Latest Interview: Dino on new album ‘Sun Zara’

“My fans thought I wouldn’t come up with an album but I have. It’s the job of the critics to be mean. They comment about singers like Atif Aslam as well.” – Dino

After the onslaught of ‘Pari’, it seems the veejay hasn’t given up on singing. His debut album, Suno Zara, has finally been released.

Five years after announcing that he is releasing an album, Dino has finally delivered one. And the press conference of his debut album Suno Zara took place at Café Zouk.

Being the second single off his album, ‘Suno Zara’ has been playing on local television constantly. And though neither the song nor the video is remotely interesting, VJ Naveen thought otherwise.

“This is the best song of Dino’s album,” stated Naveen Waqar at the press conference, which didn’t come as a surprise as she plays his ladylove in the video. And when taking into account the amount of great videos that have been playing on the airwaves – including Shehzad Roy’s ‘Laga Reh’, Ali Zafar’s ‘Aag’ or Zeb and Haniya’s ‘Aitebar ‘ – ‘Suno Zara’, doesn’t even come close.

“I don’t compete with any of the stars,” stated Dino. “I don’t believe in competition and neither did I have this in mind.”

The press conference focused on Dino finally achieving his dream of becoming a singer. He went on to say that he had been singing for his family for years and has finally gotten a chance to come up. Despite the much-panned ‘Pari’ (his first single) and the fact that the singer/VJ had been severely criticized, he hadn’t given up.

“The job of the critics is to criticize. I’m sure my fans would love this album,” said Dino when asked why he was taking the risk again, considering ‘Pari’ was a major flop.

“My fans thought I wouldn’t come up with an album but I have. It’s the job of the critics to be mean. They comment about singers like Atif Aslam as well.”

Dino went on to say that with Suno Zara, he thought he could get to the platform he has always wanted to stand on. Putting his singing career on hold for six years (with being a VJ), Dino announced that now he has finally gotten a chance to do what he thinks he is best at: singing.

Not many people would agree with him. ‘Pari’ was not only musically weak but also held an uncanny resemblance to the tune ‘Two Princes’ by Spin Doctors.

Add that to the bad video that accompanied the song and it was clear that Dino’s musical career had taken a very rocky start.

However, Dino is sure of himself this time and he has a bit of a support system in place too. Even VJ Naveen Waqar (who is also a musician in the making) couldn’t stop gushing over how “mind-blowing” ‘Suno Zara’ is, at the press conference.

“I heard ‘Suno Zara’ five years back,” she said. “I fell in love with it instantly. And that’s when I went to Dino. I told him I would want to be a part of the video, if there would be any.”

But the video, which is a precursor to the album, sure isn’t all that entertaining and neither does the song have depth. Singers like Atif Aslam also harp lovelorn lyrics, but Atif does have talent and he can sing. And hey, Atif has massive star power.

Dino, on the flip side, is not another Atif and hence, playing with high-toned pitches isn’t really his forte. ‘Suno Zara’ is the best example.

The video kicks off with Dino singing (or at least trying to sing) and he really doesn’t sound all that bad, till he reaches a gradual crescendo and it is here when one really begins to go tone-deaf.

‘Suno Zara’ is about a couple in love but unable to communicate. And this came as an inspiration to Dino, who announced at the press conference that the video is the story of a close friend of his.

“I get inspired by life in general,” said the singer. “I haven’t really been enthused by singers. It’s everyday life that inspires me.”

The video is far from appealing. The camera zooms into Naveen’s face halfway through the cut and then zooms right into Dino’s. The theme of ‘Suno Zara’ would have made more sense if only the maker of the video had the aesthetic sense of camera labor. It really wouldn’t have been half as bad, but I suppose it’s the effort that counts.

But what is really surprising is the fact that Dino had been working on his singing career for five years and yet the video doesn’t seem to be worth it.

And as far as the vocals are concerned, Dino sounds more like he’s crying out for help on a deserted island. Dino isn’t really a bad singer (though many term him one) but only if he stays away from attempting to hit high notes. High-pitched, piercing and a shrilly tone of voice isn’t really his cup of tea. He, however, doesn’t think so.

“I love singing, though people prefer me as a better host,” said Dino. “I went to Indus Music with my demo album but they hired me as a VJ. This is because they were busy with bands like Fuzon, Ali Zafar, Ahmed Jehanzeb and so on.”

So might we ask, Fuzon and Ahmed Jehanzeb were considered while Dino wasn’t, what did make him think he could come out as a singer?

“I like the stuff I do,” he went on. “Fans will decide whether I’m good or not.”

And they did. Not many were game for ‘Pari’, the reason why he mellowed down right after the song was announced to be a flop in the first place. But who knows, his high self-esteem and poise might just help him reach the sky.

Other than VJ-ing, Dino also hosts his own radio show, Dost Scene On Hai. And on his show, he has been endorsing himself as a singer constantly. And after a month of self-promotion, some did request for ‘Suno Zara’. Initially, Dino would kick off his show with ‘Pari’, and then play ‘Suno Zara’ back to back, before he would even take over the mic! Dino is a very popular VJ, but Dino the singer needs to work some more, or maybe just give up and focus on hosting, as the audience loves him for his witty and kooky sense of humor.

“I give myself an eleven on ten,” he says. “Oh wait, I’m just joking!”

His album debut album consists of hip-hop numbers and even a Punjabi track. There is, however, no theme to the album and no “secret message” either, which is rather nice.

Back to the video, Dino announced he isn’t much of an actor. He can do comedy, but it’s singing he has always wanted to do.

“I was comfortable acting in ‘Suno Zara’ as I’ve known Naveen from before,” he said. “The shoot was for fifteen hours and we look depressed in the song because we were getting sick of shooting!”

Well, Dino, though you failed to amuse us, we sure hope for the best for you! And considering you cut your list of thirty songs down to ten, we sure hope Suno Zara has something juicy to offer and if not, don’t worry, you will still be one of the most beloved VJs of Pakistan if the album doesn’t do well!

link: The News International – No. 1 English Newspaper from Pakistan – Saturday, December 30, 1899

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