Badnaam

Sufi rockstars making their way to the top

The music industry in Pakistan has been struggling in recent years, including the decline of band culture. Keeping the industry alive has been a task for musicians in Pakistan. Despite the decline, one thing that remains constant in this particular field is that emerging talent is always supported, because who doesn’t need fresh blood in the industry.

With the revival of Pepsi Battle of the Bands, the hunt for the next big band started across Pakistan. The first season aired in 2002 which kickstarted careers for iconic bands like Aaroh and E.P. This time around they did the same for bands like Kashmir (winner), Badnaam (runner-up,) Pindi Boys, Madlock and so on.

We have read all about the winning team everywhere, but GLOSS wanted to catch up with the Sufi rock band Badnaam who stole the hearts of many with their unique and bold name but their amazing twist in music that reflects the voice of the inner self and tries to free the soul. The band is fronted by Ahmed Jilani’s on vocals, Lala Ahsan’s on the drums and Raheem Shahbaz’s on bass.

Their songs like ‘Alif Allah’ which they performed during the auditions, the cover of ‘Kala Jora,’ ‘Bismillah Karan,’ ‘Sham-e-Qalandar’ and their original ‘Ishq Mein Tere’ won the hearts of not only their fans but the judges as well. Their original compositions and their aim to make music meaningful are what make them stand out from the crowd.

What’s the story behind the name ‘Badnaam’?
There is a whole lot of philosophy involved, which eventually builds up to it, otherwise, it would not make any sense. Why would anyone call themselves Badnaam, right?
We fetched the name from Baba Bulleh Shah’s poetry and we share the same perspective, which is “Apay hoeyo badnaam, jinnay pita Ishq da jaam” (He who drank from the goblet of love will become infamous.)
It is our humble approach to the music that we play. Another reason is that we have always aspired to hit that point of fame in the music industry and so we thought that whenever it happens, our name will bring a lot more irony to the situation.

How does it work with only 3 band members competing with Kashmir who were 6 members at the Pepsi Battle Of the Bands?
It is the holy trinity! To be honest, it was just the flow of nature and the chronological order of a few twisted events that converged all three of us in one jam room. Then we jammed and it sounded good. So everything just fell into place because of that.
Three members basically translate into effective communication, simple yet impactful music, less hassle and obviously more money.

Tell us more about the genre you play?
Essentially, it is grunge; a sub-genre of alternative rock. In easier words, juxtapose Kurt Cobain over Sufism’s most expressive elements like ‘dhamaal’ and liberating poetry, and there you go. It is a mix of traditional music and contemporary rock.

Had you performed as a band before?
We have been a band for about ten years now and even though we had experienced performing on stage before, it was definitely not as big as a platform as the Pepsi Battle of the Bands. It gave us an opportunity to learn better and gave us enough exposure to kick start into the field now.

How has the journey been from the very first performance at the Pepsi Battle of the Bands up till now?
Honestly, it has been a trip. We have experienced all sorts of human emotions possible. You name it and we have gone through it. From conditions ranging from extreme anxiety to embracing joy with our open arms, from individual feelings to collective isolation, from alienation in another city away from home (Karachi) to an all-out emotional unification with all the people from across the country. It has been a roller coaster ride we would say.

How has your music changed or improved over the time?
Over this time we would say that we are more confident in playing our music; especially now that we have a clear direction to where we are headed as a professional music band.

What is the message behind your music and what inspired this message?
We are trying to promote the message of peace and love through our music. We want people to look into one’s self and know that it is where all the answers lie.
We are deeply inspired by Baba Bulleh Shah’s poetry and that is where we get our drive for music.

What challenges and struggles did you face to dedicate your time to this competition?
People call it struggles, but it is like giving a huge part of our lives to the cause of music and doing what we preferred over, time, money and jobs which is more than a struggle.

After receiving so much popularity how does it feel to be under the spotlight?
It feels great to be an aspiring rock band for people these days. We did not realise how much of an impact our music will have on the masses and it is amazing to receive such overwhelming response from everyone.

Do you guys believe in experimenting with your music or stick to the rules?
What we do is already experimental music, because it comprises of folk, rock, grunge and funk.

What are your plans for future as a band and individual musicians?
We are going to continue what we do best; that is playing music. Not only that, we are hoping to play it in such a manner that makes it much more modern to the new generations.