Abrar ul haq

Sahara Trust is my first priority right now..." Abrar on his latest album and other pursuits

With his fifth album recently released, Abrar has reiterated that his style of music remains unwavering. Nachchan Mein Oday Naal is an album that, paradoxically, notwithstanding its soaring sales simply does not offer any zing. It has all manner of Abrar formula songs, as the entertainer himself admits. In this interview, he states that he is offering the kind of music people want to listen to. Sticking by the tried and tested does not for astounding discoveries or soundscapes make. Here are excerpts from Instep's chat with Abrar about where he sees himself today, and tomorrow.

How's the response to your latest album?
Considering that the release took place out of 'season', I believe the response has been pretty good. Up till the time that four hundred thousand copies had been sold I was worried because I knew this sale could largely have been because of the reputation - everyone buys the latest Abrar album once, but now sales have crossed the six hundred thousand mark, which means that people have heard about the album and are asking for more. Secondly we must also consider that Beh Ja Cycle Tay, which incidentally I believe has been my best album thus far, was also a slow starter, but it gradually picked up, so I have faith in this album as well.

What is the right 'season' for an album release and if this was not a good time, why didn't you release at the ideal time?
Basant and wedding seasons are the best time to release an album, especially for the kind of music I produce. This is the worst season when there is no real activity in the country. We should have released the album much earlier, but my hospital project takes up so much of my time that it is difficult for me to accomodate anything else. The other option was for me to wait for the season to pick up again but I didn't want to delay the album that much, it's already quite late; my previous album was released two and a half years ago.

Most musicians here prefer to launch a couple of videos before they release an album, for pre-release hype. You haven't released any videos prior to album launch...
I think that is a mistake on my part. Professionalism demands that we release the video before the album to create a demand for the album, but unfortunately I have not been able to focus a lot on the videos and other marketing endeavors because of time constraints, for example we have had only one launch show in Lahore and two in Islamabad and that is all. Nonetheless the first video, for the song 'Shareekan Nu Ag Lagdi' is almost ready for release and I am confident that is going to boost sales. The second video will be for 'Nachchaan Mein Oday Naal' followed by 'Pardesi'.

Do you have a lot of say in the concepts of your videos or do you leave it to the directors?
Mostly it is up to the director, but for 'Preeto' I had a concept in mind and it was executed pretty well.

There has been talk about a couple of songs in this album being repetitions of your earlier work. Do you agree?
Not at all. Let me first tell you that I work on bhangra beats, and there is essentially one basic bhangra beat and very little variation is possible on that - you just have to play around it. People have told me that the song 'Nachchaan Mein Oday Oaal' sounds a lot like 'Nach Punjaban'. This is totally incorrect. The only resemblance, if any, that this song has is with 'Billo' - but even in that case there is no similarity it is just that the two have a common beat.

Do you think you have introduced anything new in this album Have you evolved in any way, tried anything different?
I do agree that the formula is the same - people want to dance and my music gives them the opportunity to do so. I also include patriotic songs in my albums and I have done so again. Similarly there has to be a sad song to cater to people with a melancholic bent of mind. So yes these things are the same because I believe not many listeners are looking for change.

So you do not believe in evolving and changing?
All those who have tried to bring about a radical change failed. Changes are sometimes strange and that is not a good thing. Look at what Ali Haider has done. He tried a huge change in the kind of music he was doing and the results have been drastic. Bringing in huge changes can be risky, your product could either be a huge hit or a huge flop.

While I do believe in change, I try to work within my limitations and think of different topics to bring in variation. For example the song 'Jutt Charya' is on a topic that has never been included in Pakistani music before and it was a huge hit even though there is no concept of any girl in the song. Similarly 'Shareekan' is a totally new concept.

Do you sing for yourself or for the public?
Actually for both. Creativity is important to me, but so are the people's demands and what they want. I make a lot of songs that I believe represent the kind of music Abrar is all about, but I don't release all of them. There are so many of these songs that I have not released because they would not make much business or marketing sense. Until I get personal satisfaction from my work no one will like my music so I feel keeping a balance is important. So I pick from a variety of songs that I feel the public will like.

There is a lot going on at the moment between India and Pakistan on the entertainment front. Have you had any offers and if you have are you considering them?
Anu Malik has offered me to make a track for a film but I cannot say yes or no right away. My situation is a little different from the rest of the people in the entertainment industry. I have to think of my image from the standpoint of Sahara Trust as well so I have to be extra careful with whatever I do. Even otherwise the people of the industry should be a little careful, I mean they shouldn't be going there and hugging Indian actresses.

Is Sahara Trust your first priority right now?
Yes, but not just the hospital, I have a concept of Sahara Education system as well which I will be announcing pretty soon.

What is next for Abrar, are you interested in entering politics?
People from my constituency in Narowal are very insistent, but it is not likely. I would rather stay in social work, I believe the time is right for a philanthropic revolution to be brought about.