|
|
|
Star Talk: A tete-a-tete with Noori
Noori is the newest pop sensation on the Pakistani music scene. The band’s success is phenomenal and their fan base grows by the day. Even though the band has earned a lot of fame in a short period, they have no airs about themselves. This is one reason why this band tends to win the hearts of millions in this country.
Their songs, not only mesmerize us time and time again, but their thought provoking ideas are sure to affect the youth in an indescribable manner. One hopes that they never change and wish them all the best!
Seated in the lounge of the latest addition to the trendy eateries in Karachi, we wait patiently for Ali Noor and Ali Hamza to join us, a little hesitant and not knowing what to expect, we are pleasantly surprised when these two very tall gentlemen greet us with a hearty ‘hi’ and settle down for the interview.
Q: Date of birth?
AN: September 23, 1977 (25)
AH: March 21, 1980 (22)
Q: Any more siblings?
AN: No
Q: Who were your heroes while growing up?
AN: The only heroes we knew while growing up were our parents.
Q: Favourite quotes?
AN: I don’t have any favourite quotes, though I have lots of my own (laughs) like the one I believe in which is Har kam ko aisay karo jaisay usay karne ka haq hai. I don’t think that’s a quote (laughs) but it’s what I believe in.
Q: Singers who’ve inspired you?
AH: My father was my biggest inspiration followed by K. Segal. And Pathaney Khan ... I love Pathaney Khan.
AN: I haven’t been inspired by any particular singer, but I’ve been inspired by bands such as Pink Floyd, Queens Rights, ummm from the more recent singers I like Fiona Apple and Sting but Sting more on a musical side than as a singer..
Q: What about your profession? Do you plan on continuing it?
AN: Yes I plan on pursuing law. Why can’t we have singing lawyers? We’ll sing our cases... (Laughs)
AH: Singing is ten times more difficult than doing a job or running a business.
Q: Noor, describe Hamza in a few words?
AN: hmmmm Hamza... He’s an aesthetically refined person.
Q: Hamza, describe Noor in a few words?
AH: He’s a very smart man who lives for the future.
Q: Describe Karachi in a few words..
AN: Very fast paced.
AH: EXTREMELY fast paced (laughs).
Q: Do you like Lahore better or Karachi?
AH & AN: Lahore (in unison)...(Like we didn’t know that one already).
Q: Do you fear being idolized?
AN: Fear? (appears puzzled) I know it’s a big responsibility but I’m willing to take it on, it’s not like I haven’t done anything wrong, I have made mistakes but I’m willing to work on it.
Q: Do you plan on becoming really commercial, like having your pictures and names on t-shirts, billboards, utensils and other such stuff?
AN: Yea sure! That’s not commercial... Why not? What’s wrong with that? I’d love to, that’s the whole point of doing pop music right! POP means popular! (Laughs)
Q: Any celebrity crushes?
AH: Salma Hayek (grins)
Q: Are your parents supportive about your music?
AN: Yes they’re very very supportive.
AH: They’re the most supportive parents.
Messages for the youth from our favourite pop stars!
Noor on the education system
Schools have become like spoon feeding devices, they spoon feed you. You’ve got to educate yourselves and not just collect degrees. You’ve got so many facilities these days, the Internet, books, encyclopaedias etc. In today’s time and age if you really want to get somewhere in life you don’t need many degrees, but a little common sense and capability.
On careers
How many of you have actually picked up a science book or something educational and read it without being told? Take out time to read about science, not just conventional science but mind sciences as well. Just like there’s an Internet boom right now, mind sciences is definitely going to be next on the agenda. Don’t think of becoming lawyers or doctors; look into new fields, yeah but if you want to do something on the artistic side like classical music or dancing that would be lovely.
On the deteriorating condition of Urdu
Urdu is one thing you should have a strong hold on, I mean you should read material by Maulvi Nazir, Ashfaq Ahmed, Ahmed Bin Qasim, and other such authors. If you don’t then you lose your reference point with your country. I’m not going to give you a lecture on patriotism or tell you to love your country, because you don’t love a country, you love the people of a country. But your country is still your country however bad it is. “Fools build houses only the wise build men.” Your country is like your house and this house has a room which is Urdu, imagine if you keep the whole house dirty and clean only one of your rooms , what’s the point? Urdu is your language, languages create ideas and ideas can only be created if you have the tools to create them. These days there is a dearth of great authors and poets .. Do you realize why? Do you realize what’s going to happen if Urdu isn’t looked into? There will be no writers, and poets. Consequently there will be no singers as well.
|
|
|
|
