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The real Aamir Zaki exists in live sessions, not in cassettes, CDs or mp3 files: Maha Kazmi

The real Aamir Zaki exists in live sessions, not in cassettes, CDs or mp3 files: Maha Kazmi

The two recorded a track together 10 years ago which was released on the ace guitarist's one month death anniversary
07 Jul, 2017

Shortly after Aamir Zaki's one-month death anniversary, singer Maha Ali Kazmi dedicated a song to the legendary guitarist, a song the two had collaborated to produce.

Although their song Aaj Sun Ke Tumhara Naam was recorded sometime around 2007 or early 2008, as Maha remembers, the song was a work in progress and never made it to the public.

In an interview with Images, the singer talks about her first meeting with Aamir which led to their collaboration soon after.

"I was very young and quite excited when I was introduced to him at a music event in Karachi. He heard me sing impromptu and later in the coming days he suggested to collaborate and record a couple of songs. And that’s when we began working together," she says.

The collaboration included two songs, one was called Face the Music, which was Maha's composition, and the other was Aaj Sun Ke Tumhara Naam which was Aamir’s composition with Maha on vocals.

It's interesting that the singer decided to release the song now, after 10 years. She explains: "I always felt his recorded work does not fully capture the essence of Aamir's talents. The real Aamir Zaki exists in live sessions, and not in cassettes, CDs and mp3 files."

"On one hand he was an extremely prolific musician, on another hand, his recorded work consists of a sum total of few dozen songs and instrumentals."

"Working with Aamir Zaki was quite intense. He would never be shy to tell you about your flaws, so at times it was quite difficult but overall I got to learn a lot from him," says Maha

What affects Maha the most is that the current generation and others to follow may never know the true value of Aamir.

"I was particularly struck by the fact that the newer generation may not be able to ever fully grasp how great he was as a musician if they were to judge him solely on the basis of his solo album - which, no doubt, in its own right, stands out as among the most daring projects undertaken in Pakistan and quite brilliant too. Ergo, I decided to pay him a tribute by putting the track out for his fans. I felt they deserved to listen to this beautiful track."

Aaj Sun Ke Tumhara Naam is sad and nostalgic and has been written and composed by Aamir. Talking about the track, Maha says, "I always felt Aamir was very honest when he wrote songs and assumed he wrote it about himself and his life experiences."

"He had written it while we were working together and for me to sing it, I feel I’m extremely lucky to have lent my voice to such a beautiful composition. Among my recorded work this is a song I’m proudest of even though it remains incomplete."

She adds, "This song is not exceptional in the sense that a lot of Aamir’s work -- dare I say, the majority of his work – remains unreleased for reasons only he could best explain."

"I feel I’m very fortunate to have worked with Aamir," continues Maha. "Working with him was quite intense. For example he would never be shy to tell you about your flaws, as other people have noted too. So at times it was quite difficult but overall I got to learn a lot from him. He understood his craft better than any musician I have worked with."

Currently Maha is working on a few songs; one with Mekaal Hasan and the other with Mubashir Admani. The songs are slated for release later this year.

Comments

ahmad Jul 07, 2017 03:13pm
The song is pathetic, I wonder if Amir zaki had actually written it.
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naveed I Jul 07, 2017 03:29pm
I am afraid despite being a prodigious guitarist, Not a single eminent performance from him that is reminiscent of him with the exception of his hit solo 'mera pyar', that too doesn't sport any phenomenal chords strumming.
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naveed I Jul 07, 2017 03:29pm
I am afraid despite being a prodigious guitarist, Not a single eminent performance by him is reminiscent of him with the exception of his hit solo 'mera pyar', that too doesn't sport any phenomenal chords strumming.
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Rana Mansoor Ahmed Jul 07, 2017 03:46pm
"Mera Pyar" One of his best which i even listen today
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Ali S Jul 07, 2017 03:52pm
Not to be disrespectful but I think he was overrated and consciously cultivated an aura of mystery - playing jazz and blues isn't something new (maybe in 90s Pakistan, but his solo album was ho-hum by any definition). It's much harder to make meaningful songs that also resonate with people - and that's why for me, mid-90s Junoon will always be the definition of subversive, quality Pakistani music.
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SK Jul 07, 2017 04:06pm
I am out of the scene - never heard of either the guitarist or the singer. But what I heard here (sun ke tera nam) was great. The instrumentation was superb. This must be a great loss to Pakistan.
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adnan Jul 07, 2017 05:35pm
the greatest musician pakistan ever produced and ever will. this last song marks an end of an era. it is sad listening to the song because you realize this was our last hurrah. magician is gone.
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zubair Jul 07, 2017 07:10pm
i like him as an artist , but right from the beginning of career he was over praised just because of lack of talent in 90s era, he was definitely overrated. skilled but not legend. I dont compare but many guitarist are up the irons in Pakistan who are not known like him. even Salman Ahmed's solos are way better than him. my opinion people who have compassion thats their call anyway.
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roger Jul 08, 2017 08:01pm
@zubair u dont know what ur talkinh about
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