His hard struggle has not made Rasiq Imtiyaz Khan, a musician, composer and singer, from Jammu and Kashmir, cynical. Contrary to that, it has made him help other upcoming young musicians in the State.
Hailing from the Wathora area of Budgam district, Khan was always fond of music. “I was passionate about music from my childhood. When Nusrat Fateh Khan’s voice entered my ears, everything changed. I used to listen to music before but that was no fun compared to what I got from Nusrat Fateh Khan,” he said speaking to ANI.
Inspired to create music, he faced an uphill task. “I struggled a lot. There were many things I lacked. I did not have a mike, no studio was available for me and I wanted to promote my song in the market but did not have equipment. I wanted to do my own songs in the market.”
Moving from one studio to another proved futile for Khan. “Even when I went to a local studio, the charges were very high. But then finally I got an opportunity to open my own studio. And I got help from Arjit, Wasim and Muneer Saheb. Muneer Saab taught me Indian classical music.”
The bitter struggle has made Khan open the gates of his studio for aspiring and talented young musicians of the State. “Those who can’t afford can work here. They just need to have talent.” In fact, the response from the young musicians has been tremendous.
Concerned about the future of aspiring singers in the valley, Khan said: “I want to appeal to the government to look into this matter as economically we are down. If I run a studio here, I need that economic support from the government so that I can move forward and train the younger talented singers, children and students and promote them.”
Talking about Khan, his friend and a radio jockey Umar Nisar, says, “There was a time when Rasiq wanted to be in the music industry and he struggled a lot. In the process he met many people, leaned music himself. Now he has set up his own studio where he makes his own music. Along with that he teaches other aspiring musicians and helps them to record their music.:
Khan does music in varied genres like Reggae Dubstep, EDM and Kashmir’s Music.
