For my audio documentary series, I took inspiration from sound artist Shanti Suki Osman, with her narrative-based interviews and soundscapes that focus on topics of diaspora. I used her technique of giving the interviewer room to breathe without interruption – a very observational style of recording intertwined with soundscapes. I really like this style as it allows the person featured/ the topic to speak for itself and give them a voice rather than muddy it with questions or forms of controversy. Recording something and allowing a person to speak has a more natural conversational tone that can capture thought more effectively.
Category: DPS & SIPS: 2022/23
DPS – SIPS: Sounds of Clay
I began drafting ideas for the first episode – wanting to lean into the idea of south Asian sound/ unheard voices. After finding some old tapes in my house of south Asian music, I began to explore the way I felt listening to them – feelings of curiosity, interest, and disconnect began to emerge and after a couple of tutorial sessions, this became the focus. exploring the tapes became the root of exploring the disconnect I felt listening to the audio and I felt like this was something I had to explore further. Appropriately, my brother had just been to a Qawwali event – his first one – and I decided to interview him on his thoughts. I wanted to capture the fresh newness of the experience allowing for a capture of the feeling of disconnect that I presumed he may have felt as well.
SIPS: sounds of clay: Creating episode 2
After my interview with Ustad Ali Hafeez Khan, I had enough audio to compile another episode allowing for a varying perspective from episode 1. In contrast, it allows for a second and third voice to be heard, enabling the listener to gain a secondary perspective and understanding as well as unearthing questions I had. I plan to allow for the artist to be heard whilst also leaving room for my discovery and “updated” connection to be heard within the narrative. I layered multiple audio elements together whilst leaving room for multiple vocal perspectives to be heard.
SIPS: Sounds of Clay EP 2: Sitting Down w/ Ali Hafeez Khan
After collecting audio from both the interview as well as the other voices I included within the audio, I layered the two together creating an audio compilation/ montage. I feel that it is informative and with him speaking partially in English it brings Ustad Ali Hafeez Khan to a Western audience as well as having elements of Urdu language bringing the aesthetic ambiguity and enigma to the audio piece. It expresses the nature of disconnect and the effects of Qawwali on the diaspora as a whole.
I chose to purposefully exclude my voice from this one to give the listener a true sense of who Ustad Ali Hafeez Khan is and the understanding of Qawwali through various lenses.
DPS: DPS Promotional Video Music
To craft a truly one-of-a-kind and engaging soundtrack, I decided to experiment with a variety of different tones, noises, and rhythms, all while keeping in mind the specific direction I had been given to create an uplifting and positive sound. As this particular style of music was relatively new to me, I sought out inspiration from a Remitly commercial, which proved to be an invaluable resource in guiding me towards the professional and upbeat tone that was required for this project.
To achieve this uplifting sound, I incorporated a wide range of different musical elements, including guitars, pads, and synthesisers. By doing so, I was able to ensure that the overall structure of the film remained clear and focused, while still remaining true to the required “uplifting” tone. Thanks to this careful attention to detail and my willingness to explore new musical directions, I was able to create a soundtrack that was both unique and perfectly suited to the needs of the project.
SIPS: “Radio 4: Nusrat Was My Elvis”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007wflg
An interesting audio-documentary on the influence of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and his effect on Qawwali as a genre. Legendary Pakistani musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan had a significant influence on the Qawwali music genre. He was widely considered as having one of the best voices in Qawwali history, and his avant-garde approach and thrilling performances contributed to the genre’s global acclaim. Strong voices, soaring melodies, and complex rhythms were the hallmarks of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s music, which together produced an amalgamation of profoundly spiritual and uplifting musical experiences. It is impossible to stress how important he was to the development of Qawwali as a vibrant and ever-evolving art form that still motivates performers and spectators. For years, his reputation as a maestro of Qawwali music would endure.
SIPS: Sounds of Clay – Episode 3
For my third episode, I spoke with Arfeen, a pupil and son of Ustad Ali Hafeez Khan, to learn more about his experiences with Qawwali. Arfeen told me about his experience coming to understand Qawwali, as well as its impact on his life. He described Qawwali as a way of life in which music is used to connect with something more than ourselves, rather than just the music itself.
In the course of our conversation, Arfeen opened up about his personal journey with Qawwali, revealing how his fascination with this musical genre originated in his childhood. Like myself, he was first introduced to Qawwali through listening to it, and was immediately struck by the profound message of love, devotion, and spirituality that it conveyed. I made sure to capture his story in meticulous detail, taking note of the powerful connection between sound and emotions that Qawwali seems to evoke in its listeners. Furthermore, I also took the opportunity to explore the rich cultural and spiritual significance that Qawwali holds for those who practice it, in order to gain a deeper understanding from his perspective.
SIPS: Sonic Cultures
The catalyst to the production of my audio documentaries – I find it essential to think about the topic of disconnect within the realms of sonic culture and the importance of the space and objects in relation to it. The way in which, artistically, our perception of the context of a sound relies heavily on our environment as well as other environments and our distance between them but can also transcend that. This could involve examining gaps between generations, communities, or even personal experiences, and seeking to understand the impact of these disconnections on our sonic environment. By delving into this topic, audio documentarians can shed light on the ways in which sound influences our lives and the importance of bridging those gaps.
SIPS research: Qawwali: From Sufi Ritual to Commercial Pop – Asia Society
“Although the words of the songs are of paramount importance, the rhythm of the music is also extremely important because it increases in intensity to bring the listener to an emotional climax. When qawwali is performed in concert for international audiences who do not understand the words of the songs, the driving rhythms become the focus of attention. For many young international audiences, qawwali, as seen on the concert stage or heard on recordings, is thought of as South Asian or World popular music; indeed, many in the audience are inclined to get up and dance in the aisles just as they would at a pop concert.”
A passage I found interesting during my research – a piece of text that seems to highlight the juxtaposition and dynamic hearing vs listening in a way – although it could be argued, one who does not understand the lyrics of Qawwali is just listening to the instruments just as intently – vice verse, does one still truly understand Qawwali without understanding the importance of the lyrics?
Asia Society. (2023). Qawwali: From Sufi Ritual to Commercial Pop. [online] Available at: https://asiasociety.org/qawwali-sufi-ritual-commercial-pop [Accessed 7 Feb. 2023].
SIPS: Sounds of Clay – EP 1: Disconnect
The first episode of “SOUNDS OF CLAY” exploring my relationship with Pakistani music and how it affects me and my life as a child of diaspora living in the west through audio documentary with a particular focus on the disconnects that occur – whether it be a disconnect of space, environment or individual identity.