Musical Fusion - Tradition & Tech | Zaman Khan | Salman Khan Niazi | TEDxCambridgeSchoolSrinivaspuri

Introduction and Background

• Salman Khan Niazi and his brother Zaman Khan are musicians and singers who have come full circle by returning to the Cambridge School Srinivaspuri stage where their musical journey began 13s.
• They are honored to be back at the institution and are excited to share their story and sing a few songs for the audience 30s.
• The brothers have a 15-20 minute time frame to share their story and would also like to sing a couple of songs for the audience 43s.
• Salman and Zaman were average students who were not very good at math, but they could calculate how much time they had left before they could go home and listen to their favorite music 1m12s.
• After listening to music, they would try to come up with something that had their own sound, and this is how their musical journey started 1m29s.
• The brothers come from a musical background and a musical family, the Rampur Sahaswan Gharana, where they would wake up every morning to the sound of the tanpura, a classical instrument in Hindustani classical music 1m48s.
• The sound of the tanpura is probably what people hear when they go for meditation, and it is something that gives people a sense of peace in their lives 2m6s.
• The sound of the tanpura is very peaceful due to its vibrations, creating a sense of calmness for those who listen to it, and it was a sound that was often present in the household from a young age 2m16s.
• Growing up in a musical family, music was always present at home, but exposure to world music also occurred while going to school and socializing with friends 2m32s.
• This exposure included listening to various genres such as hard rock, heavy metal, and classic rock, including artists like Pink Floyd, U2, and Guns N' Roses, in addition to learning Hindustani classical music 2m44s.
• Despite growing up with Hindustani classical learning, there was also a strong influence of Western classical music, leading to a decision to take the traditional aspect of music from the family but do it in a unique way 2m58s.
• The goal was to create a distinct sound, referred to as the "Salman Zaman sound," by blending different styles and collaborating with technology 3m11s.
• This collaboration and blending of styles are considered important, as it combines the traditional Hindustani classical music from the family with other learned influences 3m26s.

Musical Influences and Style

• Initially, learning Hindustani classical music was found to be boring, involving repetitive practice for hours, but it eventually became a crucial part of the musical foundation 3m41s.
• The music being enjoyed by friends and classmates includes Pink Floyd and foot-tapping Bollywood songs, but later they decided to create something that blends both Hindustani classical music and other influences 4m16s.
• This fusion started about 10 years ago, and the group became the first act all over India, participating in an all-India music competition and rock band competition 4m30s.
• The competition was sponsored by one of the biggest radio stations and telecom companies in the country, and the judge was from one of the biggest Sufi rock groups, Junoon, from Pakistan 4m53s.
• The composer and makers of the song "Sayoni" were the judges, and with their blessings, the group won the competition, bringing home the trophy due to innovative thinking and originality 5m24s.
• The group was the only band from school that won with a cover and also had a classical fusion-based original composition already made for the competition 5m37s.
• The group's unique selling point is that when people see Salman and Zaman on stage, they will notice that the duo is making a mark by doing something different from what others are doing 5m58s.
• Creating something in a creative field requires adding a pinch of originality to it, as seen in brands like Colgate and Maggi, which have made their original factor and image stick in people's minds 6m29s.
• With the advancement of technology, everyone can now make music, and there are a lot of musicians, but only a few have made their original factor and image stick in people's minds 7m2s.

Early Career and Competitions

• Earlier, music used to be recorded live, and everything was analog, with full orchestras and artists like Kishore Da and Mohammed Rafi recording songs in one take 7m11s.
• Thanks to technology, artists can now record songs from different locations, as seen in the project "Zoom Zoom," which was trending all over after just two days, with the sound engineer in Mumbai and the artists in a studio in Dubai 7m37s.
• Technology has played a crucial role in the music industry, allowing for originality and versatility, as seen in the work of artists like Salman Khan Niazi and Zaman Khan, who are known for their versatility and are considered the pride of India 8m18s.
• The titles given to Zaman Khan, such as "Hindustan Ki Aan Baan Shaan" and "Sufi Ke Sultan," are a testament to his originality and versatility 8m30s.
• The appreciation and love from fans and music lovers are what drive musicians to create original and meaningful music 8m39s.
• As musicians, there is no limit to creativity, and there is no need for a specific title or name to be recognized as an artist 8m44s.
• As an artist, there is no limit to creativity, and the same principle was applied when deciding to do music, with the goal of exploring all genres and challenging creativity to create something unique and crazy with music 9m1s.
• The most important thing is to have originality, and this was demonstrated when winning a competition for a school, which led to an appearance on MTV Rock On, and eventually becoming artists 9m24s.

Commonwealth Games and Delhi Anthem

• In 2010, during the Commonwealth Games, the original anthem for Delhi was created, showcasing originality 9m51s.
• The late CM Sheila Dikshit was impressed with the original songs and requested an anthem for Delhi, which had to capture the essence of the city, including its food, schools, development, and people, within a four-minute span 10m16s.
• The task was accomplished, and the anthem was played everywhere, and after that, even more music was created 10m52s.
• The experience of creating the anthem for Delhi was a memorable one, and it is recommended to listen to the song to understand how everything was matched up within the four-minute span 10m41s.
• A memorable moment was when the Delhi tableau appeared on 26 January during the Republic Day parade, featuring music that was part of the event, and a song was played that day as well 11m22s.

