<p>Shivam Mehta, who started singing at the age of 12, was surprised to have been picked alongside renowned singers Rekha Bhardwaj from India and Asrar and Mai Dhai from Pakistan to perform at a cultural event in Lahore, Pakistan. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The young Sufi rock singer’s selection came after a chance encounter with Huma Nassr, a fashion designer and organiser of Shaan-e-Pakistan, a cultural event which will see fashion designers and artistes from India and Pakistan on a single platform. “I met Humaji at one of my performances. Soon, she contacted me and I was on board,” says Shivam, who will be performing on March 20 at Ek Shaam Dosti Ke Naam concert as part of Shaan-e-Pakistan’s three-day second edition Kya Dilli, Kya Lahore.<br /><br />The 22-year-old singer, who idolises Indian singer Kailash Kher and Pakistani artiste Ali Azmat, says that people connect with sufi music. “Sufi connects to everyone. Sufi music has so many elements — it is soulful, energising and even peppy. I concentrate on Sufi rock because it connects to my soul,” mentions Shivam, who recently performed at Delhi University’s Gargi College. <br /><br />As a sub-genre of rock music that combines rock with classical music traditions, Sufi rock has been making inroads into India, and Shivam believes that this genre of music is only going to grow. <br /><br />“It is a powerful medium that it is actually global. The amalgamation of sufi and <br />Bollywood, that I concentrate on, is definitely growing,” says the artiste, who is also the <br />lead vocalist, songwriter and co-founder at Project ShivamNswar that blends sufi with Haryanvi, Punjabi folk, rock and funk music. <br /><br />Meanwhile, the Gurgaon-based artiste is excited to be part of the opening day of the cultural extravaganza. “It is a dream come true moment. Coincidentally, my father has his roots from Lahore, and I am more than thrilled,” he tells Metrolife.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Shivam Mehta, who started singing at the age of 12, was surprised to have been picked alongside renowned singers Rekha Bhardwaj from India and Asrar and Mai Dhai from Pakistan to perform at a cultural event in Lahore, Pakistan. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The young Sufi rock singer’s selection came after a chance encounter with Huma Nassr, a fashion designer and organiser of Shaan-e-Pakistan, a cultural event which will see fashion designers and artistes from India and Pakistan on a single platform. “I met Humaji at one of my performances. Soon, she contacted me and I was on board,” says Shivam, who will be performing on March 20 at Ek Shaam Dosti Ke Naam concert as part of Shaan-e-Pakistan’s three-day second edition Kya Dilli, Kya Lahore.<br /><br />The 22-year-old singer, who idolises Indian singer Kailash Kher and Pakistani artiste Ali Azmat, says that people connect with sufi music. “Sufi connects to everyone. Sufi music has so many elements — it is soulful, energising and even peppy. I concentrate on Sufi rock because it connects to my soul,” mentions Shivam, who recently performed at Delhi University’s Gargi College. <br /><br />As a sub-genre of rock music that combines rock with classical music traditions, Sufi rock has been making inroads into India, and Shivam believes that this genre of music is only going to grow. <br /><br />“It is a powerful medium that it is actually global. The amalgamation of sufi and <br />Bollywood, that I concentrate on, is definitely growing,” says the artiste, who is also the <br />lead vocalist, songwriter and co-founder at Project ShivamNswar that blends sufi with Haryanvi, Punjabi folk, rock and funk music. <br /><br />Meanwhile, the Gurgaon-based artiste is excited to be part of the opening day of the cultural extravaganza. “It is a dream come true moment. Coincidentally, my father has his roots from Lahore, and I am more than thrilled,” he tells Metrolife.<br /><br /></p>
