THE horizon of the Pakistani pop music has so far been bejewelled by only a few female singers out of which there is only one who stands out and outshines them all. But what makes Hadiqa’s success even more remarkable is that she is not among those who have background in music.
A very hardworking individual, Hadiqa recently returned from a foreign trip. And despite the jetlag, the multi-award winner was ready to talk all about her favourite books, movies and of course, music.
Quite surprisingly her taste for music is as diverse as her style of singing. She enjoys all genres and says, “It all depends upon my mood, I like almost all genres of music; rock, R&B, alternative, folk, soul.” But immediately adds as an afterthought, “What I mostly listen to is soul and alternative, I am not much into hard-rock.”
In the Pakistani music scene, she idolizes greats such as Mehdi Hasan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Roshan Ara Begum. Hadiqa regards them as Pakistan music’s most precious heritage.
Above all, she loves classical music. From across the border, she is an ardent admirer of Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar. “I am great fan of their work and enjoy almost all their songs.” But where she is all for Eastern tones, she enjoys an equal fondness for western tunes as well. In fact, the style of her first music video is thought to have been inspired by western female artistes, something she stresses was quite unintentional.
Still, she marks Cheryl Crow’s Is it True as one of her favourite number. Beside Cheryl Crow, she has fondness for ditties by Pink, Beetles and Paul Simpson.
However, when it comes to movies, unlike music, she has restricted tastes. “I like to watch movies that deal with human psychology, war and peace,” she explains. She prefers to watch movies that touch you deep inside, like The Sixth Sense and Dreams Come True. But there is only one movie that she cannot stop herself from being enthusiastic about — The Message.
She reasons that the movie is an insight for those who do not know much about the history of Islam and its diversity. “It is one such movie that I advise all whom I know, to get hold of, and I myself have seen it many times and still have an appetite for it,” says she.
However, comedy movies are something she doesn’t crave for. “I don’t know why but, I do not like them much. In fact, I keep them in store to watch them with my nephews and nieces.”
Going to the movies with her nephew and nieces is one of her most favourite pastimes. That is the only time she has no choice but to agree with what they wish to see. It was they who dragged her to the movies she last saw in Chicago; Spider-Man 2 and Shrek 2.
“I love to spend time with them and watch Disney’s and other animated movies,” she admits.
The formula applies to books as well. She carves for books that deal with spirituality and human psychology. The intention behind it, is for her to discover and to obtain harmony, as well as spiritual wisdom.
“These books help you deal with not only your own problems, but they also help you understand how to dealing with other people as well.”
Out of the long list of books that she has read, she describes Friendship with God by Neale Donald Walsh as her favourite. Richard Carlson is another author whose books she enjoys reading.
Some of the work by Carlson that she likes to mention are, Happiness Now and What About the Big Stuff. Another of Walsh’s books that are up to her liking is Tomorrow’s God. She has read quite a few books on the subject that at times causes her confusion about their authors.
FAVOURITE BOOK: Friendship with God by Neale Donald Walsch
FAVOURITE MUSIC: Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
THE horizon of the Pakistani pop music has so far been bejewelled by only a few female singers out of which there is only one who stands out and outshines them all. But what makes Hadiqa’s success even more remarkable is that she is not among those who have background in music.
