PMR Interview – Omer Nadeem

The Omer Omnia.

– you all gotta have a musical ear!

Well, I so feel like writing: Ladies and Gentlemen, put your hands together for this gallant guy, Omer Nadeem…
(all smiles please, without wasting your precious moments. Have a look at the rest. :-))

PMR. How does Omer Nadeem describe himself as a musician? And how do you see the uprightness of a Pakistani musician in yourself and others?
Omer:
I have been doing music since 2001 when I was only 12. I do not have any musical background as such as most of my elders were into the fields of sciences. I guess me being a musician was a change of course in my family. When I held a guitar for the first time there was this screen out of adrenaline rush I had, it might have been because of the youthful personality I had, as till today I still can not tell how all of this has happened. I used to imitate all of Michael Jackson’s dance moves when I was a kid and today I am drawing up my own music. I think it’s a God gifted talent and His blessings, nothing else. I was lucky enough to start music with none other than Jal the band, after the immense break up stayed with Atif and then there was this role I played with Roxen about which I would not say much here. (loads of laughter)  As a musician, we represent and exemplify our country to the world because media is the most mighty and effective way of communication and theatrical performances. It was just because of musicians and other artists that Indo-Pak relationship was meliorated and we musicians always unfold the message of peace and love in our interviews and concerts etc. Which also is a loud expression that we are not “terrorists”.
And I must say, we have a lot of songs representing patriotism for our country and also those songs which bring home the bacon: awareness for the masses. We can not afford to forget remarkable services by the likes of Shehzad Roy and Abrar Ul Haq for our country.

PMR. You definitely hold a strong sense and respect for music. Anyway, to continue with, let your fans know if there’s one inspirtational musician you would want to be, who would top the list of the nominees?
Omer:
I simply want to be the way I am because that is the only way I will make a name for myself. So far, A.R Rahman is the man who has proved himself as one of the most talented and versatile musician in the world. His style varies so much that one can really differentiate between each of his songs, and such variation is very difficult for a musician to carry out in his compositions.

PMR. He seems to be the most likable musician (we did an interview with Shiraz Uppal, he said quite a lot about him, go have a look at that as well :-)). You were associated with a band as well previously, what would you do with the songs you recorded with them since you’re a solo artist now?
Omer:
Yes my songs will be re-recorded. Like, ‘Bisaat’. It will be re-recorded. ‘Hadh’ will have its vocals done again because as I recorded that song at the age of 15 I believe the maturity level of my voice may have increased, one can easily tell the difference when you listen to ‘Aey Khuda’ after ‘Hadh’.

PMR. Oh yeah! So when you are going to release your debut album? I and your fans would like to know about the content of the CD and the entertainment it would offer to the people?
Omer:
I will be releasing my debut album in the mid of 2010, InshAllah. Nowadays that ‘one hit’ phenomena is pretty much over. If you really need to prove yourself you need to have at least five to six hit songs in your album. My album will be ofcourse be set according to my own taste. There will be emotions, feelings, frustration and things people can relate. I want it to be something with which the audience can connect to. I believe that mainly I am a composer. I trust my compositions and I trust Allah. I did not really work all that hard in creating these compositions, these are what they are through my own mental state, they are what they are through the thoughts that I may have though and through the feelings I may have felt. All this translated through a single guitar and we have a composition. I want my music to reach the masses so there will also be a certain level of commercialism.

PMR. So whoever wants to know you can actually go through the songs only and there you go… And the question we ask all the artists signed by Fire Records, what was your reason to chose it?
Omer:
It is actually Khiza who signed me on Fire Records. It was his pick so I guess he can answer this question better. I would suggest all the label companies to be co-operative with each other and to make their main aim to promote the artists and not to make money. There are also those label companies who choose to promote and kick upstairs their artists only on their own channels, this turns out to be bad for both the label and the artist. The artist will not get much air time if the masses do not know about him, the album wont sell unless the bulks know about the artist, the label and the artist will be in loss if the album does not sell at all!

