July 22, 2001
Faakhir’s live shows have taken his ’music and magic’ to many countries in the world including the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia in addition to big and small cities across Pakistan.
Faakhir has performed alongside International contemporaries from the region and Europe including, Sukhbir and Stereo nation to name a few.
Faakhir has to his credit having done the most numbers of shows with International Artists in Pakistan.
As a soloist
“Multi skilled Faakhir has been compared with Adnan Sami Khan because he is trained as a musician, writes his lyrics, composes music, produces and sings”
Eastern Eye, London June 29, 2001
Now that I have started singing, I know there is no turning back. And the more I get involved in it now, the more I realize what I have been missing- at least not any more. -Faakhir
Faakhir’s long association with Awaz was a satisfying experience. His dedication, compositions and arrangements for the band led to many smash hits. Its success can be measured from the fact that these hits still echo in people’s mind and come to their lips besides being aired on TV and radio
regularly. His famous works include, ‘Mr. Fraudiye’, ‘Ae Jawan’, and ‘Shawa’ just to name a few.
After deciding to go solo, Faakhir started work on his debut Album, ‘Aatish’.
In July 2000, his efforts bore fruit as his very first song for the album; Dil Na lagey won him instantaneous approval and recognition as a singer. He song stayed on music charts as ‘Number one’ of many weeks before being declared as the best national song for the year 2000 by a local FM Radio
Station.
Awards
* Pride of Performance Award (Musics)
Discography
Albums
* Aatish (2002)
* Sub Tun Sohniyeh (2003)
* Mantra (2005)
Trivia
* Faakhir is an Electrical Engineer.
* He is a former member of the Pakistani group, Awaz, in which he used to play the keyboard.
Interview
After a Lingering Hiatus, Faakhir Speaks
“Sab Tun Sohniyeh” guy shares something new about him and speaks out now and is again ready to rock his fans after “Aatish”, “Sab Tun Sohniyeh” and “Mantra”. Full of energy and life, he never stops. His music deeply reflects his novelty and arty idiom. Filled with much more energy and charged with inimitable enthusiasm, crème de la crème of Pakistan Pop music with comprising sagacious peculiarities: that is Faakhir Mehmood.
It’s a long time after Mantra, nothing new from your side.
In fact, I am working on my upcoming album and just back from a concert at Toronto. I am still so exhausted and sleeping a lot. I feel like releasing it when things and conditions are a bit settled, when people are in a mood to enjoy good and colorful music. I like to give a gap of about two years in my albums. But it’s almost four years after “Mantra”, this gap is a bit longer.
Tell something about the Toronto Concert.
The Toronto concert went very well and it’s a great place to visit too. Since most of friends and fans are there, and the concert really went well, with almost an audience of two thousand plus. I enjoyed a lot and the trip was awesome. I am back now.
Share something about your song “Maula”. Whose theme it was?
This idea came to my mind while I was doing some export of Sky-diving materials. I realized that time how difficult it was to do para jumping and sky diving. It’s quite difficult and dangerous to perform these acts. It requires a lot of courage to do so. So we just thought of making a song on it, with a message that nothing is difficult in the world. We shot this video in London, UK, and it was directed by me. It is in fact, not a part of any of my albums, but a single number. It depicts a very simple message.
Tell us something about your upcoming album.
Let’s see when it comes out. There will be about ten tracks in the album, depending upon me, if I add some more even. (Laughs) “Maula” may or may not be a part of it. I am currently working on the album. I may go for a video initially.
You have been appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador, tell us about that:
I have been appointed as AMBASSODOR FOR ‘WAR ON TOBACCO’ in Pakistan by the Federal Ministry of Health. Plus another appointment includes regarding health awareness. So I am serving as a Goodwill Ambassador for the Anti-Tobacco campaign.
What was your experience as a judge on “Pakistan Sangeet Icon”?
Well, it was a very nice experience and I was quite happy from my job as a judge. The greatest thing is that I was very fair, impartial and honest during the judgment. There were no personal favors and I didn’t know any of the contestants. My dealing with the participants was very fair and just. I also felt happy that after so much of hard work, I have come up to the judge level now. Shehzad Roy and Immu were the other two judges besides me. I am quite contented that I did a lot of justice with my job.
How do you define music?
I think music cannot be explained or defined. Even if you write a whole book on it, with so many theories, and it doesn’t attract, it goes wasted. Good music can always be felt and listened to. So I would say that “Music cannot be explained or defined. It must be heard and felt”.
