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Mystical Musical Anarchy
Sep 1, 2002
Junoon : Mystical Musical Anarchy
After some uncertain baby steps in their early days of fame, Junoon seem to have
taken a giant leap to the top of the South Asian pop music scene and landed them
the moniker ''U2 of Pakistan'' (though thankfully without the matching ego).
Guitarist Salman Ahmed grew up in Tappan, NY and then moved to Pakistan when he
was 17 to enroll in Medical School, even becoming a U.N. good-will ambassador in
the campaign against AIDS*. Still, his heart was set on a career in rock and
roll, and in 1990 he formed the band Junoon with his neighbor, vocalist Ali
Azmat. He later persuaded his friend from New York, bassist Brian O''Connell, to
join the band and later added Jay Dittamo on drums and Ashiq Ali on South Asian
hand drums (the tabla and dholak).
Challenging the hegemony of the religious orthodoxy and crusading against
communal and national divisions, Junoon (meaning Frenzy in Urdu) urges a whole
generation of Indians and Pakistanis to practice a form of personal and musical
piety. Their songs are rants against meaningless ritualism and religious
extremism.
Junoon''s music is an eclectic mixture of western rock and traditional Punjabi
and Urdu folk melodies. Sufi ghazals (Urdu poems) set to rocking rhythms
inspired by Hendrix and Zeppelin convey lofty aspirations of world peace and
universal brotherhood. The message is based on mystic harmony that is the
cornerstone of Sufism, a Muslim philosophical and literary movement dating back
to the 10th century. It requires that adherents make a direct connection with
the divine, often through poetry or through music. Sufis believe that no word
uttered is ever lost, that the sound reverberates into the cosmos infinitely,
according to the spirit put into it.
Taking bold political stands, Junoon''s rhetoric has often landed them in hot
water in their native Pakistan. An early song ("Ehtesab") about corruption in
high places and about accountability saw the band banned from Pakistani
television and from performing in public. Nevertheless, he band has maintained
its credibility with an unrelenting ethical rectitude.
Their albums have all been received well, with audiences seemingly enticed by
their offering of traditional Sufi messages set to a Western style. Their angst
driven, fiery albums Talaash, Inquilab, Azadi, Parvez, Ishq and the recent Daur-
e -Junoon have all been embraced by music lovers the world over. Junoon has
played in Central Park in New York, at the UN, at the Roskilde festival near
Copenhagen, London, Tokyo and Paris among other places.
Of his role as musician and the band''s version of rock, Salman Ahmed says "It''s
a different kind of rebellion. In the West, the music is seen as a force of
rebellion, our music is seen as a force of unity in Pakistan. It has really
played a role for national reconstruction."
Shehryar Ahmed, Salman''s brother and the band''s fervent promoter and manager
echoes his words. "Junoon is about peace, we want to bring the world together
through this powerful medium of song. We also want to tell the world about a
Pakistan very different from how it is projected the world over. Pakistan, like
Islam the, religion practiced by millions is much maligned and we would like to
educate the world about the tolerant face of Islam."
Junoon has played to packed halls all over the US on their recent tour "
Daur-e-Junoon", the concert for Peace. Evoking responses such as "an Asian
answer to Santana"(The New York Times), Junoon is now working on an album of
English songs. "I want to introduce Americans to our music" says a confident
Brian " I am certain they''ll take to it and love it once they sample it."
Junoon played in Boston April 27 and I spoke to Brian O''Connell the following
day.
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PSF: Tell us about your influences, early and current, what inspires you to make
this kind of music?
The great Sufi saints, Bulleh Shah, Rumi, inspire our words. Our music is
unique. We are great admirers of Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix Robert Plant, Jeff
Beck, Santana, and Queen...
PSF: You guys are largely responsible for the way a whole generation of folks
looks at Islam. You have given a glimpse into this cool tolerant side of an oft
misunderstood and maligned religion. When did you set upon doing this? Was it
coincidental or did you always want to preach this message of love, peace and
tolerance?
Our message is not about Islam alone, we hope it transcends religious and
cultural differences, it is for all of humanity. I am a devout Christian and I
believe that my music, our music is a vehicle to integrate people. We did not
set out to be what we are today, our music has always been honest and from our
souls.
PSF: The influence of your music on the intelligentsia is obvious but does the
common man, the silent majority the world over, get the message encoded in your
music?
Oh absolutely. Our fans are not just the intelligentsia in Pakistan and all over
the world. ''Junoonis'' are peace lovers and lovers of good music.
PSF: Music is your way to spread this message; do you see other artists,
painters, actors etc, using their craft to good use? Are there many social
activists like you folks in the present artistic scene in Pakistan?
Not like we do. I''m sure there are many artists who feel the way we do but no
one has put their lives, their work on the line like we have. We are the voice
of the silent majority in Pakistan. I am an American but I can say proudly that
I speak for the Pakistani who yearns for peace more than any thing else. My role
is strange. In Pakistan I often find myself defending America, her ways and when
I am here I have a responsibility to educate Americans about Pakistan and her
people.
PSF: Your rants against the system, in the prevailing political climate have
made you many enemies in the past. We have heard though, that General Musharaff
is a big fan of your work. Would it have helped if he wasn''t? I mean maybe you
would''ve come with more anarchy and disturbing stuff!
Like I said earlier, we did not set out to ruffle feathers or offend anyone. We
told the truth, we exposed the underlying corruption of those in power. General
Musharaff has done a great deal to rid the country and its politics of
corruption. He does like our music and came on stage recently to join us in
song.
PSF: I know that you guys are very popular in India, what is it about this
special kind of anarchy in your music that draws so much universal appeal?
There is tremendous repression in India, in Pakistan. People want to hear stuff
that makes sense. Our music appeals to people because they hear sincerity in our
words. We are not hypocritical. This comes from within and folks seem to
recognize that.
PSF: Traditionally Pakistan and India are foes, having fought many bloody wars.
As we speak, tensions in the region are escalating. Any comments?
We have great love for India. Some of our most loyal fans are Indians. My wish
would be for peace and brotherhood between these two great countries.
* In 2001,The United Nations picked Salman Ahmed to act as a spokesman in the
fight against HIV and AIDS. The move to appoint such a popular personality aims
to bring mass attention to the effcts wreaked by this deadly disease across
Pakistan. The campaign was kicked off by a poster of Salman Ahmed called "I
care... do you?" The other big names who have already pledged their support
include singer Ricky Martin, actor Danny Glover and Brazilian footballer Ronaldo.
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