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34 Music May 26, 2017 • www.easterneye.eu • Like us on www.facebook.com/easterneye Follow us on www.twitter.com/easterneye • www.easterneye.eu • May 26, 2017 Music 35 The musical road to freedom My Pod with DJ Aishah HOW SINGER SAMIA MALIK USED THE HEALING POWER OF SONGS TO EMPOWER HERSELF AND OTHERS by SARAH ALBINALI subverts traditional forms show. This album is available as a stories into words and images; this work Overwhelmingly positive both in the shows and Is it fair to say you are all about girl power? to explore con- digital download now. makes them feel understood and empow- in the workshops. Yes, because women often suffer from unequal FOR over 25 years Samia Malik has shown that temporary issues ered. They too have created powerful new power balances, but I always feel that self-em- music can be entertaining and healing at the and is a fusion of You are also working with wom- work out of their own experiences. I feel Azaadi means freedom. When did you feel free powerment is for everyone. Men are obviously same the time. The British singer continues on Asian and western en’s groups as part of this tour. amazed, gratified and humbled. to make the kind of music you wanted to? part of the solution – they are not the problem. It her meaningful musical path with her latest styles and in- I am working with women’s organisa- I wrote my songs as a way of exploring my own is power structures that keep people vulnerable show Azaadi: Freedom, which charts a compel- fluences. My tions such as Southall Black Sisters, The What can people expect experiences and to come to a place of freedom in that I want to question. ling narrative journey towards liberation songs are Angelou Centre in Newcastle from the show and myself. It took many years because there was a New music star through powerful Urdu and English lan- based on the and Humraaz in Blackburn, what do you hope lot to unpick. Today what is your greatest guage songs, art and spoken word. ghazal form, and delivering solo per- they take away? unfulfilled musical ambition? She has assembled top musicians, written mainly in formances and song writing Azaadi: When did you most feel trapped ‘I am I would love to work with sitar maestro Baluji Shrivastav Urdu with some in workshops. The response has been Freedom and how did you get out of it? Coke Studios. hoping to shine OBE, multi-instrumentalist English. They are ac- incredible. Women is a Being a woman and being a third Sianed Jones and virtuoso tabla companied by the classical have told me that child defined me throughout my inspired What are your future plans as SOME of the best kept secrets of British player Sukhdeep Singh, for Indian instruments si- I have put early life, severely limiting my op- far as music is concerned? SCOTLAND-based DJ Aishah has been pas- Asian music are independent acts who are the national tour. The mul- tar, dilruba, harmo- their unique portunities and mapping a by life’ I will continue touring Azaadi: sionate about music from a young age. She making a mark through their own hard ti-layered show also con- nium and tabla, and and ex- restricted possibility of Freedom throughout the UK and has DJed for seven years and ventured into work and one of these is naturally gifted tains visual art, transla- also bass guitar. traordinary mu- action and a future for me. As a internationally and delivering workshops for music production with her debut song singer Roshni Chohan. Continuing its tions, film, work- sical and visual ex- young woman I was trapped in women’s groups. For now I feel completely hon- Uraan-e-Ishq. The talented DJ and music proud tradition of featuring talented new- shops and the re- What does live performance mean to you? perience. Audiences an unhappy marriage and am oured and privileged to be working with Baluji producer selected 10 songs she loves. comers first, Eastern Eye caught up with lease of Samia’s I love connecting with a live audience. My can expect to be enter- a survivor of domestic vio- Shrivastav OBE, Sianed Jones, Sukhdeep Singh Roshni to find out more. brand new al- most memorable performance was re- tained but hopefully also lence. The arts saved and Seemab Gul. Gallan Gooriyan by Stereo Nation: I fell bum, Azaadi: cently when I opened this Azaadi: Free- moved, informed and trans- me. I was 20 in love with this track as soon as I heard When did you first get connected to music? Freedom. dom tour by sharing a stage with my formed. People have seen their years old when Do you think music and art has the power it. It was a favourite among us friends dur- When I was five years old I stole the micro- Eastern teacher Baluji Shrivastav OBE. own stories in the story I tell and I read Amrit to change? ing school days. Stereo Nation had some phone at my uncle’s wedding and sang Eye caught many have said they felt inspired, ener- Wilson’s Find- Art in general and music in particular can be amazing tracks during those days that we Pardesi from Raja Hindustani in front up with Is your music aimed at anyone gised and uplifted by the show. ing A Voice, not just informative, but transformative. I firmly couldn’t stop dancing to, but this one hit of everyone. Samia to in particular? about the ex- believe art can open hearts and dialogues, the heart and still does. talk about the Azaadi: Freedom resonates pow- How much is the show informed by your periences of change minds and can be revolutionary in its Kinna Sona by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Who have been your greatest musical show, the heal- erfully with diverse audiences, in- background? Asian women power and reach. Ultimately, I can only hope Nothing can beat the legend himself. This influences growing up? ing power of mu- cluding a wider, non Urdu-speak- It’s the last 30 years of my life as a living in Britain my words and actions save others, though I do song has been an all time favourite of mine My biggest musical influence has to be my sic, women’s em- ing/non-Asian audience for creative artist, songwriter and visual in the 1980s. It not make art for that reason. I make it because from the melody and lyrics to soulful vocals mum. She’s supported me thoroughly and powerment, the whom the translations and visu- artist condensed into an hour! It is made me realise it saved me. of Khan saab. Listening to this masterpiece guided me on the right path towards my transformative al art make the content accessi- therefore completely in- that my experience just takes you into another world. career. She’s a huge inspiration to me. power of art and ble. It also resonates with sec- formed by my personal ex- was not unique and Why should we come to the show? Saiyaan by Qurat-ul-Ain Balouch: A Sufi her inspirations. ond and third generation periences, but it is inter- gave me the courage It is unique and compelling. rock ballad with powerful vocals by Qurat- What has been the highlight of your Asian audiences who may esting how very diverse to find my own path. ul-Ain Balouch and words by the master of singing journey? When did you first have lost links to their mother audiences have Globally, one in three Why do you love music? poetry, Bulleh Shah. A flawless track I can I was lucky enough to sing with Sonu connect with music? tongues, but who understand the identified women experiences do- Music and art can unite us. I want us to question play on repeat. Nigam Ji and Mangal Singh Ji, which I grew up listening to political, cultural, social and linguistic with the mestic violence and part of the motives of those who seek to separate us Tujhe Chaha by Hunterz: A song by one of was a huge blessing for me. film songs and ghaz- context. The tour also launches the ac- themes I my work is raising awareness from each other. What is true is that we breathe my favourite artists during my teen years. I als companying new album Azaadi: Freedom explore. of this fact. and live and respond to art if we open our hearts, loved all his songs and had them on repeat. Have you made a musical master plan? with a 32-page full colour art booklet con- and conversely a more open heart lets more in. I loved his voice and still do. Tujhe Chaha My master plan is to sing in a Bollywood taining songs, words and images You are touring the show, but Music and art can teach us that we have more in stood out for me for its melody, plus it re- movie, but first of all I want to release my from the what is the long-term aim for it? common than that which divides us. minded me of a childhood love (laughs). debut single, which I am determined to do. To raise awareness and empower Aashiq by PBN ft Miss Pooja: One of my fa- women and girls. To ask questions. Azaadi: Freedom is currently on a national tour vourite dance floor anthems and the crowd What can we expect from you? including a performance at Kala Sangam in loves it too.

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