Turns out, Asim Azhar isn’t too sure if he would call himself a romantic or not? He believes the best things in life happen when unplanned and his latest single, Chand Mahiya is just an example of that. Read on to know about his thought process behind the song and what it really means?
Asim Azhar is widely known and loved in the Pakistani music world and beyond globally, a singer, songwriter, musician and even a sporadic actor. His fans still recall how he started his career as a singer on YouTube covering contemporary western songs and shortly rising to meteoric fame. Asim Azhar’s subsequent fame can be attributed to his Coke Studio performances. To top it all, even featured on the coveted HBL PSL 5 official anthem “Tayyar Hain” along with Ali Azmat, Arif Lohar and Haroon.
Fans consider him as a gem of the music industry appreciating how he always maintains his grace, is supremely talented yet humble with a gentle, melodious voice that is a treat to our ears. Fans are rushing in to wish him luck for his latest single, Chand Mahiya – a soulful tune with an MV set against an artistic contemporary vibe. Asim visited FUCHSIA HQ to have a different yet fun sit down with editor Rabia Mughni. Talking about his new song from a yet to be released album; Chand Mahiya, he spoke about the concept, inspiration, process and more.
A Chai Person Or A Coffee Person?
Even though he calls himself a chai person, he says he also likes coffee specifically on shoots when he needs to stay awake and that’s where the coffee comes in. He claims he is quite a chai expert, though ironically, while whipping up some coffee and that is when he shared that if his mom was there, she would be sharing a story about how “hur sunday mai Asim say ghar kay kaam karati thi” he added: though not as a punishment but whatever was necessary that day. He reminisced how he would rather enjoy washing dishes and found it to be therapeutic. Quite the domestic kinda guy?
His First Thought & Process Behind Chand Mahiya!
Going back to his new song, the first thought, the process, he says he actually considers Chand Mahiya an experiment, he didn’t plan it at all and in all honesty every song has a different process for him. “For this one, the backstory is, I moved into a new house and the upper portion has a studio room (which he humbly added is very lowkey) which I was excited about and wanted to spend some time in, so I just connected my laptop and stuff, took a mini keyboard from my Abu, ek do chords play kiye and I liked them. Things happen so spontaneously there is no time line in my mind for the exact process. Artists would agree, these moments are magical, when you are in creative mode you enter a different zone. I am not tied to any formula and I love it.”
Visualisation For Chand Mahiya
“When I made the beat and then when it came to adding the words and writing, I wanted to go into a deeper meaning of the concept of love because hum ghoom phir kay pyaar kay baray mai baat hee kartay hain. I came up with this concept about how there is a guy who really enjoys his life, his life is a dream for most, he earns and spends, travels abundantly and parties, does not believe in love and hates it.” While he added a caution: “No it’s not about me, If I write every song about myself how many songs could I write? People I come across in life stay in the back of my mind, it helps me to create a vivid imagination.”
Adding onto his visualisation for the character: “he is living it up in Greece and Ibiza, to the fullest, he doesn’t want to be tied, but the culture and background he belongs to, he does know the reality of love and possibly why the world says love is the most beautiful thing on earth but he continues to lie to himself. Across him is a girl who is literally his polar opposite, looks down on his lifestyle and is from an entirely different world. She embarks on a trip to Europe with her cousins and family and lo and behold ek he nazar mili hoge – aur wo keh raha hai, yaar mainay poori zindagi bhaaga, itni mehnat ke apni freedom bananay mai aur ek look say, mujha pata chal gaya kay pyaar hogaya. Its a bitter-sweet feeling – usko pata hai uski freedom jarai hai but at the same time he knows what a beautiful journey lies ahead of him, Mei Tou Kho Gaya, Yeh Kaisay Hou Gaya…..Chand Mahiya, Yeh kya kia?”
The Lucky Person Who Hears Those Songs First!
Guess who is the lucky one to hear his songs first? It’s an easy one…but here you go. “When a demo is ready, I usually send it to Meerab and it’s because she gives me the most honest feedback. Bohat sari cheezay change hui hai, app logo ko pata he nae hai, jismay Meerab nay feedback dia hai.” He says he takes feedback from other people too and it has worked. “Feedback is really sacred to me, I don’t want yes-sayers around me. I am so unsure even after I make it, I need a reality check. If someone says it’s perfect I don’t believe it.”
The Chand Mahiya Music Video
When we asked: Is the video to Chand Mahiya an ode to the originals? Going back to the basics? While agreeing, he said “everyone should at a point, go back to the basics, the song was so organic – I told my team I am a bit bored of storyboards and romance, the same typical stuff. I wanted to show expression and the expression of art and I have always loved dance. A night before the video, we were on the set and the DOP and all were so tense about what were we doing except the dance? I told them this is exactly what I want. So many artists are collaborating and when our energies merge something for sure would go well. Meri zindagi mai jo sabsay unplanned cheezay hui hai wo best hoti hai.”
Asim On Confessing Love & What’s Important In A Relationship
About voicing out and affirming in love he had the following to say: Feelings ko affirm karna zaroori hai, bilkul I am a 100% believer in validating and getting reassurance. Apnay purani movies mai tou dekha hai kaisay khamosh muhabbat tou aisay he reh jati hai. Every human needs validation, ankhay tou kabhi jhoot nae bolti but it’s important to communicate.
While engaging in a game segment, Asim quipped how he sometimes forgets the lyrics to his own song and shared a cute anecdote from a concert: Once I was performing a new song, I told Meerab mujhay yeh yaad nae horaha and mai blunder kero ga and Meerab bhi uss concert mai arae thi. So right before the part I was forgetting, Meerab stood below the stage and pointed out the lyrics to me.
The 3 most important things in a relationship? Communication, trust (obviously) and transparency about your weaknesses. It’s important to be self aware about where we lack and then work together as partners to address it.”
In another fun segment, missing his chance to score in Carom, he had to answer a penalty question which gave Rabia the chance to ask him: What was his first thought when he saw Meerab for the first time? Asim revealed: to be very honest and technically, we are family friends tou pehli baar dekha tou aisa koi khayal nae aya. Even before our engagement our families are so tight, she always felt like family.
Is Asim A Romantic? (A No Brainer?)
When asked if he is a romantic, what he said next was unexpected because with the swoon-worthy songs he writes, it would be a no brainer to think otherwise, right? Asim doesn’t think he is that great of a romantic but said he sure is trying to be better. “Not really, the most romantic thing I have done is write songs. Mai bohat achay surprise deta houn, Meerab started her Law degree and she was very tense so I threw her a law/courtroom based birthday surprise. I won’t say it’s a romantic thing but yeah mai nae karounga tou kon karay ga? But I am not too skilled at being romantic, I am still learning because I get a bit awkward. I like to give flowers, gajray. Mai apni ama kay liye hamesha say leta houn, ab mai Meerab kay liye bhi leta hun when she is in town. ” How is that not being romantic?
Though he did add he is quite competitive as a person and playing cricket helps that, it is also his therapy! It’s what makes him feel normal and he plays every other day.
So, have you heard his new release? What do you guys think?
