The Insider - Mekaal Hasan

By Nabeel Aejaz

Nabeel Aejaz: How was your last night's performance? (Asian Buzz 2006)

Meekal Hassan: It was great! A lot of people came. About 5000 people attended this concert. It was a big concert for Junoon. The band performed wonderfully and we played songs from both Ali and Salman’s solo albums. It was really nice. It was a perfect farewell concert; the sound and lightning effects were nice. I’m really happy about it. All the band members were present at this memorable event.

N.A.: Was this really their last one? Is it really Junoon's 'farewell' concert?

M.H.: For now, it is safe to say so because both Ali and Salman have great future plans for themselves. One can consider it to be their last concert. However, I personally think that they might do something together again in a year or two. Hopefully, all three of the original band members will be working together.

N.A.: Is it also true that Gumby has parted with Noori these days?

M.H.: No, actually Gumby hasn’t been along with Noori much because of logistical differences. Gumby lives in Karachi and Ali Noor has been moving around for the past few years. He, along with his family, first moved to Lahore. Then they took off to Karachi and stayed there for a while. Then their family shifted to Abbotabad. They came back to Lahore and sold everything and shifted to Abbotabad for good. Due to the earthquake, they had to shift back to Lahore. For a person like Gumby, who is the sole provider for his family, it’s impossible for him to move around so much. He isn’t able to take part in the band activities as much as he used to before. He used to be in all the Noori interviews, he was present at there every shoot. So now, he has some serious problems to deal with, like his mom and aunt, who happen to be ill and it’s his duty to provide and care for them. The public doesn’t realize such personal problems when they look at bands and stars. Noori should have made it clear to their fans themselves. That’s why it’s really hard for Gumby to keep up with everything that Noori is doing nowadays. It’s important for Gumby play more. Due to this, Noori hasn’t been playing as well as it used to in the last year. Even if Gumby isn’t as dedicated as he was before, he still keeps Noori as a first priority for himself.

There was a Noori concert a few days before and he was present there. It was a rocking show. My bass player, Sameer, is playing rhythm guitars with Noori. This is how it works in our business. Our relations with each other in the music scene are really friendly and we’re always playing for each other at particular occasions when necessary. Just because one sees a member of a band playing with another band doesn’t mean that the bands have broken up. I have myself have done a few shows with Noori. One cannot say that our band has broken up because we are really good friends with Ali Noor and I’ve been working with him for the past 10-12 years. I also know Salman very well like I’ve known Ali Azmat since childhood. It’s such a small scene in the music industry here, so everyone working here knows each other in one-way or the other. There is rarely a person in this industry with whom I haven’t worked with. People don’t see the practical side from where they observe and they talk about Gumby leaving Noori or Noori taking Gumby out of the band. Gumby just can't be as involved now as he was before and for very practical reasons.

N.A.: How are things going on with your own Mekaal Hasan Band?

M.H.: Our new video Jhok Ranjhan is out. We’re known for playing live and we never had a video showing us playing together. In Rabba, everyone is seen standing separately. In Sajan, we all have separate shots; none of us are shown together. Gumby has played drums in both songs but we didn’t include him in either of these videos. I’m very close to each and every member of my band. For instance, I’ve been working with Gumby for the last 6-8 years. I thought it was only proper to show him along with the band in our latest video since we’ve been playing together for so long.

N.A.: When will your new album, Andholan, be out?

M.H.: Andholan will be released by September. If not, then it should definitely be out in this year. I can’t really make any definite statement because I am a single individual working with so many people. Since Junoon’s taking a break now, I have more time to focus on the release of Andholan.

N.A.: Which record label are you planning to be releasing your album on?

M.H.: Actually, Sadaf was down for about 5 months and the whole problem started due to the fact that they own the pressing plants where CDs are made. All of the companies were affected by the seizure of the pressing plants. I’m aware that some people are getting their CDs pressed in Malaysia after which they’re sent back here. Doing it this way is very expensive. Due to this, the plants have been reopened. The first album that was released after it’s reopening was Noori’s Peeli Patti Aur Raja Jaani Ki Gol Duniya, which is an outstanding record. Fuzon will be releasing their new album with Soundmaster by this month. These are the two major releases ever since the plants have been reopened. Ours hasn’t been decided yet. We‘ve spoken to a few people. Whoever you work with, it’s the same network, the same people and the same venues. You have to consider everything beforehand. So, it’s smarter to get everything ready and see who gives you the better offer. For that reason, I am going to do it entirely on my own, like I did before with Sampooran.

