Natasha Noorani is a recent addition to the Pakistani music industry, but she’s already worn many hats. From organising the Lahore Music Meet, to being a general manager for Coke Studio Season 10 and completing a master’s in ethnomusicology, her passion for music has culminated in her forthcoming debut album—the first of many for sure. Here she sits down with Mehek Raza Rizvi to talk about her musical journey, the industry and more

A musician, ethnomusicologist, general manager for Coke Studio Season 10, marketing executive for CityFM89 and the co-director and co-founder of Lahore Music Meet (LMM) – you really have done it all. When do you remember being drawn to music for the first time?

I’ve been drawn to music since I was a child, as everyone in my family had a great relationship with music: my elder brother was the reason we had a guitar at home, my sister had a huge collection of ‘90s RnB music and my mother had a great collection of music. In fact, she was the one who got me started on singing. Every car ride to and from school was used to taking turns playing mixtapes that my older siblings had made. Personally, I used to spend all my time curating music through Winamp playlists and mixtapes I recorded from the radio, and watching music TV channels including PTV, MTV & eventually Indus music. I knew early on that I would want to pursue music in some capacity. It’s also why I’m so interested in various aspects of the field.

How do you feel the internet has impacted the music industry, particularly the need for corporate backing?

The internet is a great game changer for anyone looking to gain traction for their art. Using the power of the internet wisely means it’s less likely that artists will need to rely on corporate backing; Maanu, Hasan Raheem, Talal Qureshi, Young Stunners and others have showcased this in the last few years.
However, I feel that the internet era music and fame only works for a specific kind of artist in Pakistan. Beyond musical merit, it’s harder for more reclusive and camera shy artists to really build a bigger audience because their “instalife” might not be as thriving as that of other creatives around them. It will be great to see more artists finding audiences without succumbing to changing their persona.

When working on your music, are you concerned about it appealing to the masses?

I’d love for my music and my work to reach as many people as possible. However, I think I’ve found a comfortable space in my writing and creativity to ensure that I’m making music that fulfils me, while making music that fills the current gaps in the industry.

Who are some of your musical influences?

My influences keep evolving. Presently, I’m listening to a lot of Naheed Akhtar, Musarrat Nazir, Lianne La Havas, Prabh Deep, Rawshni, Jamiroquai & Towers.
Growing up, I listened to rock and heavy metal, along with local Pakistani pop-rock. I also had bands like Tool, A Perfect Circle, Opeth, Porcupine Tree, mixed in with Missy Elliot, Beyonce, Imran Khan, Jay Sean & Rishi Rich on my playlists.
Tell me about the creative process behind your new album, “Ronaq”.
This album is a culmination of all my research and practice in music over the last two years. My approach to songwriting has evolved and I’ve found some excellent co-writers and co-producers who are helping me carve out the sound I want. The album is meant to be a showcase of my ethnomusicological research, as well as my understanding of what the music landscape of Pakistan is currently lacking. The album is also a means for my music to make a point against all the typecasting female musicians have to go through. I refuse to be boxed into a singular sound and that’s been the driving force of the album.
RONAQ itself refers to a state of mind. It’s how I’d describe myself in my most fearless moments. That’s the theme that brings in all these different genres together into an album.

Do you have a favourite from your own music?

Yes! But unfortunately a lot of that work is unreleased. The songs I’m working on with Talal Qureshi & Umer Ahmed are currently on loop from RONAQ.

What are the top five songs on your playlist right now?

• Lover by Diljit Dosanjh
• Artist by ZICO
• Maya by Prabh Deep
• Mein Chup Raha by Vital Signs
• Addicted by Niniola

What do you think goes into building a loyal fan base?

It requires an incredible amount of interaction. Most of my fanbase is under ten years old and these kids are so wholesome and quite ruthless—it’s amazing! It’s lovely to exchange voicenotes and Instagram DMs with these children and their parents. It’s also great because I can still be playing shows when I’m fifty!

What’s a piece of advice you’d like to give the next generation in music?

Don’t allow the insecurities of the people around you to become your own. Constructive feedback is great, but stay away from jaded folks who don’t want to see you excel.

What is Natasha Noorani like at home?  Tell us about your childhood and family.

At home, I’m super relaxed. I’ll mostly be in my nightsuit all day if I can manage to get away from meetings. I have a sister and two brothers who are much older than me, which means I get to be the baby (read: brat) of the house. I grew up surrounded by art and music and ronaq. It was also really valuable for me to grow up in a house of adults, because it made me so much more confident of what I could be in the future. Every step my siblings took in their lives made the world seem so much bigger for me. My parents and siblings are also the reason I never worry about staying grounded, because they serve both as my biggest fans and the biggest trolls I will ever have to encounter!

