Hi Tea with Sima Ved Are you ready for a stir?

Qawwali, the mystical music of Indian and Pakistani Sufism, is rooted in song forms that are over 700 years old. They are devotional songs that are intended to affect heightened spirituality through ritualised listening known as Sama. The transcendent nature of the poetic lyrics, in combination with a vivacious musical base and the participatory act of Sama, stirs ecstatic feelings of mystical adoration among both performers and audience members alike. Undoubtedly the most popular qawwali singer of all time was the Pakistani-born Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Six weeks after his death in 1997, nephew Rahat Fateh Ali Khan assumed the qawwali helm. Rahat took Nusrat’s first name in a traditional gesture of admiration of his master, he was thus officially recognized as the new leader of Khan sahaab’s group.
Since becoming the head of the group, Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan has performed on a variety of recordings and has sung with Eddie Vedder at the Dead Man Walking Concert put on by Tim Robbins. He and his band continue to entrance world audiences with numerous shows around the globe. Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s self-titled release on American Recordings is his U.S. debut. Recorded in Santa Monica, CA, its four tracks are both emotionally charged and expertly performed. Producer Rick Rubin, of Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Beastie Boys fame, boosts Rahat’s already potent sounds by cranking up the low end and placing the tabla way up in the mix.
Though Rahat is excited to play with Western pop musicians and lay down tracks in state-of-the-art studios, he is ultimately most concerned with the art of qawwali and its mystically imbued message. He feels, “qawwali music is not only music, it is a message. It was created by Sufis, and when we compose and practice this music, it stays forever. Other music comes and goes, but qawwali never goes. Once you start listening, it goes in your soul, goes in your spirit, and you become more human. I feel that this music is my duty, to go and give the message of Sufism. My future is that one day I will fulfill the desire of Nusrat to give this message to the world.”
Apart from singing qawwali, Rahat has also branched out to Ghazal singing and light music. His solo ghazal performances – Mukh Tera Sohneya Sharab Nalon Changa Ae and Gin Gin Taare Lang Gaiyaan Rattaan are memories etched in listeners’ hearts. They showcase the tender voice of a young lad with big dreams. Little did they know that he would dissolve borders with the sound of his music and the warmth of his voice.
With many albums, compilations and background tracks to his credit this Pakistani singer has gained fame and acclaim across Bollywood circles too. Paap (2004), featuring the hit song, Mann Ki Lagan, marked his debut as a Bollywood playback singer. He has since then sang numbers for many movies. He has even been awarded for his work at different ceremonies and presentations.