Importance of Practice and Continuous Learning

• The importance of skills and constant practice is emphasized, as someone who works on their skills every day will eventually see significant progress and possibly create something new 12m11s.
• It is essential to continuously work on one's skills, as this will lead to growth and improvement, regardless of the field or profession 12m17s.
• The example of a warrior or soldier is given, who may not go to war every day but still sharpens their sword every morning, illustrating the importance of regular practice 12m28s.
• Musicians, in particular, practice regularly, even if it's just for a short time, and can use tools like a Bluetooth speaker and tanpura application to do so 12m43s.
• The value of continuous learning and practice is stressed, as every day is a new opportunity to learn something new, and one should never stop learning 12m55s.
• A common saying is mentioned, which warns against becoming complacent and thinking that one can do something without practice, emphasizing the importance of constant learning and improvement 13m9s.

Time Management and Pursuing Passion

• Many people, especially students, want to learn music but feel it's tough to maintain a balance between studies and music, and they often ask how to manage time effectively to pursue their passion for music 13m13s.
• Salman Khan Niazi achieved significant success in music at a young age, probably the biggest at the age of 16, and people are curious to know how he managed his time 13m50s.
• To manage time effectively, one should prioritize their passion and allocate time for it, even if it's just one to one and a half hours a day, no matter what 14m40s.
• Time management is key, and having a passion towards a particular art or thing is essential to achieve success 14m59s.
• Salman Khan Niazi emphasizes the importance of time management and advises people to allocate time for their passion, even if it's just one hour a day, and to prioritize their goals 14m53s.
• To achieve success, one should set goals for the day, get up early, meditate for 10 minutes, and focus on their passion, and Salman Khan Niazi follows this routine himself 15m9s.
• Salman Khan Niazi suggests that people should try to allocate time for their passion, even if it's just a small amount, and prioritize their goals to achieve success 15m19s.

Zaman Khan's Journey and the Delhi Anthem

• Imagine yourself performing concerts and singing for a crowd in a stadium after 10 years, writing your own songs, and picturing yourself doing that, which is what Zaman Khan manifested, and it happened 15m33s.
• In school, there used to be competitions like group dance, bhajan competitions, and other events, but there wasn't a rock band competition, which Zaman Khan and his friends wanted to participate in 15m53s.
• Zaman Khan and his friends decided to send their songs to the competition organizers, and even if they didn't get a response, they wouldn't regret trying, as the worst feeling in life is to regret not trying 16m15s.
• Zaman Khan emphasizes that when you're young, you have nothing to lose and only things to gain, so it's essential to take risks and try new things 16m25s.
• Zaman Khan's first song was the Delhi Anthem, which he composed during the Commonwealth Games, and the then-Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, approached him to create the song 17m10s.
• Zaman Khan is proud to be from South Delhi and wrote the song to showcase the city's spirit, with lyrics that reflect the city's diversity and vibrancy 17m25s.
• The song "Dilli Meri Jaan" is a representation of Delhi's culture, with its mix of different languages, music, and traditions, and Zaman Khan is proud to call it his home 17m42s.

Performance and Song: Dilli Meri Jaan

• A song is performed with lyrics that include "हैं सारे संग हैं छोटी-छोटी गलियों में" and "दिल्ली सलामत रहे तू रोशन रहे है सब की दुआ" expressing a desire for the well-being and prosperity of Delhi 18m3s.
• The song transitions to a different melody with the lyrics "ग ग री ग री सा प प ग प ग रे नीनी पानी सा" and continues with a fusion of traditional and modern music elements 19m4s.

Performance and Song: Jhoom Jhoom

• The performance is followed by a thank you note and an introduction to the next original song, with a mention that people call them the "Sufi ke Sultan Salman" and "Jaman" 19m33s.
• The song "Jhoom Jhoom" is performed, which is about love and is described as a special song that is all about loving oneself and life 19m47s.
• The lyrics of the song "Jhoom Jhoom" emphasize the importance of love and self-love, with the line "कहते है जिस दिल में मोहब्बत नहीं उस दिल में इबादत नहीं" 19m59s.

Performance: Traditional and Sufi Elements

• A traditional song is performed with the lyrics "राट मैं तो पिया की जोगन के मैं तो पिया की जोगन बन के घूमू" and continues with a fusion of traditional and modern music elements 20m24s.
• The song is a tribute to Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya, a Sufi saint, with the lyrics "खुसरो निजाम के जाऊं मैं बल बल खुसरो निजाम के जाऊं मैं बल बल" 20m41s.

Performance and Song: Get Up

• The performance ends with a repetition of the song "Jhoom Jhoom" and a final thank you note 21m51s.
• The last song performed is "Get Up" with the lyrics "गेट अप गेट अप गेट अप गेट अप" and is an energetic and upbeat track 21m57s.
• The final song is a fusion of traditional and modern music elements, with the lyrics "तन रब अब मन की गिरी है सौ रग भाई सब ताल ये रोम रोम सुर देते है" 22m20s.
• The performance ends with a lively musical piece, with repeated phrases of "mast" and "malang" expressing joy and enthusiasm 22m50s.
• The song transitions into a segment with the phrase "dil bole jo" and repetitive "jhoom" sounds, evoking a sense of celebration 22m57s.

Closing Remarks and Call to Action

• The artists express gratitude to the audience, thanking them for their love and appreciation 23m10s.
• Salman Khan Niazi takes a moment to address the audience, reminding them to never stop believing and dreaming 23m22s.
• He introduces himself and his brother, Zaman Khan, as the duo "Salman Zaman" and invites the audience to follow them and listen to their music 23m29s.
• The artists announce their availability for concerts and invite the school to book them for future events, promising to give the audience a crazy and memorable time 23m40s.
• They encourage the audience to buy tickets and support their music, expressing their gratitude and appreciation for the love they have received 23m44s.
• The performance concludes with a final expression of gratitude and a blessing, thanking God for the love and appreciation they have received 23m50s.