What was the first instrument you learnt playing?
During school days, I bought a mouth organ for 35 Rs. from a shop at super market, Islamabad. I learnt playing it in a day. I remember, as a child, I used to take it to school and play there. (laughs). Though, I intended to impress my class fellows a lot. So it was fun at that time.
How do you handle mistakes during a performance?
I get annoyed easily if some mishaps happen or if things do not occur as initially planned. Even after so much practice and work, if something goes wrong, I am irritated. The same happens when there is a sound problem or some other technical one. I usually look behind to my co-performers in order to avoid such things. At times I scold them too, but scolding makes them more nervous. Actually, things get covered even if something goes wrong. I demand perfectionism in everything that I do. Audience notices fault very rarely, but we know that something wrong has happened.
How do you balance out music with family?
It’s nothing special about us. We are just like other professionals who work “9-5” daily. Bankers, accountants, engineers, corporate level people, or doctors usually have such work timings. The way they balance out work with family, applies to me too. There is a lot of hard work, practice and jam sessions going on. Besides these, some promotional events, campaigns, video-making and marketing phases are also there: each one of these requires time and effort. Therefore, just like other professionals, we learn to manage it too.
What message does your music spread in the world?
I am a very fun-loving and jubilant kind of a person. I mostly do ballads and my compositions are quite romantic. I feel joyful to make people happy and believe in it. I believe in providing good entertainment to people with my music. I would never do a melancholic or highly depressing song that makes me distressing too. Instead, I would cherish making a lively, full-of-life and soulful composition, which is highly relished by everyone.
How have you come over your sinus problem?
Yes, I used to have a sinus problem in the beginning. For a singer, it’s killing to have this problem. But I worked quite hard on it and overcame it. After shows or tiring hectic days, I give a lot of rest to vocal cords. If you don’t give proper rest to these, this can cause meningitis too. After so much speaking and singing, your throat definitely needs some rest. I have overcome my sinus problem by taking proper voice rest, good sleep, taking steam without any crystal, and running (jogging). These four tips are very useful and I don’t miss my jogging even a single day. One of my friends suggested running as a remedy to overcome sinus problem.
What is the basic demand of this (music) profession?
(Thinks for a while) I think this profession requires core focus and hard work. Every profession requires struggle, though. Constant hard work and constant struggle are the two main demands of this profession, plus some innovation too. I believe in being creative and delivering something new every time. If I start composing something I was doing eight years back, that won’t be appreciated at all. Therefore, bringing novelty and more creativity to the work matters a lot. Every person in his life faces a stage where his creativity is almost negligible or nearly ending. This happens to every person and me too, so I believe in taking a break at that time, and coming back with striking ingenuity again.
Which musicians have inspired you and what are your favorite bands?
There are so many. Whatever I listened to during my formative years, is my inspiration now. My favorite band is Fusion, plus I like Sajjad Ali and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. “Sab Tun Sohniyah” was a remake item. I just took the first words from the original song and worked on it, with an entirely different set of lyrics and music.
Faakhir Mehmood is a Pakistani singer and music composer. He started out his career in a Pakistani musical group called Awaz. However to conflicts of interest the band split and they all went to become solo artists. The band Awaz also consisted of well known musician Haroon.
Faakhir has produced three albums as prior to 2006. His 2000 debut album, Aatish, was a big hit. His song in the album called Dil Na Lagey was the number one song for many weeks and was the best national song of the year 2000.
His latest album is Mantra. On that album there is a song called Jiya Na Jaye, in which Faakhir shares a duet with Indian singer Sunidhi Chauhan. Another song in that album called Mahi Ve won two awards in the India Sangeet Awards, in which he also performed.
One reason why Faakhir's music is popular is because of its unique use of diverse music and lyrics. He has a lot of Western and European influences in his music. His song Dil Ruba which is a track with Spanish influence and his song Kabhi Kabhi Pyar Mein were also instant hits. His single Sub To Suniyeh was also a big hit. As of 2007, Faakhir has decided to take a break on his music career so he can spend more time with his family.
Awaz
Faakhi attended the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore but moved to United States. After graduating with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the George Washington University in the United States in the early 1990. It was his university years when he met with Asad Ahmed and Haroon. Together, they formed the band Awaz.
