Maha Ali Kazmi
Maha Ali Kazmi (Urdu: مہا علی کاظمی) is a Pakistani singer-songwriter[1] who was born and grew up in Karachi[2] and is of Kashmiri descent.[3] She completed her higher education from Monash University, Melbourne Australia,[4] and upon returning to Pakistan she began her musical career as the back-up vocalist for Cornetto Music Icons in 2013.[5] She released her debut single called Nazar soon after.[6]
Maha Ali Kazmi | |
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Maha Ali Kazmi Performing Sahibo in Acoustic Station | |
Background information | |
Born | Karachi, Pakistan |
Genres | Pop |
Occupation(s) |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 2013–present |
Associated acts | Acoustic Station |
Website | mahaalikazmi |
Early life
Maha Ali Kazmi was born in Karachi, Pakistan to Ali Asghar Raza, a civil engineer of Kashmiri descent and Fatima Ali Asghar.[7] Music is a heritage passed down to her from the Hindustani classical artist Wajid Ali Shah, the ancestor from her mother's side.[8]
She started singing and joined her very first underground band at the age of 16 in Karachi[9] However, after graduating high school she decided to pursue her education and moved to Melbourne.[10]
Career
Upon completion of her studies she returned to Karachi soon after which she auditioned for Cornetto Music Icons and thereupon ex- Vital Signs' Shahi Hasan selected her as a backup vocalist for the show which was aired on ARY Digital.[11] This experience gave her exposure to working alongside some of the biggest names in the music industry in Pakistan, namely Rahat Fateh Ali, Ali Azmat, Strings and Alamgir to name a few.[12]
She released her debut single, Nazar, produced by Farhad Humayun, the front man and drummer of Lahore based band Overload in 2013[13]
Her second single Jana Nahi, produced by Shahi Hasan was released in 2014.[14]
She has since released a number of singles which have been very well received[15] including a collaboration with guitar maestro Aamir Zaki in the form of a song called Aaj Sun Ke Tumara Naam which was released on his one-month death anniversary as a tribute to the Pakistani guitarist.[16] Maha Ali Kazmi is a Kashmiri state subject and she has represented the Kashmiri people in a number of TV shows including Bakhabar Savera of ARY News, Geo News and Samaa TV.
Discography
Singles
Year | Song |
---|---|
2013 | "Nazar"[17] |
2014 | "Jana Nahin"[18] |
2017 | "Summer Nights"[19][20] |
2017 | "Aaj Sun Ke Tumhara Naam"(feat. Aamir Zaki)[21] |
2018 | "Sitaron Ki Khoj"[22] |
Covers
- "Bhool Na (Original song by Pakistani band Sequencers") (2015)
- Sahibo - Acoustic Station (2019) [23]
References
- Zaheer, Sadia. "How to Monetize Music? Maha Ali Kazmi", The Nation, Pakistan, 18 January 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- Rehmat, Kamran. "Love those who can love back with equal intensity", Gulf Times, Qatar, 31 August 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- "Cinema Superfast September 15", India Today, India, 15 September 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- Afzal, Asfia. "Maha Ali Kazmi set to release her second single 'Jana Nahi' on Eid-ul-Fitr!", Business Recorder, Pakistan, 25 July 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- "Keeping up with the pace of time", The Express Tribune, Pakistan, 18 December 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- "Why Maha Ali Kazmi is in news", The Economic Times, India, 22 September 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- Singh, Aarti Tikoo. "Kashmiri girl rocks in Pakistan", The Times of India, India, 25 September 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- Singh, Aarti Tikoo. "Kashmiri girl rocks in Pakistan", The Times of India, India, 25 September 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- "Keeping up with the pace of time", The Express Tribune, Pakistan, 18 December 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- Rehmat, Kamran. "Love those who can love back with equal intensity", Gulf Times, Qatar, 31 August 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- "Keeping up with the pace of time", The Express Tribune, Pakistan, 18 December 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- Zaheer, Sadia. "How to Monetize Music? Maha Ali Kazmi", The Nation, Pakistan, 18 January 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- Rehmat, Kamran. "Love those who can love back with equal intensity", Gulf Times, Qatar, 31 August 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- Syed, Madeeha. "Song release: Maha Ali Kazmi presents Jana Nahi", Dawn News, Pakistan, 30 July 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- Malik, Asma. "Motivation gushes in Maha Ali Kazmi's inspiring song Sitaron ki Khoj", Daily Pakistan, Pakistan, 15 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- "The real Aamir Zaki exists in live sessions, not in cassettes, CDs or mp3 files: Maha Ali Kazmi", Dawn News, Pakistan, 7 July 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- Singh, Aarti Tikoo. "Kashmiri girl rocks in Pakistan", The Times of India, India, 25 September 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- Rehmat, Kamran. "A philosophic rendition", The Gulf Times, Qatar, 2 October 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- Agha, Saira. "Maha Ali Kazmi releases her latest single 'Summer nights'", Gulf News, Pakistan, 21 February 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- "Maha releases latest single summer nights", The Nation, Pakistan, 18 February 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- Omer, Eeshah. "Aaj Sun Ke Tumhara Naam: Aamir Zaki's last staging", Daily Pakistan, Pakistan, 7 July 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- Malik, Asma. "Motivation gushes in Maha Ali Kazmi's inspiring song Sitaron ki Khoj", Daily Pakistan, Pakistan, 15 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- Arif, Aayan (19 December 2019). "Sahibo - Maha Ali Kazmi's Stint with Acoustic Station is Magical". Musicians of Pakistan.