An Interview With Hadiqa Kiyani

Zakir Riaz for PakistaniMusic.com

1. How did you get into music in the first place?

Well! at school actually at WNS,where I studied uptil the eight grade. We had regular music-classes and our music teacher seeing my interest in the subject really encouraged me.

2. From singing at school at cutting an album you seem to have come a long way?

I guess...but a lot happened in between. I went to take a part in the kids show on TV Aangan Aangan. That was followed by the Sohail Rana Rang Barangi Dunya show. I then graduated from Kinnaird (Lahore); did Geet Banay Sangeet on TV; a Masters in Psychology; was a VJ for sometime; Sargam and; eventually an album.

3. There has to be a sequence in there somewhere, but first tell me about Sargam (Adnan sami Khan). How did you get involved in it?

Adnan is a good friend of my brother and the the three of us along with my elder sister, Sasha, used to sing in the Rang Barangi Dunya show. He knew about my vocal talent and so when he needed a playback singer for his movie he knew exactly what he was looking for and where he could find it".

4. What kind of feedback did you get from Sargam?

Oh beyond what i could have expected! People were big on praise.

5. You sang for Sargam - did you feel as if you were competing with Asha Bhonsle ?

No! I dont think that i did.

6.. You didn't?

No because you see it was I who did the songs before Asha did them. Infact I had done the soundtrack three years earlier. It was much later that I found out about this studio of Sargam having been released in the market with Asha's vocals on it instead of mine.

7. Wasn't this a breach of your contract?

There was no contract I did not tak any payment for the album - it was all done in friendship, and I was honoured that Asha re-did something I had done previously.

8. Your first hit song, Jeevan Ki Rah Mein - Who was behind that number?

The lyrics were written by me. I wrote it and my brother Irfan and I composed it.

9. Do you play any instruments?

Just the keyboard - a little bit. Enough for me to be able to make tunes etc.

10. Have you composed any of your albums?

Saree album mein tunes dono nay mil key kiyay hain. It's all a combined effort.

11. We saw you as a VJ as well. How was the experiance?

I was quite new to the field when I started as a video jockey. But I enjoyed it thoroughly; although I was'nt very good at it !

12. So no plans of really 'VJ-ing'?

I have not set any hard and fast rules for myself. I did 28 programmes as a veejay. Nothing is definite on that account.

13. Have got any formal training in the music?

Yeah.

14. From whom?

Classical? Ok.. that was Faiz Ahmed Faiz. I used to call him Bab Faiz.

15. He taught you everything there is to know about music?

No! Just the basics and I plan to do a bit more of learning you know...to help polish it all up.

16. Being a female did you have any problems in the music scene?

I am already facing problems on that account. But still i am going to stick to it - come what may! You see I feel so strongly about the music that no one can stop me from doing it - other than god himself.

17. Are you really "competing" with other women in the field?

I wish more girls would enter the music scene. I'll be the first one to be happy about that. You see there are such few girls in the field, having respectable backgrounds, especially in Lahore. Karachi mein to khair phir bhee bohat hain, but Lahore is a different story.

18. Different in what way?

There are no professional singers in Lahore - professional at the grass root level on the lahore circuit. There's a class there that monopolizes the whole scene. Any one wanting to bypass them...no way is that possible. I had to struggle so hard to get where i am today - you can't imagine. I've done "B-rate" shows in Karachi - girls could'nt even imagine doing. All this to just pave my way through. It was my passion that propelled me. I have come a long way since then, and now i have become
picky. I have a direction. I have a name. And I've finally got a chance to do something I've always longed to do.

19. What about you? Are you going to live in Lahore or will you settle here in Karachi?

No I will not change my base. I will stay in Lahore - that's where my roots are.

20. Who has influenced you the most in the music field?

Whitney Houston - that female has a beautiful voice.

21. What about here?

Everybody is good.

22. Very diplomatic ! But still - who is better than the rest?

Everybody is good.

23. Favourite band?

Awaz and recently Junoon.

24. Favourite political personality?

I am political.

25. Favourite past time?

Playing around with my little nephew.

26. Something that you really hate doing?

Your question has suddenly taken a nose-dive - depth wise !

27. Do you like to cook?

Yes i do.

28. What do you cook best?

Chicken.

29. Favourite restaurant?

Copper Kettle.

30. One eatery that you avoid?

None really.

31. Whats your zodiac sign?

Leo.

32. Who do you get along the best in the family?

My brother - I and him are the best of friends.

33. Has your brother ever been a singer himself?

Yeah ! He was the lead singer for Jupiters.

34. Favourite video?

Escape from Sobibar. It's a war movie.

35. Very typical! Every Leo loves war movies and fights!

Violence! Yeah nice is'nt it?