After a great success of ‘Kaifi aur Main’ shows with Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar, the young ghazal maestro will now be back with his solo ghazal concerts in the USA.
Jaswinder, or Jas as he likes to be called, transcends all language barriers with his music and unique style of performing. He possesses a great command over his audiences, both at public concerts and mehfils (private home performances). Interestingly, Jas has also mastered the art of singing several foot-tapping Punjabi songs, which he likes to save for his concert finales.
While anxiously awaiting his arrival here in a just a few months, we caught up with this amazing young man, who has been blessed with such a euphonic voice, for an exclusive interview.
You hail from Mumbai and have climbed to an undisputed position of ghazal singer as the younger generation of the legendary Jagjit Singh and his contemporaries. Exactly how old are you?
Well, I am very young and the journey has just begun!
Can you give us a little background on your family history?
I belong to a musical family. My father, who is also my guru/teacher, is the veteran composer Shri Kuldip Singh, who composed the melodies Tum Ko Dekha To Yeh Khayaal Aaya from ‘Saath Saath’ and Itni Shakti Hamen Dey Na Data from ‘Ankush’. So I grew up listening and learning from him. Whatever little I can sing is because of his guidance and encouragement.
Who in the music industry have been your inspirations?
Any form of music which touches the heart inspires me and I learn and grow everyday. However, from the Indian music industry I am greatly inspired by Lataji, Rafi saheb and Manna Dey to name few. In ghazals I am a great fan of Mehdi Hassan saheb. I also love Jagjit Singh, Pankaj Udhas and Hariharan saheb. I have also learned semi-classical songs from Pt. Ajay Pohankar and the classical from Dr. Sushila Tai Pohankar.
What is the concept behind a ghazal?
Ghazal means talking to a female, a conversation with your beloved. When one talks with his/her beloved, it is all about love and expressing one’s heart and feelings. However, over time the ghazal has progressed and now its canvas is very wide as it covers each and every aspect of human life and emotions. Thus, a ghazal is not only is an expression of love, but also a way of living, which also contributes toward society.
They have such exquisite beauty, yet it has been said by some that ghazals are a dying art. Do you think so and is this why you decided to incorporate them as part of your singing career?
How it can be a dying art since we are there working hard to take it forward?!!! Ghazal are evergreen. It is not that ghazals are a dying art, but rather they have only taken a back seat for the past couple of years. I feel the reason is that they were not getting the proper promotion from the music industry or the media. Now the time is again changing and not only the music labels but also the media is realizing that soon ghazals are going be in front.
Ghazals are the most beautiful form of poetry, composed and sung in a style which has a calming effect, relaxing one. This is what we need in this fast moving world. Recently I was appeared in one of the episodes of Idea Jalsa on DD National TV. In this episode I performed a couple of ghazals, which received the maximum TRP ratings, meaning it captured the maximum number of viewers. This translates into over 2.5 million music/ghazal lovers in India who watched it!
Since childhood I have always loved listening to Mehdi saheb and ghazals been my passion. Moreover, I received much encouragement from my family which persuaded me to take it on as a career.
Please explain the rigorous training one has to go through to be a ghazal singer?
While listening to ghazals one may feel that ghazals are very simple to sing, but it is not an easy job. One needs to study at least 7-10 years of Indian classical music and then learn the language/diction (tallaffuz) and then read and learn about the poets. After that, one needs to be a good performer, someone who can sing live on stage for 3 – 5 hours. So over all it requires a minimum 10 years of hard work. Now tell me, how much patience now is there in this fast-paced world? This is the reason ghazals remain to a niche audience.
Do you write the ghazals/songs as well?
No, I don’t write poetry, but yes I do write music for my albums and live concerts.
Please tell us about your first big break.
I have been singing on stage since I was a child. However, I got both a break and recognition after winning the mega finals of SAREGAMA TV show in 1999. I was awarded first prize by Ustad Vilayat Khan saheb, Smt. Girja Deviji, Shri Anil Biswas, Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma and Ustad Zakir Hussain saheb. I feel very grateful and honoured after getting a blessing and encouragement from such legends.
Can you tell us about IDEA JALSA – Music for the Soul?
Idea Jalsa is a unique musical program conceptualized by the Indian Music Academy & Arts and Artists, from which I was awarded the title of Young Ghazal Maestro by the living legend Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasiaji, this too in front of the former president of India, Shri APJ Abdul Kalaam Azaad. The concept of Idea Jalsa is to bring together the living legends and the young maestros together on one stage.
The concept behind the productions ‘Kaifi aur Main’, ‘Sheeshon Ka Masiha’ and ‘Ghalibnaama’ is very interesting. This is where you sing a ghazal, while the rare ghazals, letters and poems of renowned Urdu poets, namely Kaifi Azmi (also a film lyricist), Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Mirza Ghalib are being read. What has been the response to these unique presentations?
The response has been overwhelming as we have toured around the world with these shows. This proves that people are craving good music and poetry, and they want new ghazal singers to come forward.
Tell us about your new album ‘ISHQ NAHIN ASAAN’?
‘Ishq Nahin Asaan’ is my third ghazal album. It contains seven ghazals and one nazm. The subject of the album is romance and all the ghazals/nazms are written by the master shayars/poets like Mirza Ghalib, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Jigar Muradabadi, etc. The music has been composed by Shri Kuldip Singhji. We have tried to give a new contemporary sound to the album, which is being released by the SAREGAMA- HMV label worldwide.
We have also shot a music video, which is directed by Raajeev Walia, and will soon be on the air. The poetry is very simple and the music very modern. We are hoping that this album will be enjoyed by not only the classes but also the masses. I really feel honored that the great Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar saheb did the honours of releasing my album. Kailash Kher who is a Sufi maestro also was there to support me and the ghazal genre!
You’ve traveled the world. What are some of your favorite spots?
I would love to perform more often in UK and USA
Is there anything you’d like to add?
“Sakht rahon main bhi aasaan safar lagta hai, yeh meri MAA kee duaon ka asar lagta hai.”
Thank you so much Jaswinder for taking the time to be with us today. It has been a pleasure. We look forward to seeing and hearing you live at your various concerts here in the US very soon!?
Yes, either in October – Nov 2009 or March – April 2010!
Keep checking back for updates on Jaswinder’s concert dates. As soon as ICB gets them, we’ll post them for you.
