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).