PMR. Yes you’re right. Pretty much the statement and complain all the artists out there have. Coming to your debut video, it’s been released globally. Have you ever thought of such a large platform you’re bestowed with?
Omer:
Not exactly, I never thought that this would happen. It was a very big launch but unfortunately the video did not get enough air time in Pakistan. I wonder why. And the ones answerable to this should be Fire Records itself because the song is a Big Hit! I myself have heard the song being played in many public places which is a sign of success. There must be some secret reason for the song not getting enough air time… Fishy fishy…

PMR. Very fishy. You have worked with Jal, Atif Aslam, and Roxen. How did it go with them and how much do you think you have learnt from them?
Omer:
In the beginning when I was new to music I myself strived to improve myself and learn more. I think its all about luck because if I had gotten well known at that time maybe I might not have been able to handle the publicity because of my young age and the pressure of studies. Allah has set a time for all of us and I believe that InshAllah my time is about to come. And then we have Roxen, well I think they may have learned a lot from me, as suprising as this may sound, because I saw them start from scratch and guided them all the way through jam sessions and performing with them in concerts. I watched them improve. People usually question me by asking if I am as good a musician then why did not I come forward before and how did the rest get popular before me. I would answer them by saying that talent and resources do not go side by side. That’s the thing, the timing factor is in the hand of Allah. Age factor is extremely important. The ones who have got popular at the time were like 23-24 years old. I am still 20, I still have time. I would like to advise the audience never to judge an artist by his being famous for that is something called luck. There are many talented artists out there who for some reason are still unable to expose themselves. The fault may lie with the media as the criteria they have set to promote our artists is not good. I can name many artists including myself who have their albums ready but just because of bad promotion and politics we cant release them.

PMR. That definitely is a fact but you have also set up a huge competition for yourself. Now I might tick you off with this question, a boy in white sleeveless shirt grabing bass guitar in the video ‘Zindigi’ of Atif Aslam, do you know who this boy was? 😉
Omer:
Omer Nadeem was this school boy, a 9th grader who had his board paper the next morning and he was out on a video shoot with Atif Aslam. Careless, innocent, and working hard towards his passion which was music. Always had a guitar in his hand and some composition on his mind and music in his ears. 🙂

PMR. Innocent again, I would say. How fair is the use of auto-tuner on upcoming singers, since now they are addicted to it. But the bad part, it prevents them badly from singing LIVE?
Omer:
It’s not necessary that if the person has used auto-tuner he can not sing live. Even Sonu Nigam uses auto tuner nowadays, yet he is the perfect singer. The thing is that the quality of music is so high now that if the song is recorded in a natural voice, it can not blend with the music smoothly. So if a singer uses auto-tuner on a very low level its just to blend his vocals with the music. But yes there are some singers who cant really sing without an auto-tuner nowadays and that is bad.

PMR. How is the response coming of your debut video “Aey Khuda” and you are already a Star in UK and Pakistan, does it make you proud on yourself?
Omer:
In the UK the situation is good as the video is getting a lot of air time and it has been watched by a lot of people now, plus the radios have aired the song as well. I have had a big interview with a magazine Eastern Eye and many interviews over the phone. But in Pakistan the promotion is not as good. If the video had gotten enough air time people might have know who this song really belongs to.

PMR. I’m glad then that PMR’s providing a big platform to new comers as well as main stream artists. Share the taste of Khiza’s album “Turning Point”? And yes! Why “Laut Ana” is not completed in Khiza’s album? (a big question mark.)
Omer:
Khiza is a UK based Asian producer and I think according to the UK music market the album is a hit, Hip Hop, RnB, Bhangra, these genres do well in the UK. I have noticed that the people in Pakistan are also developing a taste for such genres. The reason “Laut Ana” is not complete is that already I have many demos available on the net, 4-5 songs have their complete versions as well, so I thought it better to release a demo version for this song. This song was a last minute decision by Khiza anyway, and as many songs are already out I would like the proper final versions to be heard in my album.

PMR. Some singers also tend to sing title tracks for dramas, like you have done that as well. Share the experience.
Omer:
Mr. Farrukh Abid (Music Director) called me from Karachi and asked me to sing a song for a drama which is of Humayoun Saeed’s production. I was called within 3 days and I sang the song. It is unknown to me when the drama will be released but everyone will know once it does InshAllah.

