Fuzön

Fuzön
Origin	Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Genres	Alternative rock, Pop rock, Experimental rock
Years active	2001–2004 2007–present
Labels	Sound Master (2001–2004) The Musik Records (2007-presnt)
Associated acts	Ari Roland Jazz Quartet
Members
Rameez Mukhtar Shallum Asher Xavier Imran Momina Khalid Khan Jason Anthony
Past members
Shafqat Amanat Ali

Fuzön (Urdu: فیوزن, literal English pronunciation: "fusion") is an alternative rock band from Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan formed in 2001. The name has been derived from fusion as the former vocalist Shafqat Amanat Ali describes the band as a fusion of Indian classical music and modern rock music.

The Fuzön art insists on setting feelings above mere technique; and creating an individualistic genre of mold breaking music. Above everything else Fuzon is stylistically different. The band was born out of diverse western pop/rock and eastern classical influences. The trio, consisting of studio sessionist Emu, Shallum and vocal exponent Shafqat, rediscovered its credentials as a serious cutting-edge band, fusing deeply meditative ragas with rock and jazz.

Fuzön encompasses hybrid styles of exquisite melodies and everlasting pop/rock instrumentation, hence carving out a special niche for the threesome. The three seasoned collaborators of the band consider their debut album as a labor of love as well as a message of hope to all.

History

Shallum Asher Xavier and Imran Momina were the founding members, who decided to put their heads together as they realised the similarities between their musical ideas and tastes. They developed several tracks together, but lacked a quality vocalist.

Meanwhile, Shafqat Amanat Ali who had been singing for a few years had happened to drop into Immo's recording studio for an assignment. Shafqat's vocals so impressed the duo, that he was signed up with Shallum and Immu to form the band "Fuzön".

Shafqat had to leave the band to concentrate more on his solo projects. He was replaced by Rameez Mukhtar as the new vocalist.

In 2008, it was announced that Wasim Akram, along with his wife Huma, would star in the band's music video for the track "Soona Soona". Wasim, sporting a suave new look, told reporters, "I love experimenting with my looks and used to do it even when I played cricket." The band claimed that he loved their new songs and was keen to partake: "When we were working on the song "Soona Soona", which is a sad love song, we thought of him. Tragically, Huma died of organ failure on 25 Oct 2009. She was 42 and left behind two boys.

Members

Imran Momina

Imran Momina (aka "Emu") is a multi-dimensional pianist and a composer, who has been playing since the age of 13. His flair for arranging his own music and experimenting with melodies made him set up his own recording and mixing studio — and is where Fuzön's recording sessions took place. Moving on from humble beginnings, Emu now has a top of the line audio and video unit which caters to the artistic as well as commercial requirements of the country's top musicians.

Technically proficient, self-tutored Imran has a universe of possibilities at his disposal. Emu is a charismatic keyboard exponent and a fine studio tactician whose feeling-based work has been making sweeping statements for over a decade.

Emu has an uncanny knack for orchestrating memorable music which is dominant in Fuzön's gilt-edged tracks. Emu's immaculate and unparalleled keyboard maneuvers on one hand impart a euphoric essence to the debut album 'Saagar', and on the other his artistry is what makes the band tick.

As a musician, Emu has composed and produced music albums for a number of leading artists including Ali Haider and Najam Shiraz.

Shallum Asher Xavier

Shallum has music running in his family. Having started to play the piano from the age of nine, he shifted tracks and began 'worshipping' the guitar, by practicing for eight hours a day for three whole days. Playing for quite a few local pop acts brought him into the limelight. His six-string work encompasses tones in the direction of blues, rock, jazz, classical and everything in between. All his influences are focused towards creation of exhilarating, infectious but most of all moving slipstream music.

Rameez Mukhtar

Rameez Mukhtar discovered the hidden vocalist within himself at the age of nine while singing along with music maestro, Sohail Rana in shows entitled “Saaray Dost Hamaray” and “Sung Sung Chalein.” Since then, he had been vocalizing varied melodic scores of television serials and best-selling commercials. While thinking back upon the element responsible for kindling the singing passion in the lad, Rameez profoundly expresses the contribution of his siblings who only took singing as a hobby. However, Rameez managed to take it far under the mentorship of virtuoso Nisar Bazmi who made him learnt the intricacies and involutions of the classical music genre and helped him land as a vocalist for a band known as “Sanwal.” Along with the musical pursuit, Rameez continued his academics and has an MBA degree in the discipline of marketing from London to his credit. Besides performing the ballads and leading the marketing department of a certain music channel, Rameez loves spending time with his family. Being blessed with an enchanting voice and a persona imbued with enthusiasm, humility, and modesty, Rameez Mukhtar serves to be a perfect accompaniment to the duo.

Discography

Saagar (Virgin Records; CD; Rs. 199, Cassette; Rs. 65) features 12 tracks, with a common strain of rock melodies blended with Pakistani classical and folk vocals. The opening track Aakhon Kay Saagar gave rise to their popularity within Pakistan. Following songs, Akhiyaan, Terey Bina and Khamaaj were played in heavy circulation on the TV and FM stations of Pakistan and India. Fuzon was the first band to release their debut album Saagar concurrently in both Pakistan and India.

Regular studio albums

• Saagar
• Journey (2008)

Singles

• Ankhian
• Ankhon Ke Sagar
• Khamaj
• Tere Bina
• Deewane
• Neend Na Aaye
• Suna Suna

Trivia

• Shafqat's first entry into Bollywood, India's Hindi language film industry, was the song "Mitwa" from the film Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna.
• Shafqat can be heard in the song Yeh Hausla from the Nagesh Kukunoor film Dor.
• Shafqat has released his debut solo album "Tabeer" in September 2008.
• Fuzön's songs "Mora Saiyan" and "Tere Bina" are featured in Nagesh Kukunoor's Hyderabad Blues 2.

References

• http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Fuzon-Journey-prlotnsopm-1