Stage is my drug, music is my dealer, says Rohail Ahmed

By Sadaf Fayyaz Apr 6th, 2012 ( 1 Comment )

His band is a fusion of talents of a group of highly motivated young individuals playing anything that ‘sounds’ good, from classical to Rock. Because blending it to get a fiery live performance that promises to mesmerize, is something no one can do. He is part of a band called Stoned. He has played with several other artists like Quratilain Baloch and bands like Qayaas. While talking to The News Tribe (TNT), he was like:

TNT: How would you define yourself as an artist?

Rohail: Music is my Passion, I love it the most, “Stage is my Drug, and music is my dealer”. I am a performer and I love what I do.

TNT: When you started music, what were the biggest obstacles in your way and how did you manage them?

Rohail: I started singing when I was a kid. I don’t even remember when I started singing. It’s like I’ve been singing forever and it’s true. As far as the underground industry is concerned, I have been with only one band for two years now. My band name is ‘Stoned’. Before joining this band, I was a solo artist. I have won different competitions at the national level. My parents have always been supportive. The only difficulty that I faced was managing music with studies but now I am quite used to it.

TNT: What’s your inspiration?

Rohail: I am inspired by many artists, in Pakistan. My inspirations are Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, Rohail Hyatt, Ali Azmat, and bands like Noori, Strings, The Sketches and many others. As far as Indian music industry is concerned, I have always been a huge fan of A.R.Rehman, and if you talk about international artists, my inspirations are Coldplay and Alter Bridge.

TNT: Share your experience of working with Qayaas and Quratulain Baloch.

Rohail: I have a great experience of working with Qayaas. I have opened for them quite a few times, they are undoubtedly very mature musicians and I think they are the most underrated band in Pakistan. I have opened for QB as well. She has a magical voice. Plus she is humble and very cooperative. She also praised us on our performance.

TNT: Say a few lines on local music scene. What are some of the few things Pakistani music industry need to get rid off?

Rohail: Our local music industry is way better than Indian one but still there are some problems that need to be taken care of. For example, if there’s an underground band, nobody is going to pay them. I mean, there are many deserving artists who are never paid for their act. We charge for a performance, yes we do, and in the last two years people have started paying us, so, you need to respect art. If somebody wants to perform, don’t take advantage and make them play for you for free, pay them. Secondly, we need to respect our legends but unfortunately we don’t. Atif Aslam lives in a five star hotel whenever he goes on tour and charges three million Rs. for a concert but pioneers like Alamgir and Ustad Fateh Ali Khan do not have money for their treatment.

TNT: Tell something about your music training.

Rohail: I learnt classical music from Sajid Khan Sahab; He was a direct student of Ustad Fateh Ali Khan. I learnt it when I was only fifteen.

TNT: What is your biggest wish as an artist?

Rohail: My Wish and my dream are to make good music for people and the kind of music they like. It’s so because we are here because of them. That’s it.

TNT: What was the most memorable moment of your life?

Rohail: The most memorable moment was when people came to me for autographs and pictures for the first time at one of my shows in 2010 at Roots.
Well, it happens very often nowadays Alhamdulillah but the first time was special.

TNT: Lastly what is your message to readers?

Rohail: I am no one to give you guys a message but still, I would like to suggest that learn to like good music and support underground bands and artists because they are your future Rock stars.