PESHAWAR: Popular Pashto singer Nazia Iqbal has said that she will release a new Urdu album on Eidul Fitr as a tribute to qawwali maestro Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

In a wind-up ceremony of her new Urdu album, Nazia Iqbal said that she would release her second Urdu album to pay tribute to great qawwali singer Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on the upcoming Eid. Her new album comprised Urdu ghazals.

She performed a few popular numbers of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on Thursday evening here at a local hotel and received a round of applause from the audience.

“I am not only a fan but a staunch follower of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, whose voice casts a magical effect on the listeners. I don’t claim I would come up to his high standards but it is my humble attempt. I expect the audience will appreciate my effort,” the singer hoped.

Nazia Iqbal says she is not only a fan but a staunch follower of qawwali maestro

She said that it was her desire since long to present her homage to the qawwali maestro. “It is my second album in Urdu. The first one was released two years ago. I wanted to remix Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s most popular ghazal ‘Tumhein Dillagi Bhool Jani Pare Gee’ which he had sung in the style of qawwali many years ago. My present album opens with this beautiful number,” she added.

Nazia Iqbal had launched her Pashto music career in 1997 and soon shot to fame due to her velvety voice and mastery over the art of singing. Around 500 Pashto audio and video albums are to her credit. She is also a recipient of numerous awards and commendation certificates from various cultural organisations.

Nazia Iqbal has a large following in Afghanistan, Balochistan, Fata and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and has performed in several countries. She has sung popular numbers in Persian and Urdu in addition to Pashto.

“My husband Javed Fiza is the music director and producer of this Urdu album. I have prepared it with great hard work which is reflective of my respect and love for Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who was beacon of a qawwali and source of inspiration for everyone. His contribution to the genre of Urdu qawwali is matchless,” she said.

Nazia Iqbal said that Pashto music had a huge market and Pashto singers needed to do new experiments. She said that the best poetry selection always went with quality music product.

She said that modern Pashto music had improved a lot. She said that they should honour their legendary artists and should learn from their art and experience.

“Our legends are a great source of inspiration whether in Urdu or Pashto, we must recognise their works,” she said.

Javed Fiza said on the occasion that Nazia’s new Urdu album would register its impact on local music chart for its fine music arrangement and skillful remix of the old numbers.

He said that Nazia Iqbal would also release a Pashto album on the coming Eid.

“We have prepared both the albums with a professional spirit to suit the taste of the listeners. We have used an eight-member orchestra to remix the Urdu songs,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2016