Four singing youngsters target world of Urdu music

Talent has prompted four youngsters to pool their energies to produce videos that could serve as their launching pad into the world of popular Urdu music. The group - a lyricist and three singers- has been practising for six months at a flat. They have mustered enough confidence to propel them into the first phase of their music career.

The idea of a video release was first floated by Jawed Baig, a computer engineer, and was seconded by his friends Shahzad Sagar, an accountant, and Akram Wahab, a systems analyst. The trio then searched for a lyricist who could write songs for them and found Shahbaz Tanvir Naqvi, an employee of a construction company.

Wahab said: "We are practising together and helping each other. Around 70 per cent of the work on the three albums is done and next month I will go in for sound mixing." Wahab has previous singing and acting experience in Karachi and in Abu Dhabi. He also acted in Zee Television's well-known drama "Daastan", a serial produced in the UAE.

Wahab's video will be called "Teri Ankhein" ("Your Eyes"), which is also the title song of the album. Bai"g's video is called "Shaam" ("Evening") and Sagar's "Mere Humdum" ("My Otherself).
The group plans to release the videos one by one with the first hitting the market in July. "We were actually looking for a professional and affordable sound mixing facility and that consumed lot of our time," said Sagar.

Jawed Baig has also performed on stage in Karachi, making his debut in 1986. One of his new songs is being played by PTV World, Pakistan's satellite television channel, and is on the top-10 chart. All three are ardent listeners of Urdu, Hindi and English music. Wahab said they do not have formal education in music but "God has given us good voices."

Lyricist Naqvi is the son of famous Pakistani film lyricist Tanvir Naqvi. "I was also asked to write songs for Pakistani films, but I have never given it serious thought," said Shahbaz. He said the three friends stimulated him, and he joined them. Shahbaz said he also has been asked by legendary Indian musician Naushad to write songs for his movie. "I have accepted it and am waiting for his signal," he added.

The group will not form a band, said Baig, because they are all singers and a band would muffle their individual abilities.