Exclusive interview with a marvelous singer Shakila Ahmed

By Sadaf Fayyaz Feb 15th, 2012 ( 2 Comments )

She is a radiant singer with splendid vocals and superior classical training. Shakila has really proved herself with her malleable and melodic voice. Her versatility comes with her classical, light and pop singing. Born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Shakila came with some wonderful songs like “Toota Jo Aakey”, “Tumhara Ishq”, “Aao na Pyar”, “Khwab Todd do Gey”, “Bekhudi”, “Chori Chori” and “Sehra”.

Her multilingual singing in languages like Urdu, Punjabi, English and Bangla adds more maneuver to her singing. Besides music, writing and painting are two of her passions, but her inborn music knack supersedes other talents. While talking to The News Tribe, she spoke very honestly about herself:

The News Tribe (TNT): Tell about your childhood and music training.

Shakila: My birthplace is Dhaka, Bangladesh. I have done my Masters in mass communication and journalism. Besides these, I have also taken music lessons at The College of Music, Nazrul Academy and Chayanaut; and all three are very celebrated institutes of performing arts. I was born with a great love and vivid interest for music, and with time I became more passionate about it. I started singing in concerts and radio programs as a child artist at a very young age of eight. My teachers realized the potential and selected me for music competitions, where I always returned with trophies. I have been under the pupilage of Gulam Ambia, Sanjeev Dey, Ustad Mohammad and Dilshad Khan.

TNT: What inspires you as an artist?

Shakila: It’s the beauty of nature around me that inspires me.

TNT: What was the first instrument that you learnt playing?

Shakila: I learnt playing Tanpura and harmonium at the age of twelve. I had a passion for music from the beginning that I couldn’t ignore. Besides continuing my studies, I took music lessons at a very young age.

TNT: What languages you love singing in and why?

Shakila: These are Bangla, Urdu and English, because I understand these three languages fairly well. Also, I am able to appreciate the subtle emotional and creative aspects and apply them when I am singing.

TNT: What genre of music you like and why?

Shakila: Well its classical music that I adore because of its unmatched creativity.

TNT: Tell something about your current projects.

Shakila: It is an album consisting of ghazals by some of the greatest poets of Urdu language in classical compositions. It’s going to be something very exciting for me.

TNT: Agar music dunia mein na hoti to dunya kia hoti?

(What would have been world like if there were no music?)

Shakila: Stuck in ice age….hehe

TNT: What is future of music in Pakistan according to you?

Shakila: I see it as very bright. Pakistani musicians have sustainable and matchless talent.

TNT: Share three things that you like and three things that you dislike about yourself.

Shakila: I like my honesty, generosity and sense of humor. I dislike my naïve nature, impulsiveness and lack of business acumen.

TNT: Do you have any desire to perform with anyone?

Shakila: Not as such, but I like to listen to all those performers that I admire.

TNT: What is success for a musician according to you?

Shakila: It lies in finding comfort and happiness in music.

TNT: What is your message to readers?