He’s only 18, but Abdullah Siddiqui’s musical journey began a long time ago. At nine he started to learn the guitar and soon after was producing music electronically.
Almost ten years later, the singer has shot to fame in Pakistan with his hit EDM single Resistance.
Geo.tv spoke with the singer-songwriter about his inspirations, EDM and future plans.
Q. What inspired you to become an EDM artist in Pakistan?
A. I don't think it was an active decision to get into electronic music. That just happened organically. I grew up around electronic music, it's all I've ever really listened to. As I've entered the industry, however, it's occurred to me just how important it is to usher electronic music into Pakistan. So now there's much more of a sense of duty about it.
Q. Who are some of the artists you take inspiration from?
A. That's a very long list. I will say that at the top of that list are Imogen Heap, Bjork, James Blake and FKA Twigs.
Q. You are being compared to The Weekend, how does that comparison make you feel?
A. I'm honoured! He's not really an influence on my music, so I was surprised when I first came across that comparison, but I certainly don't mind it.
Q. How did Resistance make in onto Nescafé Basement?
A. I released Resistance in August, and luckily it was received warmly, especially within the industry. Fellow musicians and industry professionals shared it all over social media, and it ultimately made its way to Xulfi. I had actually planned on auditioning for this season of Nescafé Basement, but right as I was about to put together my audition, Xulfi contacted me and asked to meet me. When we met, he described his vision for the song to me, and it was described exactly as it turned out months later. And I agreed immediately because I so admired the ambition and passion he had for the project.
Q. Can EDM lead to a revival of Pakistan’s music industry?
A. Absolutely. I feel that within the framework of rock-based music, the industry has exhausted its resources. There are few ideas left to mine in this area. I think the music industry as it is now is dangerously close to stagnating completely, and we need to explore new sounds and new genres in order to prevent that. And I believe we need to embrace electronic music particularity because it is the standard towards which the world is heading.
Q. Do you plan on pursuing music as a full-time profession?
A. I don't think the current landscape of the industry allows me to plan as such, but it is most definitely a hope. I hope that in the near future, being an English-language electronic musician in Pakistan is a sustainable career.
Q. Do you have any plans of releasing an album in the future?
A. I've been working on an album for three years, which is finally complete. However, I've decided to shelf that project for the time being. It's a relatively experimental album, and I don't think it'll be very palatable in the local landscape where electronic music is still largely unexplored. I do hope to release it one day, but for the time, I want to continue releasing singles. In fact, I have a few lined up for the coming months.
Cover photo: Screengrab of Resistance being performed on Nescafe Basement