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Zeek Afridi Biography and information

Zeek Afridi
Total Songs: 21
Added On: May-2011
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Biography
    Zeek Afridi's Biography.
    When Zeek Afridi sang Bibi Sheerinay (‘Sweet Lady’ in Pashto) everyone from children to grown ups joined in the chorus. The song has not just become an anthem of the undying Pashto spirit, but its catchy beat has conquered the entire nation as well. Today, it’s a challenge just to catch up with the singer who has single handedly revived the wavering interest in Pashto music.

    From Tirah in Kurram Agency in Fata, the good-looking and soft-spoken Zahid Khan Afridi, popularly known as plain and simple Zeek, has finally arrived on the Pashto music scene it seems. He is rightfully being touted these days as yet another success story from the NWFP. “I wanted to break the monotony prevailing in Pashto music. Music is a passion with me. As most Pakhtun youngsters had almost given up listening to Pashto songs, I wanted to bring them back to their cultural roots. I don’t want to make music my profession as sometimes adopting an art as a profession robs one of talent,” says Zeek.

    He always wanted to perform on stage during his school days but being an introvert child, would not dare make a public show of his talent. And so the young Zeek took admission in a music school in Peshawar run by an Afghan music teacher, Ehsan, where he learnt the intricacies of music for the next 16 months. “Ehsan was a Persian speaking music teacher. I went to great lengths to pay his fees, even subletting my hostel room at the university. I also sold my belongings to meet my music expenses. Eventually, I was able to play the harmonium, tabla and rabab. My first songs were drawn from Persian folk songs such as Bia keh birum ba mazaar and Wah wah dilber jan,” he says.

    Selling the alleged 700,000 copies of his first Pashto album, Bibi Sheerinay, was nothing short of a miracle. Before recording his first song, it took Zeek Afridi two long years just to see how it was done. “It was a friend, Irfan Khan, who advised me to remix the older version of Bibi Sheerinay,” says Zeek, adding that he had no idea it would prove to be such a huge hit. With the song, the Pashto music market has scaled new heights. Zeek receives countless emails daily and scribbles autographs for an even larger number of fans mostly comprising school and college students. “Bibi Sheerinay is originally a wedding song most often sung by women. But a famous Afghan singer and music director Gul Zaman picked it up in the early 1960s and Khiyal Mohammad sang it for Peshawar radio in the ’70s. Since then it has remained popular among Pakhtun music buffs.”

    ‘While remixing old songs, the essence should remain the same. I received a fantastic response after Bibi Sheerinay even from those who did not understand Pashto. I believe that when you sing from the heart, it doesn’t need any language,’ says Zeek Afridi


    Talking about the fusion treatment he gave to the original song, he says, “It is not only about remixing old songs with new electronic beats but a rebirth altogether. Bibi Sheerinay was my debut album that came out in 2004. I Would like to give credit to Pushto channel AVT Khyber who gave chance to enter in to the scene of Pushto Music and Shaukat Ali Khan who gave me a chance on PTV Peshawar center’s Eid show in 2003 with a folk song, Sur salo pasrer karra.

    A Peshawar University graduate in computer science network administration, Zeek says he put up a strong resistance to his family’s aversion to music. Lata, Kishore, Rafi, Nashnas, Shah Wali, Khiyal Mohammad, Nazia Iqbal and Wagma are his favourite singers while music directors Almas Khan, Ivan Shafiq and Sahib Gul helped him a great deal to be where he is today. “There is a deep-rooted relationship between the soul and one’s passion for music. Whenever the opportunity arises for these two to become one, the result is always great music.”

    So far, Zeek has performed at private concerts in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta, UAE, and United Kingdom.“I do two hours’ riyaz daily. It is impossible to maintain one’s voice quality without it as riyaz is to the music what the soul is to the body,” says Zeek Afridi. He has, however, declined offers from Pashto film-makers for playback singing.

    Talking about the innumerable remix song videos being shown from both Pakistani and Indian satellite channels, with the latter being quite provocative, he says, “While remixing old songs, the essence should remain the same. Speaking for myself, I always try to pick up melodious folk songs for remixes. It gives me the ability to absorb its soul. I received a fantastic response after I sang Bibi Sheerinay even from those who did not understand Pashto. Later, I did the Urdu version as well with help from Humayoun Khan, a friend and a pop singer himself. I believe that when you sing from the heart, it doesn’t need any language. The reputed English critic Vernon Scanun once said: ‘If you try to explain good poetry, you murder it.’ The same stands true for good music as well.”

    He says there is no dearth of talent but it needs a channel. “The new Pashto pop singers are doing well but learning music is a prerequisite. Selecting good poetry and then tunes should never be under-estimated.” His next album is expected to do more business as his Pakhtun fans have increased manifold even in countries such as Germany, UK, Australia, Afghanistan, South Africa, America and Holland.

    “Once you become recognized, you can draw fans from every age group and any culture. I want to raise funds for the Afghan refugee children who have been deprived of their rights to education and shelter for a long time now, and also do something for the earthquake affectees,” says Zeek Afridi with a spark of zeal in his eyes and determination in his voice.
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