Solo career
Faakhir started working on his album ‘Aatish’ in July 2000 by releasing his 1st single in August, a national song ‘Dil Na Lagay’. This national song become an instant hit and topped the music charts in Pakistan..
Riding on his wave of success he performed in New York and Washington DC where he sang to crowd of more than 30,000 people.
The same year he charmed a large audience in Dubai, UAE.
2001 was perhaps the most gratifying year for Faakhir as an artist as his other two releases, ‘Kabhi Kabhi Pyaar Mein’ and ‘Dilruba’ both topped the charts and became instant hits.
The song ‘Kabhi Kabhi Pyaar Mein’ won a Lux Style Awards while his other single ‘Dilruba’ (Pakistan’s most expensive Music Video, shot in Spain) was also nominated for best video and Direction at the same prestigious ceremony.
As a performer
“To me music is like the stars in the sky, it does to the soul, what the stars do to break the muteness of the stark black sky” -Faakhir
His acts are filled with energy, charged with unmistakable enthusiasm and a charismatic voice to compliment all the magic that unfolds on stage.
His ‘Sage Traits’ has enabled him as a much sought-after and liked performer. His heartthrob personality and melodious songs come together in perfect harmony to create a ‘concert; out of any ordinary ‘show’.
“The most promising act to come up these days is surely Faakhir” -The News July 22, 2001
Faakhir’s live shows have taken his ’music and magic’ to many countries in the world including the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia in addition to big and small cities across Pakistan.
Faakhir has performed alongside International contemporaries from the region and Europe including, Sukhbir and Stereo nation to name a few.
Faakhir has to his credit having done the most numbers of shows with International Artists in Pakistan.
As a soloist
“Multi skilled Faakhir has been compared with Adnan Sami Khan because he is trained as a musician, writes his lyrics, composes music, produces and sings”
Eastern Eye, London June 29, 2001
Now that I have started singing, I know there is no turning back. And the more I get involved in it now, the more I realize what I have been missing- at least not any more. -Faakhir
Faakhir’s long association with Awaz was a satisfying experience. His dedication, compositions and arrangements for the band led to many smash hits. Its success can be measured from the fact that these hits still echo in people’s mind and come to their lips besides being aired on TV and radio
regularly. His famous works include, ‘Mr. Fraudiye’, ‘Ae Jawan’, and ‘Shawa’ just to name a few.
After deciding to go solo, Faakhir started work on his debut Album, ‘Aatish’.
In July 2000, his efforts bore fruit as his very first song for the album; Dil Na lagey won him instantaneous approval and recognition as a singer. He song stayed on music charts as ‘Number one’ of many weeks before being declared as the best national song for the year 2000 by a local FM Radio
Station.
Awards
* Pride of Performance Award (Musics)
Discography
Albums
* Aatish (2002)
* Sub Tun Sohniyeh (2003)
* Mantra (2005)
Trivia
* Faakhir is an Electrical Engineer.
* He is a former member of the Pakistani group, Awaz, in which he used to play the keyboard.
Interview
After a Lingering Hiatus, Faakhir Speaks
“Sab Tun Sohniyeh” guy shares something new about him and speaks out now and is again ready to rock his fans after “Aatish”, “Sab Tun Sohniyeh” and “Mantra”. Full of energy and life, he never stops. His music deeply reflects his novelty and arty idiom. Filled with much more energy and charged with inimitable enthusiasm, crème de la crème of Pakistan Pop music with comprising sagacious peculiarities: that is Faakhir Mehmood.
It’s a long time after Mantra, nothing new from your side.
In fact, I am working on my upcoming album and just back from a concert at Toronto. I am still so exhausted and sleeping a lot. I feel like releasing it when things and conditions are a bit settled, when people are in a mood to enjoy good and colorful music. I like to give a gap of about two years in my albums. But it’s almost four years after “Mantra”, this gap is a bit longer.
Tell something about the Toronto Concert.
The Toronto concert went very well and it’s a great place to visit too. Since most of friends and fans are there, and the concert really went well, with almost an audience of two thousand plus. I enjoyed a lot and the trip was awesome. I am back now.
Share something about your song “Maula”. Whose theme it was?
This idea came to my mind while I was doing some export of Sky-diving materials. I realized that time how difficult it was to do para jumping and sky diving. It’s quite difficult and dangerous to perform these acts. It requires a lot of courage to do so. So we just thought of making a song on it, with a message that nothing is difficult in the world. We shot this video in London, UK, and it was directed by me. It is in fact, not a part of any of my albums, but a single number. It depicts a very simple message.