PMR. More music channels in the era are increasing the scope of musicians but on the other hand it is making young generation more into music because of this they are loosing their aims to be well-educated person, is it fair to leave education for music?
Omer:
Studies always come first. My first priority has always been studies, once you have your degree, do as much music as you like.

PMR. Good, that is a sane approach. How do you see the Paki music industry? And if you had to suggest, what would you say to the people in media to improve themselve to achieve peaks of success?
Omer:
The industry here is on the decline unfortunately. No investors, no promoters. Everything has to be done by the artist himself. This kind of system is very unprofessional. It is especially the new artists who are suffering. The companies aren’t giving any sponsorships either, if they do, it is to the well known artists. This is the same as a bank giving their loans out to someone who has already got cash. The labels here can not give a budget for album recording to the artists. They ask them to finance themselves. They ask them to finance their own videos as well. They just choose to release them. That’s not a good deal if all is done by the artist. The distribution after the release is pretty bad as well. Albums get really hard to find from the stores. What do we do then?! Run off to India?

PMR. Not do-then. Some of the artists have already chosen that very line! So, a day in life that you are looking to ever since your childhood?
Omer:
Not exactly since childhood, but it’s the day my album gets released that I wait for, and when my music breaks through to reach the masses.

PMR. Me and my team hopes that for you that day comes quick and easy. 🙂
Somehow, the music concerts panorama in Pakistan is blackened out, how we can make it bright again?
Omer:
When there are no sponsors how can there be shows. Neither the sponsors are being provided nor the N.O.C.s. But if a show does happen by any chance the budget is so contricted that the arrangements made are not up to par. So ultimately the artist suffers and the level goes down. I hope the world economy improves and the companies get the money for sponsorship and the organizers don’t just think of their own good for a change. They should have shows just for the sake of entertaining the audience and giving the new artists an opportunity to perform. This would make a proper system get under way. Otherwise its all about money due to which the artist and the audience suffers.

PMR. And  that seems to take forever.
Okay. How do you feel when people ask you: “Have you heard the new song ‘Aey Khuda’ of Atif Aslam of the indian movie New York? (:-P) Because yes, we HAVE heard that!
Omer:
Thank goodness no one asked me this question personally, because those who know me realize that this is my song, yes some misunderstanding did happen because of the rumours in the Indian media regarding the movie New York featuring my song. But then I would tell everyone I know that it’s not true. Such rumours did spread so much that my song got affiliated with the movie in the market and they might still think that it’s part of the movie.

PMR. “You can not put your soul into music till you fall and fall apart in love.” What do you think about it? 😛
Omer:
(Laughters.) Well I was 12 when I started so I do not think there was any such situation at that time for me. I started because of the natural talent and the things I picked in related to music, I started making my own songs as if it came to me naturally, just like my own imagination. It’s the environment, the mood, the feelings, and nature that determine a melody for my song. I still remember I had this exam the next day and I ended up creating a depressing melody. And the day the exams got over I had this really refreshing melody created in my mind. I try to create songs to be felt, not just to be heard. I love it when people say my songs are deep, it means they can relate to it which is a good sign.

PMR. Good question rounded off well, goodie! 😛
Your views about internet as a medium for the promotion of music? and the professionalism in it?
Omer:
Whoever knows me today, its due to the internet. For me internet is a huge media. The songs also get their true judgement through the internet as it is downloaded and then spread if really liked. MashAllah my songs got really famous through the internet which I am really glad about. If a song gets a lot of air time on television it does not mean that it’s a certain hit, the channel may get changed if it is not good enough. I think it’s a big achievement if you get popular with your song only available on the internet.

PMR. Hmm, would you like to say something to your co-artists and any message for our underground musicians?
Omer:
We are all in this difficult phase together in the music industry, I would ask for all of us to join hands to make the situation better. Be confident, be proactive, and keep making awesome music, you WILL be heard!

PMR. Great piece of advice. And few words about ‘Pak Media Revolution’ and for its team please? 🙂
Omer:
Thank you Pak Media Revolution for supporting me and all the artists who badly need promotion! You guys are doing a great job, it is through you guys that the new artists get their platform and a better chance at getting their message through. You guys are totally on the right track!

Thank you Omer for your time and valued words. Have a great music-life.

Interview By Sohaib Shah

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