Photography: Farhan Lashari
Styling: Haiya Bokhari
MUA: Fizzah Iqbal
Wardrobe: Lulusar & 9Lines
Concept: Plum Media Tank

Ahmed Ali Butt may be showbiz royalty, but he’s charted a career of his own that’s made him a household name in his own right. From music to comedy to drama, he’s done it all. This fortnight he speaks to Mehek Raza Rizvi about all this and more

How much did growing up around icons, such as your legendary grandmother, influence your decision to be in showbiz?
Creativity is as important to my family as water and air. As such, I grew up with show business all around and with studio life being a part of my upbringing. I’ve been blessed to be a part of a family that boasts legends like the Melody Queen Noor Jehan, to Shaukat Hussain Rizvi, one of the biggest producers and studio owners of the time. Even my own parents were creatives—my mother began singing later in life and my father was an actor. Growing up I realized it was something special, it’s not something that happens in every household; I knew it was sacred. Eventually I learnt the craft, leaning on music and performing arts, and I knew it was a privilege to be part of such a history.

Have you ever felt that being typecast into comedy has its drawbacks?
I think being typecast for anything is bad. Comedy, drama, romance—being repetitive in anything is bad for your creative process and identity. It’ll lose its charm. So yes, after the success of JPNA 1 and 2, I got approached repeatedly for the same ideas. I’m all for comedy, because it comes really naturally to me, but there has to be serious inspiration behind everything. There has to be flavour and room for creativity.

What was it like playing a serious role (in “Jhooti”) after so long?
“Jhooti” was beautiful. When I got offered the role I jumped at the opportunity. You don’t get to play a character made for you every day, especially in drama. I’ve always been a fan of Iqra Aziz, as she has amazing range. My character arc may have been short, but it was so out-of-the-box for me to play. For the first few episodes I had to manage my tempo a bit, because I was more accustomed to comedy. It was a thoroughly wonderful experience!

Being a public figure comes with immense responsibility towards your audience. How conscious are you of that fact while selecting scripts? 
My grandmother used to say, “Once you’re on stage, you belong to the public.” I think it’s a tremendous responsibility and I believe what we artists perform, in our craft and in our work, it projects a certain image of the country and of the people on a surface level. I do take pride in the fact that my projects need to have a patriotic side and you know we live in a visual world—things said even five years ago can instantly catch up to you. I believe in family values and family-oriented themes. So yes, I do select scripts very consciously.
“Phatte Dinde Chakk Punjabi” marked your international debut on the big screen. Tell us about your experience.
It was something completely out of the blue. Hammad Chaudry and I had been wanting to work on a project for a while, and the right script came in the form of “Phatte Dinde Chakk Punjabi”. I was given the chance to work with Gipi Garewal and Neeru Bajwa. The whole U.K. Punjabi scene is really thriving; our Sikh brothers appreciate and love our content. It’s very humbling and I was amazed at their show of love and support. We had such an amazing time and it was fun to work with them as they work quickly and efficiently. The film, I believe, is funny as hell and hopefully, Pakistan will be a good market for the U.K.-Punjabi cinema content. I hope our government allows it in our cinemas.

What inspired your incredible weight-loss journey?
I used to struggle with my weight even in school, so the inspiration was always there. My main inspiration came from my son and my wife. I wanted to be a more hands-on dad. This wouldn’t have been possible without Fatima. She was the ultimate support system for this whole journey. She executed my regimen and was the key that kept me in check. The journey is still going on; you need to contain the structure around you otherwise you lose sight of the goal you set out to achieve. I think I still have ten more kilos to lose, so fingers crossed I will see this through.

How do you stay motivated?
First of all, my faith and my religion. Allah has blessed me with so much positivity, despite so many ups and downs. There’re always the unexpected things that can happen, but prayer always keeps me grounded. Secondly, the love and support of my family. As life goes on you realise you don’t need a big circle, you don’t need everyone’s validation. You determine your own validation for success. Thankfully, you stop feeling the need to run after people and material gains. I surround myself with my own small circle of positivity and that’s the key. Stay away from the toxicity that you don’t need in life. Learn to say no. Learn to draw your own lines and define your own limits. And of course, learning from mistakes. I always keep the student mentality in mind—always learning, always grasping. My son Azaan teaches me such amazing things; I’m amazed at his purity and we at our age we forget the simplicity of life and its beauty. Fatima’s spiritual journey has also always inspired me to do better.

Looking back at your career, would you do anything differently? 
You can always find things that you could’ve done better. But if you dwell too much on that, it’s unhealthy. Early on I used to feel bad about missing projects. But you learn with time that ‘what will happen has already happened’. Christopher Nolan said that. What is in your fate will find you no matter what, and what isn’t, won’t. Simple. Failure is the best teacher regardless. Learn from your mistakes but keep moving forward and not look back too much.

Fans from your EP days still look forward to a comeback. Can we expect one?
Unfortunately, I don’t think so; we’re all comfortable in what we’re doing right now. Musically I like to venture out anyway, as there’re so many great people to work with. I’m working on a solo project too and am very excited to bring out new things really soon.

What is Ahmad Ali Butt like at home?
I think Fatima can answer this better, because she gets to see the real me. I’m a homebody who’s totally in love with spending time with his family. Pre-pandemic we used to have movie nights and so I hope cinemas open soon. When I’m at home, I love cooking; in fact, I cook a lot. I’m rather the regular Joe when I’m at home and I’m overwhelmed with the blessings I’ve received in this life.

Concept & photos: Jay Samuel Studio
Wardrobe: IFFI
Hair & Makeup: N.Gents
Styling: Fatima Khan
Coordination: MINT PR