Tell us something about your upcoming album.
Let’s see when it comes out. There will be about ten tracks in the album, depending upon me, if I add some more even. (Laughs) “Maula” may or may not be a part of it. I am currently working on the album. I may go for a video initially.
You have been appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador, tell us about that:
I have been appointed as AMBASSODOR FOR ‘WAR ON TOBACCO’ in Pakistan by the Federal Ministry of Health. Plus another appointment includes regarding health awareness. So I am serving as a Goodwill Ambassador for the Anti-Tobacco campaign.
What was your experience as a judge on “Pakistan Sangeet Icon”?
Well, it was a very nice experience and I was quite happy from my job as a judge. The greatest thing is that I was very fair, impartial and honest during the judgment. There were no personal favors and I didn’t know any of the contestants. My dealing with the participants was very fair and just. I also felt happy that after so much of hard work, I have come up to the judge level now. Shehzad Roy and Immu were the other two judges besides me. I am quite contented that I did a lot of justice with my job.
How do you define music?
I think music cannot be explained or defined. Even if you write a whole book on it, with so many theories, and it doesn’t attract, it goes wasted. Good music can always be felt and listened to. So I would say that “Music cannot be explained or defined. It must be heard and felt”.
What was the first instrument you learnt playing?
During school days, I bought a mouth organ for 35 Rs. from a shop at super market, Islamabad. I learnt playing it in a day. I remember, as a child, I used to take it to school and play there. (laughs). Though, I intended to impress my class fellows a lot. So it was fun at that time.
How do you handle mistakes during a performance?
I get annoyed easily if some mishaps happen or if things do not occur as initially planned. Even after so much practice and work, if something goes wrong, I am irritated. The same happens when there is a sound problem or some other technical one. I usually look behind to my co-performers in order to avoid such things. At times I scold them too, but scolding makes them more nervous. Actually, things get covered even if something goes wrong. I demand perfectionism in everything that I do. Audience notices fault very rarely, but we know that something wrong has happened.
How do you balance out music with family?
It’s nothing special about us. We are just like other professionals who work “9-5” daily. Bankers, accountants, engineers, corporate level people, or doctors usually have such work timings. The way they balance out work with family, applies to me too. There is a lot of hard work, practice and jam sessions going on. Besides these, some promotional events, campaigns, video-making and marketing phases are also there: each one of these requires time and effort. Therefore, just like other professionals, we learn to manage it too.
What message does your music spread in the world?
I am a very fun-loving and jubilant kind of a person. I mostly do ballads and my compositions are quite romantic. I feel joyful to make people happy and believe in it. I believe in providing good entertainment to people with my music. I would never do a melancholic or highly depressing song that makes me distressing too. Instead, I would cherish making a lively, full-of-life and soulful composition, which is highly relished by everyone.
How have you come over your sinus problem?
Yes, I used to have a sinus problem in the beginning. For a singer, it’s killing to have this problem. But I worked quite hard on it and overcame it. After shows or tiring hectic days, I give a lot of rest to vocal cords. If you don’t give proper rest to these, this can cause meningitis too. After so much speaking and singing, your throat definitely needs some rest. I have overcome my sinus problem by taking proper voice rest, good sleep, taking steam without any crystal, and running (jogging). These four tips are very useful and I don’t miss my jogging even a single day. One of my friends suggested running as a remedy to overcome sinus problem.
What is the basic demand of this (music) profession?
(Thinks for a while) I think this profession requires core focus and hard work. Every profession requires struggle, though. Constant hard work and constant struggle are the two main demands of this profession, plus some innovation too. I believe in being creative and delivering something new every time. If I start composing something I was doing eight years back, that won’t be appreciated at all. Therefore, bringing novelty and more creativity to the work matters a lot. Every person in his life faces a stage where his creativity is almost negligible or nearly ending. This happens to every person and me too, so I believe in taking a break at that time, and coming back with striking ingenuity again.
Which musicians have inspired you and what are your favorite bands?
There are so many. Whatever I listened to during my formative years, is my inspiration now. My favorite band is Fusion, plus I like Sajjad Ali and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. “Sab Tun Sohniyah” was a remake item. I just took the first words from the original song and worked on it, with an entirely different set of lyrics and music.
