JoSH a Canadian Indo_Pakistani music group formed by Rup with his brother Rik and friend Shiraz, later joined by Qurram has become the favourite band of all the desi music lovers. Now only left with Qurram and Rup the band rises to its height of popularity. From Canada to India to Pakistan their music entertains millions. They have done four albums, their second album kbhi made it I both Indian and World top 20 lists for 26 WEEKS! They were also awarded MTV Indias 2004 “Immie” award for best new Non-film Artist. They have also performed in coke studio in 2009. An Exclusive Interview with JOSH….
QURRAM
“Honesty and Genuine love for just making music represents Josh very well”
Joining JOSH
I was just playing music and going school and Roop and I ended up traveling in the same bus because we were living right across the street from each other and there are not a lot of desis in Montreal so whenever you see another brown person you notice them at least, so the sister of a band member and I use to work together and she asked me to come and play with the band, it all came in naturally and then we started off at a small level, playing in colleges and school.
Define Music.
Music comes from your motions, you a have to be in touch with yourself. Artist are people who even in the case of extreme heart break benefit from it as they will go to the studio and write a song. You have to be smart for your business and intelligent about your approach but you have to be driven by your emotions.
What kind of Music are you focusing on?
There’s no goal like that. We started off with our own music and then we were watching fifty fifty one day and Zubaida Khanams “Ye Zameen” came up and Roop asked me to add some music to it, to bring out something different. Reviving R.D.Barman was a big thing for us we are all big fans of R.D.Barman.We are just having fun and if something sticks out to us would like to do something with it and that’s how it has been working with us so far.
Critics
With critics you have to find a balance. Negative comments do affect you no matter what we have fragile egos but you have to divine skill to balance it because people will have to have an opinion. If anyone posts something somewhere in the media world the fans themselves will defend it, this battle we don’t even have to fight. I’ve developed my skin and left it to the super amazing followers we have to take care of it.
Does success change attitudes?
For me it’s a battle. You have to be super nice to everybody because in success we are trying to find balance but sometimes people take advantage of you so you have to have a little bit of distance. It does change things. In this field you need to surround yourself by true people who give you honest opinion no matter how negative they may be.
Who are you as a Family guy?
We are what you see us on stage. What we make is pretty much our personality; we go through a range of emotions in our music like happy or sad, it’s not always party time.. Just like that in your life you go through these things. After these long tours, I can’t wait to be with family, it’s like a treat coming back to them.
Message to all the girls saving their hearts for you
I’m going have to ask my wife what she says about it (laughs) I mean technically it is possible. As long as my fans can clear with my wife all is good.
Define Music.
Music comes from your motions, you a have to be in touch with yourself. Artist are people who even in the case of extreme heart break benefit from it as they will go to the studio and write a song. You have to be smart for your business and intelligent about your approach but you have to be driven by your emotions.
Craziest Fan Reaction
Fans can get creative in their request, I won’t say crazy. There is this girl who came up to me in Pakistan and wanted me to sign her Cigarette and I asked her whats that going to achieve her and she replied “you are going to sign it and ill smoke it” and I think maybe she wanted to smoke some part of me …(Laughs)
To be a musician
Emotion, Persistence and On persistence
Biggest Fear:
I don’t want to lose touch with my emotions, in the process of becoming strong and overcoming them. I want to remain a little impulsive.
D.O.B:MARCH 10 (tauras)
Fav dish: Biryani
Pak or India: Pak
Fav actress: Deepika
Fav colours: Yellow
Fav instrument: Guitar
Message for fans: Be true to and respect your reason to do what you are doing. Be persistent till a plan works.
“Hangama hai barpa thori si tou pee li hai
Daka nai dala, choori to nai ki hai”
“Smallest oceans still get the biggest waves”
CRAZIEST NIGHT!!!!
100, 000 people, Anderi stadium, Mumbai performing with Nelly Furtado, ending up at Sharukh Khans very private house party >and Waking up and Thinking
“DID THIS JUST HAPPEN!”
Rup Magon @RupMAGON
My musical journey in the Gurdwaras, my mom used to do Geetan every Sunday at the Gurdwaras in Montreal and at the age of five she brought me table from India and I used to accompany and literally didn’t know what I was playing but over time I just eneded up picking the instrument myself, learning different beats. From there on I went singing. Singing Shabads in the Gurdawaras where my actual music started for me. That continued on and in college like any other college forms we went into a band like every guy to play a different instrument and then we got together with a band called Josh and then we atare touring different colleges and different universities, singing cover songs from all Pakistani, Indian old songs from Vital signs, Awaz 2, R.D Barman and popular Bhangra songs. Once it was clear that it was only the two of us me and Qamar, we started this as a career, composing music and selling it. So many record companies kicked us out in India but we stayed positive.
Critics
We had good music always and we never went with anything crappy. We are our worst critics and this really helps. Not everybody will not like your song. Everyone who gave us criticism we took it positive to make our music better.
Escaping scandals (laughs)
There’s nothing to escape….
Craziest fan
We are always humbled by fan following, people enjoying our music, screaming in the streets or asking s for autographs on places we can’t decide. We have each had a share of our stalkers. A fan of ours in Calcutta came and tracked us down and when he left with a letter, that our song “kbhi” helped him out in the worst time of his life when he had cancer. Those type of stories inspiring.
What keeps your band together?
We have respect for each other’s domain, for who does what and the other thing is we make shit loads of money so no worries with that.
Overall your role in the band
Apart from helping out with music production and vocals I play the Tabla, harmonium and I try to play the piano one in a while, other than that I also do a lot of the business side of the work. The music business is a lot, a lot , a lot the backhand work, and I tend to take a lot of that but we tend to come together a band on stage and on studio.
Message to all the girls waiting to get a ride in the rickshaw with you in “Ae mausam”
One at a time… (Laughs)It’s a small rickshaw and we can’t get everyone I there together.
What are you doing other than music?
A little bit of Acting. I was recently in a movie called “Speedy Singhs” also known as Break away with Russel Peters and Akshay Kumar. Acting is something I really enjoy and other than that I love cooking. I’m in the process of writing a book which is taking a long time which is ready and just waiting for the right time to release it.
Writer???
Something I picked up from my mom, including cooking.
India Or Pakistan: The fact about is India that you get to see so many cultures and religions at the same place and same time I love it and in Pakistan I love the fans they really now how to appreciate pop music, they know the lyrics to your songs and food is fantastic. Both the countries have a lot in common.
Three things it takes to be successful
Perseverance, Charm and Talent.
Message:
“jaisa til mai tel hai. Jyon Chakmak Mein Agg
Tera Sayeen tujh mein hai, Tu jag sake tou Jaag”
“Like seed contains the oil, fire in the flint stone,
Your temple seats the divine, Realize if you can…..”
JOSH WILL BE COMING TO LONDON NEXT MONTH FOR A SMASHING PERFORMANCE.
www.planetjosh.com
D.O.B: May 19th (Picess)
Fav Food: Sovlaki(Greek)
Fav Actress: Scarlet Johansson
Fac Actor: Nasrudin Shah