N.A.: You worked with so many new artists. Which upcoming band or artist do you feel has the most potential?

M.H.: A new artist whom I believe has the most potential is Nabeel Qizalbash. We did a project with him and he’s releasing a new record. He’s the one who did the first song of the ABCD’s. He is a very talented person. Hamza Jaffery (Co-ven) has recently moved back to Lahore and he is working on something here. These two are the latest exciting developments of the industry. If we consider the commercial scene, then there are a lot of new artists, but they’re a bit confused about which direction they want to go in. Everyone is trying to copy Atif or Jal. It’s quite an unproductive scene. However, I feel that the two artists I’ve mentioned above will go far. If they keep working hard, then they are bound to succeed. Sahil is also doing their recording; Gumby has done 3 songs for them. They are very nice songs; just wait till they’re released. They’re working well, but people aren’t properly seeing through to their work. I’m hoping that Sahil does well because they have very good songs. Their songs are excellent pieces of work and they I can foresee them becoming hits. They’re both original and artistic. Graffiti is a bit on the limbo because Faisal, who runs Graffiti, has got an event management firm that has been quite successful for him. He has been really busy with that. They were working with Mobilink and they just did Lahore marathon, so he’s been extremely busy with that. So Graffiti is on hold for the moment. It depends when they’ll start working again.

N.A.: Are you playing any concerts for the recent Earthquake victims?

M.H.: We are playing two charity concerts on March 11th and 18th. The show on the 11th of March is with Noori and Fuzon; we are playing at Carlton hotel. All the proceedings will go to charity. Nadeem Islam is handling the proceedings. On March 18th, I have a show with my Sampooran Foundation, which is also for charity being run by Safia Baig. She’s Rehan Baig’s mother. We also have one on March 17th for Shaukat Khanum. Abida Parveen, who is a very talented singer, will also be starring in this show. So, these are a few of the things lined up for us.

N.A.: Something regarding current affairs, what are your views on the recent cartoon controversy?

M.H.: Mera opinion yeh hai key agar yeh cartoon bananey say agar log intnay infuriate ho saktay hain tou, its sad man , its sad. In logo ko protest karna chaiye .. bilkul theek hain, jaiz hain, karna chaiye. Magar apnay logo ko katal karney say aur Lahore main jo halaat howay, its scary bahut boray law and order situation hain. And whoever these people are, they are not patriots, they are not Pakistanis! I don’t think they are working in the interest of anything aur definitely kisi bhi achay insaan ko is tarah you cannot justify killing and looting in the name of religion. And it is exactly what these people are doing which is shameful they are a disgrace to our nation aur inko sharam aani chaiye on what they are doing. Literally it was a looting spree. Religion kay bahanay logo nay dukaanay tori hain loot ki hain logo nay apni frustration vent out ki hain. KFC jala diya, KFC yaar is owned here by Pakistanis and so is Mcdonalds. Telenor ko jala diya, Telenor is not a company from denmark even if it is a company from denmark what are you telling people kay tum log bilkul insecure ho. Nahin aaj yeh haal hogaya hai kay Pakistanis apnay mulk main insecure hain. Anyone can just get-up and do anything there is no solution to it bara bura scene hain. It has to stop.

N.A.: Ending on a lighter note... You haven’t married yet. When do you plan to settle down?

M.H.: I’m not planning anything like that for the moment. I’m on the same path as Ali Azmat, I find taking care of my career, running my studio and working with my band more than enough to take up my time. I don’t have much of a personal life, but I do have my friends. They come over at around midnight and we hang out for a while. That’s my routine. The rest of my time is taken up in recording, mixing and practicing…so I really don’t have much time to think about settling down right now.

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