Rahat Fateh Ali to wow UK music lovers in August

LONDON: Pakistani Singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, known for both Bollywood hits and Qawwali, is taking the two genres to Britain in August for three concerts.
Rahat, who performed at last year’s Nobel Peace Prize awards, said his brief British tour would include classical music from Pakistan as well as popular songs from Indian movies, including the recent film “Sultan.”
In one of his first interviews with international media, Rahat spoke about the challenges faced by the Pakistani music industry and his efforts to promote the musical legacy of his uncle, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, a Qawwali master who died in 1997.
“We’ll be performing three segments for viewers and listeners. The first one is the music they’ve been listening to for many years. The other segment we’ll perform is what they miss, and that’s the ‘unplugged’ version. And the third segment, which is the most important (one) that they miss, is Qawwali. We’ll perform all three segments over more than three hours,” he said.
When asked whom the singer would like to collaborate with on a song, Rahat said: “He is no longer in this world — Michael Jackson.
“I’m a fan of his, a very big fan. Unfortunately, it did not happen. After him, the next person I liked was Whitney (Houston). And even she ... I think I’m so much late.”
Discussing the future of Pakistan’s music industry, he said: “Our artists are recognized. This is their greatness. I will say that the pride within them, the frustration, the power, it is this which takes them forward.”
He said that each day brings a different tune to him and he follows whatever it is.