By Emb Hashmi
Asian World caught up with the homeless man turned singer Usman Rehman. We asked him about his youth work, his dyslexia, and his road to super stardom.
Who is Usman Rehman some may ask, well Usman was born is a 26 year old Pakistani from Bradford, and he is someone who has always had a passion for music, which stemmed from his father who he said was always listening to music especially Qawwali. Usman is also a youth worker who said he was a young offender and little trouble causer once upon time who would always get into trouble with the police, this is one reason he turned became a youth worker to share his experiences with those he helps in the hope that they reform and source a better life for themselves.
Usman had quite a complicated up bring, he left school with no GCSE’s and was made homeless as a teenager, he slept rough and travelled from one hostel to another, he found it difficult to reform he told Asian World he had no boundaries and his sin was petty crime.
When young Usman became a youth worker, he found good people to look up to, inspiring mentors and other youth workers who were 20 years older than him, these people helped Usman to reform and walk down the right path I life. Usman said “educated people learn from books, wise people learn from life, it was the wise people who helped and inspired me.”
How long have you been a youth worker?
I have been a youth worker casually for 12 years, I started back in 2001, it is something that has always been a part of me.
Why Music?
Music has always been a part of who I am. My music today has a lot of influences from around the world.
Do you combine Music and Youth work?
Yes I deliver workshops for kids that have been kicked out of school, this something that works with me with them, and it is something the kids are interested in and therefore it shows them that they can express themselves in other ways, then to rebel.
Has being Dyslexic stopped you from following your dreams and becoming a successful singer?
Well I was not diagnosed with dyslexia until later on in life, I remember a school teacher saying once ‘when I try to explain something to Usman, I feel like pulling the hair out of my head’, this is before they knew I had dyslexia, so I did not do to well in my education, I am very good at reading and writing it’s the understanding I have problems with however reading and writing music can be troublesome too, I have a different way of learning, if someone reads something to me I can understand it, however if I try to read it I will not be able to make sense of it. I listen to a beat, I feel that beat.
How did Young Archie MD of Boiler room records discover you?
I met young Archie a few years ago however it wasn’t until 2011 that we decided to work together in Manchester.
Describe your style of music?
My style of music is sofie orientated with western influences.
How did you impress the renowned producer Rishi Rish?
Rishie is friends and a mentor to Archie on managing artists, and that’s how we met, he heard my first track, and thankfully wanted to work with me, Rishi has produced my first track.
Music Influnces?
Micheal Jackson and the Bollywood singer bollywood singer sonu nigam.
Who would you love to work with?
Timberland, A Rehman and Alicia Keys.
5 years from now Usman will be?
5 years from now I would like to be up there with the best like Rahat and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
You can support this budding artist on Facebook and Twitter.
“I will know I have made it when every person out there appreciates and recognises my music.”
