It’s electric, the atmosphere, when you hear Parvaaz live on stage. At the DB Grounds for the finale of the Serendipity Arts Festival, the band was in full swing and the audience rose to partake of that electric atmosphere with them. Parvaaz was founded by vocalist Khalid Ahamed and guitarist Kashif Iqbal, both from Srinagar. Bangalore boys Fidel D’Souza and Sachin Banandur, on bass guitar and drums respectively, joined the band a year later. Their love for music united them and set them on a quest to rediscover the roots of Indian music but fuse them with rock, to create a signature sound. With Urdu, Hindi and Kashmiri lyrics, this band has carved a niche out for themselves.
TGLife: Do you think there is a revival of sorts happening on the folk and classical music scene here in India? What would you attribute that to?
Parvaaz: The classical and folk music scene in India needs more encouragement in its true forms for it to be called a revival truly, what is interesting is how to be able to take that to audiences here and abroad. People's fading interests in indigenous music will mean traditional art forms, formats and artists will struggle to means of living and performing. A revival needs promotors who seek musical talent who can moulded and produced for a increasingly growing audience.
TGL: What is so versatile about rock that it can be merged and remodeled, along with folk and classical, to create a new sound. What are your roots in rock btw?
Parvaaz: For us rock sounds have always been classic bands who have influenced most of modern music. Merging and remodeling needs to be done with care as most of contemporary fusion sounds are cliched and need new wind for the future.
TGL: You guys have recorded Khufiya Dastaan, which is nine minutes long. That’s a big unusual in today’s age of music, isn’t it?
Parvaaz: It's not so unusual, but since the track worked out to be a decent length while jamming it retained its form. Our longer song extends beyond 20 minutes.
TGL: Why Urdu as your main language of choice, when singing
Parvaaz: It's a beautiful thing to be able to express yourself in a natural formant sound, to us that works with Urdu, Hindi and Kashmiri.
