Musicians with a cause

By Amina Baig

It’s easy to look at rockstars on television and think: “Oh that’s easy!” having a job that requires you to sing and play instruments, look good in videos, make public appearances and sign corporate contracts looks like the most glam job in the world. But it is a grueling job too; apart from which musicians all around the world have, in the last couple of decades emerged as humanitarians invested in honourable causes. Cue Madonna and the Raise Malawi initiative or Bono’s interest in third-world debt relief. Musicians in Pakistan in recent years have taken note of and begun to work for social causes as well. Instep scans Pakistan’s rockstars who are for their chosen cause.

Hadiqa Kiani/ Noori/ Farooq Ahmed
Although these artists were approached by the United Nations Development Program and Ministry for Environment in Pakistan to be part of a public service message; it is one that is essential for our times.

Hadiqa, Ali Noor, Ali Hamza and Farooq Ahmed (Aaroh) have sung ‘Rung Saja do, Piyas Bujha Do’ accompanied by an animated video which hopes to engage Pakistani youth and impart knowledge about the importance of conserving water and climate change control.

The message is important, as Pakistan is currently facing the earliest ever onset of Summer this year, and with Tarbela and Mangla Dam being at dead level, water supply is at an all time low. Which means there is and will be an electricity shortage inspite of which the early summer will bring excessive use of electricity. With all this information in hand, one hopes the song’s message is taken seriously not just by the youth, but every single Pakistani and the involved artists keep reaching out to their audiences with the message.

Laal
‘Mein Ne Ussay Yeh Kaha‘ the song that became the backdrop for the civil society movement in 2007 and 2008, following the imposition of emergency in Pakistan. The song was a musical take on Habib Jalib‘s poem by the same name.

A year ago the band created the Laal Brigade, the aim of which according to a statement by vocalist Shahram Azhar is to “bring to an end the system of oppression and exploitation that is haunting our country,” and inviting young Pakistan to “stand up”.

Based on the ideal of an egalitarian society, the Laal Brigade promises to encourage “revolutionary art forms” which work towards the welfare of people. Motivated to bridge social divides and enlighten and empower, the Laal Brigade promised to “take the message of Jalib and Faiz to every factory, every slum and every village of Pakistan and work selflessly for the promotion of their ideals”.

Shehzad Roy
In 1993, when a lanky Shehzad Roy debuted with the pop number ‘Sanam’, no one would have guessed that he would mature into an artist dedicated to promoting education throughout Pakistan and becoming vocal with commentary on the country’s political situation.

However, as it transpires, Shehzad formed the Zindagi Trust in 2002, which initially launched an initiative called: ‘I am paid to learn’. The program aimed at bringing street children and working teens and pre-teens to school by paying them Rs 20 a day. The project currently supports 34 paid learning centres in Pakistan. In 2006 the trust adopted SMB Fatima Jinnah Girls Government School and provided it with a massive facelift.

Shehzad collaborated with Abida Parveen in 2007 to bring out a song which promoted the Zindagi Trust. A year later, he launched Qismat Apnay Haath Mein, the first single of which ‘Laga Reh’, had a tongue in cheek take on the state of Pakistan and its politics.

Abrar-ul-Haq
Not just adept at producing and singing songs that will offend certain factions of Pakistani society, Abrar-ul-Haq has used his musical clout to form a benefit for rural Pakistan: Services Aimed at Health and Awakening in Remote Areas, popularly known as SAHARA for Life Trust, which provides “quality healthcare, education and social services that are accessible and cost effective to the people residing in remote areas.”

Abrar’s interest in helping those in need was a lifelong one, as he once revealed when reminiscing about his days as a student.

“While studying in Islamabad I organized fund raising concerts,” Abrar says, “I still remember trying to sell the tickets of my functions. I use to tell the people that there is an excellent singer who will perform at this concert. I am sure that they used to be surprised at seeing me on the stage. However, it never bothered me, as the money I collected from these concerts would go to help the needy students.”

Salman Ahmed
Part of Pakistan’s pioneer pop band Vital Signs, Salman Ahmed soon broke off from the group to form Junoon, a band with a more rock sound and often messages to impart in their songs.

While Junoon got noticed for the anarchist anthem ‘Talash’ in the early ’90s; their first album had featured ‘Jeeain’, which featured lyrics such as “Aao hum aise jeeain/ Besaharon ke liye (Come let’s live like this/ Let’s live for the helpless). The band’s or rather Salman Ahmad’s socially relevant direction became apparent with the collaborative song ‘Ehtesaab’ (Accountability), which was banned on television and radio.

Salman Ahmad led the band’s sound to a genre dubbed sufi rock, as he became more engaged with promoting the brotherhood of man. Salman went on to taking it upon himself to speak on behalf of Pakistan to the world, as he represented the country on ABC’s Politically Incorrect.

In following years, Salman has spoken at Clinton Global Initiative, established the Salman and Samina Global Wellness Initiative, been a UN Goodwill Ambassador for HIV/AIDS, raised money for Swat refugees and held a benefit concert for post-quake Kashmir.

Source: INSTEP Magazine