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Qawwali music has run in the Khan family for the past 1,000 years. Since the passing last year of his famous cousin Nusrat Fateh, 33-year-old Ustad Badar Ali Khan has become the foremost upholder of his family's musical traditions. Hailing from Pakistan, Khan plays an ecstatic and intoxicating form of this ancient Sufi music--a style known for its intensity and religious function. As far back as the 9th century, Islamic musicologists wrote about how qawwali music brought people to a divine level through repetitive mantras and powerful meditative rhythms. Like his late cousin, the younger Khan revels in the idea of cross-cultural musical experimentation, fusing his Eastern musical traditions with Western contemporary styles. Although he has released 22 albums in his homeland, few people outside of Pakistan have heard his music. But with a number of upcoming major-label CD releases and increasingly frequent live outings, Khan may become even more famous than his cousin. He spoke with WW (through translator Baba Varma) shortly after arriving in the United States from Pakistan for his first-ever North American tour. WW: How many musicians are you traveling with for this trip? What instruments will be played? Ustad Badar Ali Khan: We have a total of 10 musicians playing harmoniums and tablas, and lots of hand clapping with a chorus in the back. It's a sort of musical party where everyone takes turns playing the different instruments. What role does qawwali music play in religion? Traditionally it has been used to take the listener and performer on an ecstatic musical trip. It is a way in which a person can realize the ideals of mysticism. It arouses the mystical love and ecstasy that is a part of the Sufi tradition. Do you find that your performances differ when you play in a non-Islamic country like the United States? There is no difference between playing in Pakistan and playing in America. It is not about the religion; it is about making the music. When I play in America I play with the same energy and power that I do when I play at home. How were you received when you played at the World Music Festival in Los Angeles? There were a lot of Deadheads who came to see us play at the Greek Theater. They loved us. Someone called me the "Jerry Garcia of World Music." It's interesting how people involved with American drug culture have an easier time relating to Eastern spiritual music. Yes, this is true. As we say, We're coming to rock your world! I understand that you have plans to work with Scott Harding, the American producer who has worked with the Wu Tang Clan. Do you see modern hip-hop music relating to the type of traditional music that you play? Yes, the beats and the rhythms of hip-hop are very close to the qawwali rhythm. I'm looking forward to working with different American producers and artists because music is a universal language. The music I sing is 5,000 years old, but it relates to gospel and rap because all music is part of one universal music. By working with American producers I will be able to reach many people who understand this universal language of music. Reaching out to more American music listeners is very important to me. Some people feel that the fusion of Western music with ancient forms like qawwali defiles the traditional music. What's your response to those who criticize the type of collaborations you take part in? Life is about experiment. Music is music. If people have questions about my remixes, they can come and listen to my concerts and maybe they will change their minds. |
