Interview with Shujat Ali Khan great young Singer and Musician

- I could call my self lucky, because I had the opportunity to make an interview, with a very talended young singer and musician Shujat Ali Khan. Big names can be found in his family, so he neednt go so far, to find the best mentors.

Shujat Ali Khan, grandson of legendary classical singer Ustad Salamat Ali Khan and son of leading contemporary classical singer Sharafat Ali Khan and nephew of Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan, has been singing since he was seven. Coming from Sham Chaurasi gharana (school of thoughts), which was founded in the 16th century by Mian Chand Khan and Mian Suraj Khan who were contemporaries of Mian Tansen at the court of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Shujat inherited the special talent for music. His grandfather Salamat Ali Khan and maternal grandfather, Nazakat Ali Khan were rated among the top classical singers. Shujat Ali Khan is the 12Th generation of Shamchurasi Gharana. Singing was in his blood so naturally he had to become a singer and to establish his career in singing. Ustad Salamat Ali Khan was his early guru then after his death Shujat started to learn music from his father Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan and his Uncle Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan.

Shujaat did his intermediate from the Government College Lahore and completed his graduation privately.

Shujat participated in a very popular TV reality show named SaReGaMaPa in 2008 and gave amazing performances on the stage of Saregamapa in front of legendary singers like Asha ji, Ghulam Ali Sahib, Suresh Wadkar, Anand ji bhai and Kavita ji as well as the mentors of Saregamapa challenge 2009 Himesh Reshammiya, Aadesh Shrivastava, Pritam and Shankar Mahadevan. Shujat is of the view though he did not win the competition but he won the hearts of the people who understand music and that really matters for him. He is really passionate about his singing and working very hard to establish his career in singing.

- Its no doubt, that you were surrounded by music since your early ages, but please tell me, how did you choose this path, and when?

Shujat Ali Khan: - Singing is not only my passion but its in my blood. From my childhood i loved to sing and i used to sing all the way either in classroom or its my home. I brought up by my grandparents. My grand father Maestro Salamat Ali Khan used to practice in front of me when i was so little and i used to sing with him. Finally my grandfather started teaching me classical music. Since that time i became passionate for singing and i choose singing as my profession.

- What and who did really inspire you to get into field music?

Shujat Ali Khan: - My real inspiration is my grand father Maestro Salamat Ali Khan, my father Maestro Sharafat Ali Khan and my Uncle Maestro Shafqat Ali Khan. when i started listening them then i decided to sing like them. But its hard to say that i can sing like them but i try to follow those such great classical music Maestros. So finally they became my inspiration in the field of music. –Listening to your singles, there is no use questioning your talent.

- Lots of work needed to build a carrier and become famous, wich contains hard moments also...

Shujat Ali Khan: - I just wana say Thanks to God who always help me all the way. I never found any problem while making my singing career, whatever i wished for i got it. But at this point wana definitely share something which i think is very important for me is that. Whatever profession we choose for ourselves its not an easy job to get it so quick. We require struggle in it to achieve your goal. I believe in it and i applied these instructions on myself. I am still in struggle and will keep going on with same hard work to get my aim. - What you achieved represents, that hardworking always birngs succes.

- Whom you met by your work, and where have you been lately?

Shujat Ali Khan: - I worked with many best musicians and artist nationally and internationally. Last year i went to India i got a chance to meet Salim-Suleman hugely talented music directors and had a jam session with them and got big appreciation. Then met Vishal and Shekhar very best music producers made them listen few of my music samples and was highly admired by them. Worked with Pritam who was also my Mentor in SaReGaMaPa. I worked with my uncle the great maestro Shafqat Ali Khan in Switzerland with musician Reto Weber and Band. It was a jazz band based in Swiss we were invited there by Swiss government.

In America i got a chance to share stage with a highly popular indian singer named Sunidhi Chauhan that was also a great experience. 2010 february i went to UAE with my uncle Shafqat Ali Khan for few of classical workshops and performances with few European promoters and artist. We were invited by Abu Dhabi government and promoter named Aski Mufti took our ban there.

- What are your dreams, who do you want to work wth in the future?

Shujat Ali Khan: - Now i want to  work with artists from all over the globe. I wanna make a world tour and wana perform with the best artist of the world. Besides that i wanna work with a great Tabla Maestro Zakir Hussain, the great percussionist drummer Mr. Shiva Mani, Mr. A R Rahmaan, the great keyboard and music producer Yanni, Mariah Carey etc etc.

I wanna make fusion with all of those great musicians. - Oh, these are wonderful plans, i wish you can accomplish all of them.

- You git evereything for the succes...what are results of your achievements?

Shujat Ali Khan: - InshAllah results will be positive all the way, as i mentioned already my belief is  strong.

- What you think how is a musician life nowadays, easy or hard?

Shujat Ali Khan: - Nowadays i must say music scene is not too much in Pakistan really, but the competition is quite strong among all the artists. I believe in hard work and i am following this thing and inshallah my belief is strong and i will make it easier with my devotion to my music.

- Do you have a favorite musical project that you’ve worked on?

Shujat Ali Khan: - I had many musical projects which i completed, but i wanna share my own album musical project which i completed recently. I really put lots of hard work on it and hopefully my audience gonna like it. One special thing i wana share to my fans and friends i did some musical projects as a music producer as well with few American Musicians in which i worked on a project with American music producer Mr.Richard Michos (guitarist),John Steiner (piano) and Mannose (flutes). One project i did as a music producer with a great DJ named Mr. Cheb i Saba from America. These are few musical experiences which i shared and enjoyed alot.

- You went far lately, you must have a lot of plans in the future, plesae tell us about them.

Shujat Ali Khan: - My music Album is ready to launched and very soon i am going to release it. First i will release a music video then will launch my album after that. I am also launching my sufi classical band very soon as a mystic and classical music with fusion. - That is  fantastic, i wait it excited.

- You must have a lot of experinece, as a musician, do you have any advice for young people who want become in the field of media (Music/ television/ Film)?

Shujat Ali Khan:- My advice to young musicians and artists who really wana come and wana make their place as an upright artists. I suggest them to practice all the way, get best training from a right teacher and a right guide and keep their beliefs strong to get their goal. never lose heart and try try again till succeed.

Few of my songs are sung in Bollywood Movies inshallah hope my audience listen it soon.

- Its fantastic to hear someone in such a young age talking this wisely, i wish that your succes will be worldwide, and your dreams will come true.

Thank you.

web: www.shujatalikhan.blogspot.com 

Read Shujat other interview:
http://shujatalikhan.blogspot.hu/2009/01/nation-interviews-shujat-ali-khan.html

A performance which has become so memorable when very popoular actress miss Manisha Lamba joined me on stage and danced with me