An inside look into the lives of one of the most talented bunch of musicians in the country and their experience with Pepsi Battle of the Bands
Loves: Singing
Travelling
Snazzy cars/bikes
Pet peeves: Being disorganized
Talking a lot
Favorite moment from BOB: When we got the much awaited standing ovation
Favorite judge: Strings
That one moment when you felt you owned the stage?
While performing Azaadi
Moment you felt most nervous on stage?
First danger zone
The band you enjoyed competing with most in Pepsi Battle of Bands?
Tamasha and Xarb
Your biggest fear has always been?
To die before fulfilling my dreams
Your biggest driving force?
My parents
If you weren’t a musician, what you would be?
I have no freaking idea. I think I would have loved to be a professional driver and drove across the globe
Your ultimate inspiration from the global music fraternity of all times, and why?
I love the fact how music is not bound by time or any single person. A lot of people inspire, play their part and leave. But one person who I regard highly in terms of performance and dedication is MJ (Michael Jackson). I have never ever seen better performer than him
Three things you cannot function without?
Food
Sleep (although I’ve been compromising on that a lot lately)
My favourite people
Muqueet Shahzad
That one moment when you felt you owned the stage?
I can recall such feeling from two occasions. First, when we played at the Lahore Music Meet 2018 to an amazing crowd with good weather and a brilliant setup. Second, when we performed Azadi at the Pepsi Battle of the Bands. Emotions during that performance were really high and we are glad we were able to translate our emotions into our performance
Moment you felt most nervous on stage?
Most nervous moment wasn’t pre-performance or during performance. In fact, it was post-performance. This was while on stage, receiving feedback from the judges after our Episode 3 performance. That was really something.
The band you enjoyed competing with most in Pepsi Battle of Bands?
Xarb: what a brilliant bunch of individuals to experience this journey with! One may call it competition but it honestly wasn’t a competition, more than anything else it was a celebration of music. Looking forward to work with them again in future
Your biggest fear has always been?
Not trying for something I want
Your biggest driving force?
Inspiring someone, using your existence to improve someone’s life. As Einstein said, “The best life is the life lived for others.†That sums it up for me.
If you weren’t a musician, what you would be?
Well, the interesting bit is that all of us are doing something else alongside music in our lives as well. We have different jobs that we feel as passionate about as we do for music. However, speaking strictly in terms of artistic direction – if I weren’t a musician, I would be a filmmaker or a designer.
Your ultimate inspiration from the global music fraternity of all times, and why?
There is never one inspiration, you get inspired by so many artists as you journey through life. I would like to mention two artists here who have had a profound impact on me not only as a musician but as a human:Â Iron Maiden and Hans Zimmer.
On a deserted island you’d wish to be left alone with…?
Christopher Nolan
Three things you cannot function without?
Oxygen
Water
Food
That one phrase or line which describes you to the core is?
Zindagi mukhtasir hai tou pyar karein, kyun larein, kyun apna shikaar karein. (Life is short so let’s love, why fight, why prey on oneself.)
Mansoor Lashari
That one moment when you felt you owned the stage?
Definitely during Azaadi. We barely remember what we were doing on stage. There was so much energy and passion during that performance that we felt unstoppable.
Moment you felt most nervous on stage?
The first danger zone. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting the danger zone so early on and I was worried.
The band you enjoyed competing with most in Pepsi Battle of Bands?
The most direct and high stakes situation we had to face was against Tamasha. They’re awesome guys making great music and I’m humbled to have been able to share that stage with them.
Your biggest fear has always been?
Stagnating in my work and music.
Your biggest driving force?
A deeply embedded spirit of randomness mixed with the undying support of my family.
If you weren’t a musician, what you would be?
I’d probably still be working the same day job but I’d be bored with life :p
Your ultimate inspiration from the global music fraternity of all times, and why?
The source of inspiration changes as one grows and matures. But I guess if I had to choose someone, I’d choose John Bonham from Led Zeppelin.
On a deserted island you’d wish to be left alone with?
Some books. And the ability to get back to normal life when I want to.
Three things you cannot function without?
Water
Food
Air
That one phrase or line which describes you to the core is?
Building a life of purpose is the purpose of life.
Shahrukh Aslam
Loves: Catz (no, not a typo)
Chocolate
Pet peeves: People who are always late
Launda style badtameezi (hooliganism and bad manners)
Favourite judge?
Bilal
Favourite moment?
The fact that Paani Aur Mitti doesn’t have a “composed†solo. I winged it and it didn’t suck.
That one moment when you felt you owned the stage?
When I played part of the national anthem during Azadi
Moment you felt most nervous on stage?
The top 8 episode when we played the Hadiqa Kiyani song
The band you enjoyed competing with most in Pepsi Battle of Bands?
Xarb, for sure.
Your biggest fear has always been?
Losing the people I care for.
Your biggest driving force?
Honda City
If you weren’t a musician, what you would be?
I’m not a musician right now either. I’m a program manager who plays the guitar.
Your ultimate inspiration from the global music fraternity of all times, and why?
Pearl Jam’s Alive
On a deserted island you’d wish to be left alone with?
Ahem. Catz (still not a typo).
Three things you cannot function without?
Food
Water
The company of the people who matter
That one phrase or line which describes you to the core is?
I am mine.
Haider Abbas
Loves: Trekking, Nature, Positivity
Pet peeves: Negativity, closed-mindedness
Favorite judge: Bilal Maqsood
That one moment when you felt you owned the stage?
The performance of Azaadi was one of the greatest highlights on stage for me. The attitude, energy and the preparation all made up for the performance.
Moment you felt most nervous on stage?
Going into the danger zone for the first was quite taxing mentally. Since it was the start of the competition, we weren’t expecting to receive such criticism.
The band you enjoyed competing with most in Pepsi Battle of Bands?
The second finalist, Xarb, was the perfect competition in the show. They had a seamless journey with some great music. The boys from Xarb are amazing humans and we’re looking forward to a collaboration with them in near future.
Your biggest fear has always been?
Getting stuck in a mundane lifestyle with little to look forward to.
Your biggest driving force?
The yearning to make an impact and be a source of inspiration for generations to come.
If you weren’t a musician, what you would be?
In an alternate life, I would be a video game developer.
Your ultimate inspiration from the global music fraternity of all times, and why?
I have a range of inspirations from different styles and genres of music. But if I were to choose just one musician, it would be Hans Zimmer. Music itself is a story for the listener and presenting it with the perfect visuals is something I’ve always wanted to do.
On a deserted island you’d wish to be left alone with…?
A Playstation, endless supply of games and a music instrument (piano ideally).
Three things you cannot function without…
Sleep, food, air
That one phrase or line which describes you to the core is?
We are One.
