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Junoon's Ahmad discusses
roots
Nov 7, 2002
About a month ago, they received an encouraging e-mail from U2''s Bono saying,
"Even though the western world hasn''t heard of you guys, I have." Thus, it does
not entirely come as a surprise that although the signs everywhere announce
proudly that "South Asia''s biggest rock band is coming to Brandeis!" many
on-campus still wonder — just who is Junoon?
They will not be left wondering for long, however, especially after what
promises to be an uncommonly interesting and lively concert by the Pakistani
rock band this Saturday.
Junoon, which means "passion" in Urdu, is a South Asian rock band, which
consists of Pakistani-American Salman Ahmad, New Yorker Brian O''Connell, and
Pakistani Ali Azmat. In an interview Thursday, guitarist Ahmad described how the
band formed: "I was in college, studying medicine, and all I just really wanted
was to play music. And at that time I called Brian — and you know, he had never
left New York before — and said, ''Why don''t you come to Pakistan and make an
album?'' He initially came down for two months, but ended up staying there for
10 years."
"I call us the International Neighborhood Band," Ahmad remarked. "When I went to
middle school in New York, Brian was my neighbor and my best friend. When I went
back to Pakistan, Ali was my neighbor there. So I just connected the two
neighbors."
Because of this multicultural beginning, it comes as no surprise that the sound
they have developed is a unique fusion of western rock and traditional eastern
mystical music. Junoon''s music often pertains to political issues as part of
the band''s attempt to promote peace and unity. Inspired by a variety of music
groups, including the Beatles, U2 and Coldplay, they performed at the U.N.
General Assembly''s peace concert following the September 11 attacks. In
addition, Ahmad was named U.N. Goodwill Ambassador for Pakistan for his campaign
against the spread HIV/AIDS.
Their message of peace is not always so well received, however. Although the
band formed in 1990, it was not until 1996 that they began to be widely known,
and then it proved to be an uneasy success. In 1997 they came out with a song
called "Ihtesab," or "Accountability," lambasting corrupt politicians, which
quickly got them banned from Pakistani airwaves. The ban seemed to spell the end
for Junoon.
In India, Pakistan''s political rival, however, the group''s popularity soared.
While India and Pakistan were exchanging military threats in 1998, the group was
touring in India. That same year, they won the title of Best International Group
at India''s Channel V Music Awards, and were followed by fans internationally.
Pakistan has since lifted the ban, and Junoon continues to create music
pertaining to political issues in the hopes of raising awareness and
establishing unity. However, when asked whether he has considered delving more
deeply into politics, Ahmad assured me that music, and not politics, is his
first priority: "Just recently I was offered the chance to join the Justice
party, but you know, I''m not a politician, I''m an artist. And it''s because I
don''t have to cater for my constituency that I''m able to speak the truth, and
I value that."
Soon after September 11th, Junoon gave a concert in Manhattan, after which New
Yorker Polar Levine gave Ahmad his poem "No More." One of Junoon''s first
English-language songs was created out of this verse. The song condemned
terrorism, a message that resonated with new meaning across the world. "No
More'' is like a first painting," stated Ahmad. "And I think that we''re all in
this together. If you keep hollering loud enough, people will hear you." It is
clear that people have begun to hear, for Junoon, whose fame has primarily been
limited to South Asia, is now beginning to gain recognition in the west. And,
the band''s first English album is expected to be released this spring.
Several Brandeis students have done their best to help in spreading the word
about Junoon. Omar Haq ''04, Moha Shah ''04 and Amna Mirza ''04, first got the
idea of bringing Junoon to Brandeis when the band performed at MIT in spring
2002. Once Haq was able to get in touch with manager Shehryar Ahmad about
performing on campus, the Hewlett Pluralism Alliance, the Student Union, the
Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences, Hillel and several other Brandeis
organizations gave them the funding and support they needed to bring the
talented Pakistani rock band to campus.
But for Ahmad, it is still hard to believe that they have "made it." When asked
about the ups and downs of his musical career, Ahmad laughed at the idea that he
has finally reached the point of being an established and acclaimed musician.
"My whole life people have told me there''s no future in music. I never thought
that I''d ever become a working musician. Because there''s such a huge taboo; in
Pakistan mass murderers have more respect than musicians. So becoming a musician
was the end of the line. But I''m able to express myself, and that''s what it''s
about."
So, what''s next for Junoon?
"People who went to college with me make their five year, 10 year plans, you
know, and it''s like, I don''t know what''s happening next week! And I
understand now that in my line of work, in being an artist, you pretty much live
in the moment. And you get comfortable with it. And that''s about where I am
right now. You just look at your next gig. And right now, that''s Brandeis! And
if we come out of that alive, then we think about the next gig. But we''re very
excited to be there next week. Colleges are really where we got our start, and
that''s where we get a really honest response."
To learn more about Junoon, view their Rock Documentary on BTV at 4:30, 7:30,
8:30 or 9:30 a.m. or p.m. Their concert, free to Brandeis students, will take
place on November 2nd in Levin Ballroom.
Doors open at 7 p.m.
Brandeis University's, The Justice
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