According to Abbas Ali Khan, he has his hands full with upcoming, exciting ventures: a ‘Sufi’ album, a new music video of the song Bilaskhani, two songs each for the film Kaptaan and the upcoming Azaad, a title song for a serial directed by Sohail Javaid, a full soundtrack for the theatre play Sawa 14 August, a collaboration track with Zohaib Kazi and a few singles coming out from a platform called Doodh Patti by Taimoor Mirza!

Q. Why has your album been delayed? What is the sound like?

AAK: I did not plan an album at all. Initially, I was planning to release singles but after the release of Munn Kunto Maula, people started asking me about releasing an album so I decided to go for it. As for the delay, it was unintentional and the time that it took was spent in production. This is purely a Sufi album with Urdu and Persian kalam, with original compositions in a fusion setting.

Q. What do you mean by Sufi music? Every artiste who deviates from mainstream pop/rock calls himself a Sufi/spiritual musician!

AAK: Well, I was never into the mainstream pop/rock scene. I have a sound of my own be it Sunn Re or Malal. It’s true that the term ‘Sufi music’ has become clichéd, but for me coming into it was natural — musically and spiritually! I’m inspired by the message of the Sufis which teaches peace and unconditional ishq with God. I feel a responsibility to spread their message through my music at a time when it’s much needed. I would not call myself a Sufi singer because I’m exploring other music genres as well. However, Sufi kalam has inspired me and in the future I plan to sing and compose a lot of it.

Q. Have you switched over to classical singing permanently?

AAK: I have learned classical for 10 years and that influence can be detected in my singing and music. But apart from traditional classical khayal singing, I’m very much involved in other genres including fusion, ghazal, geet, thumri and other experimental stuff.

Q. Tell us about some of your recent collaborations?

AAK: Recently, I have collaborated with the talented composer Zohaib Kazi on his project, Ismail Ka Urdu Shehr, and a video will be out very soon. Apart from that I have done a song with Faraz Khosa, the title track of a serial by director Sohail Javaid. I have also sung for Kaptaan with Farhaan Zameer. Then I performed in Karachi at a gig by the name of Summer Jam along with Gumby, Shallum, Faraz Anwar, Sajid Ghafoor, Bradley and Mubashir Admani.

Q. What’s the music like in Islamabad?

AAK: I feel Islamabad is a great place to create music. However, the music scene is not as thriving as in Karachi and that’s why many musicians need to travel here frequently or relocate.

Islamabad is peaceful but isn’t always happening. It has become better as compared to the past. It’s a great place for creativity in isolation and there are even more inspiring places up North. But the spirit that you need for back-to-back live events is somewhat missing there.

Also, being the capital it’s really hard to get permission for outdoor events. Islamabad is relatively a new city so it does not have any culture of its own, and if there is any, then it’s not helpful for live events.

Q. Your Bollywood pitch with Sunn Re wasn’t very aggressive. Are you taking another shot at it?

AAK: I’m in talks with a few people. Currently, my top priority is my album. After its release I plan to tour Pakistan and abroad, besides exploring more opportunities in theatre and film scoring.

Q. Your thoughts on the present music scene?

AAK: The ongoing music scenario in Pakistan is not very good. I always say that art can never flourish in a place where basic necessities are not provided and where the security condition is miserable. Hopefully, when the situation in Pakistan improves and when news is no longer entertainment, the live music scene will also revive.

Q. How can classical music attract our youth?

AAK: It’s really very simple: make them listen to as much classical music as you can. There isn’t a single television programme that plays classical music these days after Raag Rung from PTV stopped airing years back. How can we expect the youth to be interested in something that they are not exposed to? If you give them soulful music they will listen to it, but if you give them Sheila Ki Jawani they will listen that instead (laughs)!