Interview: Meera Shafi Speaks on Joining Overload, Working With Her Husband & Her Career in Fashion

Maheen Sabeeh
Karachi

Instep Today: You have a degree from NCA. You’re a fashion model and now you’ve debuted as a singer with Overload. How has the progression been?

Meera Shafi: The progression has been very natural. All of the arts have always been of great interest to me. I started modeling before college and singing professionally towards the end of my time at NCA. However, I have been singing and painting since I was a child. I was raised by a family that is deeply rooted in literature, the performing arts and fine arts. I have been fortunate to have been encouraged and supported from a very early age to realize my talents and ambitions. The environment at home and the exposure I got from growing up around extremely cultured, talented and very progressive individuals has got me where I am today.

Instep Today: Overload are known for their sensational beats and animated, eclectic shows. Has it been difficult fitting into this mix?

MS: I was friends with the band before I joined Overload. Farhad and Mahmood are both from NCA, so we had a lot of common interests. I had the opportunity to see the band jamming in the studio, recording and performing several times. This did give me a fairly good idea of the dynamics of the band and the sound as it develops and evolves. When it came to actually making songs with them it was still challenging. Their sound is very aggressive, full of testosterone and can be a bit intimidating, so carving a place for myself into the music was difficult at first. They are however, as musicians, very open to ideas and don’t restrict themselves to sounding a certain way. I think this is very evident on the new album (Pichal Pairee). In my experience so far, as long as my input is aesthetically up to their standards, they are very open to experimenting with their sound.

Instep Today: Is it difficult being in the same band as your husband (lead guitarist Mahmood Rehman)?

MS: At times we lock horns. But not about the music itself. The only conflict we ever have is over the pace at which to work. Mahmood is a full time musician and enjoys time spent in the studio. I am a bit restless and enjoy doing different things in short spurts. So time management becomes a bit tricky at times. But there are huge perks to working together in a band too. We get to travel and tour beautiful new places together, enjoy being on stage together, listen to ourselves on the radio and see ourselves on TV and then exchange notes about new ideas, inspirations and even improving on certain things.

Instep Today: What was your take on Pichal Pairee?

MS: I think it’s a great listen. It has a whole range of moods, the energy builds up to insane levels in some places, and becomes thick and brooding in others. There are some very intense tracks, like ’50 Years/A Thousand Miracles’ for example. Then there are upbeat, light songs like ‘Amjad Khan’ which really get you moving. I also like the electronic music in ‘Pichal Pairee’, which was new for Overload. ‘Vichar Gaye’ is a personal favourite of the band’s. The more I listen to it, the more I fall in love with ‘Saat Mein’. Although I feel like I sound the least like myself on that track. ‘Dig’ and ‘Kaykra’ are so full of energy and power, I love their structuring, I think it’s very complex but very smartly done. ‘Dhol Bajay Ga’ was the last song we recorded and by then we were so restless to release the album that I think you can hear that in the song. Basically, we don’t care what stands in our way, we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing. Making music for you to listen to.

Instep Today: Was music always a goal or did Overload prove to be a catalyst in the process?

MS: Music was a goal, but I might not have known how to move towards it if it hadn’t been for Overload. As I said before, I’m happiest doing lots of different things otherwise my creative juices stop flowing. To join a band that was already very famous, very established and had an already running momentum was a great opportunity. It came at a great time for me.

Instep Today: On the single, ‘Pichal Pairee’ there is a resemblance between you and British soul singer Amy Winehouse. Coincidental?

MS: The first time I heard that was when you drew that comparison. I’m very mildly a fan of hers, so it’s interesting to me that some seem to see a similarity. I guess my answer is that it is purely coincidental. Although, she does have a very beautiful voice and is a brilliant songwriter, so I am flattered.

Instep Today: The English language limits your market, especially in a country like Pakistan. Mixed with instrumentals, it makes for a small audience. Was that ever a concern?

MS: Never. Not to me, and certainly not to anyone else in the band. We don’t like depriving ourselves of making songs that we are more than happy with just because they won’t be playing in every truck, lorry and khokha. We have been making music for those listeners too, but what sells is not on the top of our list of priorities. I think releasing the album for free proves that point very well.

Instep Today: What is next on your plate?

MS: My plate is heaped with things to come right now. We’re already making new music, touring, and jamming. We have a few new video releases lined up. I am very busy otherwise with my work for L’Oréal and Stoneage (Misha is a brand spokesperson for L’Oréal and an ambassador for Stoneage). They are both huge companies that are expanding locally at an exhilarating pace. I am doing fashion shoots and some TV plays. The only thing I do not have time for right now is painting, and I miss that terribly.

Instep Today: Will music take precedence over fashion or do you plan on pursuing both? Where do you see Overload heading next?

MS: Overload will keep on making music, putting it out there for everyone to listen to. Touring, performing and reaching out to our fans. I have a lot of love for fashion, and I plan to carry on till a hopefully graceful retirement from the modeling world. However singing is something I plan to do for a long, long time.

Source: Instep Today