Shafqat Amanat Ali
Shafqat Amanat Ali – the Rock Star Ustad (A term coined by Bollywood music director Salim Merchant) is the biggest singing sensation to hit the subcontinent in recent times. He is the son of the legendary Pakistani singer Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, making him a part of the seventh generation of Patiala Gharana.
He has been a student of the classical musical tradition of India and Pakistan since age four. Trained by his illustrous father and his uncle Ustad Fateh Ali Khan sahib, he completed his graduation from Government College Lahore. Shafqat was honored by the President's Pride of Performance in Pakistan on 14th August, 2007, making him the 6th recptient of such award witien his own immidiate family. Shafqat's voice represents a unique blend of classical singing and contemporary panache. The soul in his powerful voice has the rare ability, which can carry the listener to the peaks of ecstasy and the depths of pain within moments. This very versatility makes him a vocalist par excellence. As the soulful voice traverses a gamut of emotions, the sheer perfection of his gayaki leaves the listener spellbound.
His music defies the boundaries of language, styles, genres and musical cultures as the singer-writer-composer meshes the old with the new, the earthy with the avant garde and lyrical beauty with sheer vocal might.
Shafqat Amanat Ali was the lead vocalist of the popular Pakistani band – Fuzon. Their first album 'Saagar'., featuring common strains of rock melodies blended with Eastern classical and folk vocals was was very well received . The opening track Aakhon Ke Saagar gave rise to their popularity within Pakistan and India. Tracks such as Akhiyan, Tere Bina and Khamaaj (Mora Saiyan) among others (most of which were composed by Shafqat for the band), became instant favourites with fans. The songs - "Mora Saiyan" and "Tere Bina" are also featured in Nagesh Kukunoor's Hyderabad Blues 2. Fuzon released their debut album Saagar concurrently in both Pakistan and India.
Shafqat Amanat Ali became a name one recognized beyond Fuzon, when he sang the chartbuster Mitwa, for Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. The song became an instant hit and left listeners wanting more of this power-packed voice. He was also the voice behind the critically acclaimed song Yeh Hausla from the movie Dor, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor and recently the most popular on the album of My name is Khan, Tere naina and Bin tere from I hate luv stories. No wonder then, that Shafqat Amanat Ali is extremely popular and highly respected among music lovers and critics alike. His command over the classical idiom and modern music has made him a name to reckon with!! He has released his solo albums “TABEER” concurrently from India and Pakistan in September 2008 and "Kyun dooriyan" in India in March 2010.
Shafqat Amanat Ali khan belongs to the sixth generation of illustrous Patiala Gharana of Gaiki/ singing tradition. President of Pakistan’s Pride of Performance winner , Shafqat has undertaken this project to specially bring to light the traditions and spirit of music from Pakistan and enhance its character as a country steeped in culture and art. Shafqat has proudly contributed to the musical treasure of Indian cinema as well, rendering to many popular bollywood films as a playback singer and is nominated for illustrous 2011 IIFA awards held in Toronto as well. Shafqat headlines Mosaic Fest presented by No frills for the Fist time ever performing for a free festival in North America, Shafqat will be on stage on August 18 at 7.30 pm.
Do you recognize the singer..Meet the headliner for Mosaic Festival 2012!