Tag Archives: Qawwali UK

Rizwan-Muazzam with Cerys Matthews

High profile national press coverage for Rizwan-Muazzam tour

Our mission is to extend the boundaries of South Asian music and introduce artists to a wider audience.

On our latest tour with Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwals, we were delighted to secure high profile media coverage for the Sufi maestros. Read on to find out more and to listen again!

BBC RADIO 4 – Loose Ends

The Qawwals began the tour with a visit to the BBC’s Broadcasting House in London. They performed a live performance on BBC Radio 4’s flagship arts and culture programme Loose Ends, hosted by Clive Anderson.

They performed the poignant Qawwali, Biba Sada Dil Mor De. Listen here.

Watch a snippet of the performance:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvG_1ZjhFQf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

BBC ASIAN NETWORK

Following their live performance on Loose Ends, Rizwan-Muazzam did an interview for Waqas Saeed’s BBC Asian Network show, chatting about Qawwali music and the upcoming tour.

Rizwan-Muazzam at Loose Ends

BBC RADIO 6 Music – Cerys Matthews

Rizwan, Muazzam and our Director Jaswinder Singh joined Cerys in the BBC 6 Music studio on 17th March to pre-record an extensive interview about Sufi music, Rizwan-Muazzam and the tour. Cerys’ then discussed the tour on her 24th March show, with the full interview due to be broadcast on Sunday 7th April – you can listen again here.

Cerys’ show is hugely popular with music lovers throughout the UK and it was a wonderful opportunity to introduce Sufi music and Rizwan-Muazzam to a wider audience.

Rizwan and Muazzam with Radio 6’s Cerys Matthews:

RMQ at Radio 6 with Cerys Matthews

BBC RADIO LEEDS

Our Director and tour producer, Jaswinder Singh, had a great chat on air with BBC Radio Leeds’ Rav Basra. Listen to Jaswinder describing Qawwali music and introducing Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwals here.

iWeekend – five best this weekend

We were delighted to see the iWeekend national paper pick Rizwan-Muazzam in their ‘five best this weekend’ culture feature.

Eastern Eye – double page feature

Ahead of the UK tour, Eastern Eye entertainment editor Asjad Nazir interviewed Rizwan and Muazzam for a double page spread feature, and included the tour in his ‘top picks’ throughout the tour. It was great to receive  support from Britain’s number 1 Asian weekly newspaper.

Songlines Magazine

Songlines featured the tour in its April 2019 edition, saying “rare tour from Pakistani legends”.

This is a just a selection of the media coverage received for this tour. Rizwan and Muazzam also did interviews with many local and specialist asian press before and throughout the tour.

Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwals toured the UK from 16 -31 March 2019, produced and managed by Asian Arts Agency.

Find out more here

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Rizwan-Muazzam Tour - March 2017

Beautiful Qawwalis – 5 you may not have heard!

The ancient art of Qawwali is centuries old. Although Qawwali is becoming an increasingly popular genre in World Music, there are some beautiful Qawwalis which are not as exposed. Songs of love, both requited and unrequited, Qawwali has been a special form of music for expressing a mystical emotion. We searched out 5 not so well known Qawwalis for you to get to know.

Kanhaiya Yaad Hai

This Qawwali sings of the intense separation from the Beloved, Krishna.  The lover asks, “Tell me Krishna, do you remember me at all?” The mood of intense love and separation is an important part of the Bhakti (devotional) tradition. This devotional song was written by Nawab Sadiq Jang Hilm of Hyderabad.

Kaisa Naach Nachaaya Dhola

Sung by acclaimed Qawwals Fariduddin Ayaz & Abu Mohammed, this Qawwali describes the marvels of God walking on Earth in human form. The theme of the individual being dependent on God’s will and the exploration of leela, or divine play, are the theme of this Qawwali.

Ae Ri Sakhiri Morey Khwaja Ghar Aaye

Fariduddin Ayaz, Abu Mohammed and party perform “Ae Ri Sakhiri Morey”. This Qawwali is a composition by Amir Khusro, the founder of Qawwali. Khusro sings in praise of his beloved master in the mood of devotion and longing.

Teri Soorat Nigahon Mein

https://youtu.be/Gla3KRN_wG4

Aziz Mian is a Qawwali icon. He was the only prominent Qawal to write his own lyrics. His raspy voice made him a distinctive Qawal. In this qawwali, “Teri Soorat Nigahon Mein”, the lover expresses utmost loyalty to the Beloved: I died, but my eyes refused to close.
That was the height of waiting.

Sohne Mukhre Da Lain De Nazara

The fifth Qawwali chosen is by the iconic and arguably most well known Qawwal, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.  In the Qawwali, Sohne Mukhre De Lain De Nazara, the lover asks the Beloved, what will it cost to catch a glance of your beautiful face?

Experience the magic of Qawwali

We are looking forward to presenting the torchbearers of the Qawwali tradition, Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwals in concert this March. The nephews of the great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan will be performing in 8 different cities across the UK.

We hope you can join us and experience the magic of Qawwali, live in the UK!

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