RUNGG  [ February 22nd, 2005 ] Rungg, a merger of two immensely talented musicians from backgrounds and experiences so different, their chance meeting in a Lahore jam session created electrifying sparks. A realization of dreams and aspirations showed itself to the new band, as only Kafka's words could explain, "An axe for the frozen sea inside us". In a few days after the jam session, the people sharing this 'high' wrote four songs. Prolific and dynamic, it was not long before the journey towards a self-titled forth-coming album became a reality. With the album still under the wraps, Rungg released their debut single "Hum Na..." which has become a massive hit creating fan following for the band in all parts of the world. The song has remained on top of many major charts including the top spot on Indus Music's Sony Ericcson Top Ten Charts. As the countdown to the album release continues, listeners scream for more. Now and then getting a treat for their taste buds on the net, radio or television seems increasingly insufficient for quenching growing public curiosity. visit www.Rungg.com for more information Questions to IFU: Question [Underground Media] - : Name?. Ifu: Iftikhar Habib Question: Date of Birth? Ifu: 3rd Oct, 1974 Question: Place of Birth? Ifu: Lahore Question: Hobbies? Ifu: Into various sports Question: Role in Rungg? Ifu: Singer Question: The most memorable and embarrassing moments of your life? Ifu: There are many moments which I recall fondly and think of as most memorable. The most embarrassing is a bit too embarrassing to share! Question: What kind of person you are? Ifu: Passionate and intense. Question: How did your interest in music develop? And when did you first think of taking up music professionally? Ifu: I have childhood memories of being really interested in music. I sang a lot as a little kid. I remember being a teenager when I first thought of taking up music seriously. Question: What inspired you towards music? Ifu: I have had my truest expression in music since I was a kid. I always had an intense personality and music became the voice of my emotions. Question: Did you get any formal music education before starting? Ifu: Formal education in the sub-continent is more about having an “ustad” who you accept as your guru. In this context yes, I’ve had the honor of learning from various maestros, of Indian classical singing. I also had the privilege of being taught for a short time by an American artist Glenn Perry, who has international releases. Question: How important do you think formal education is? Ifu : I think it is ultra important. I sometimes just wish that I would have gone to the Berkley School of Music and the Musicians Institute (MI). Question: How long have u been involved in the music scene? Ifu: I became very much a part of the underground rock music scene in Lahore, since 1993. With Rungg, I’ve gone main stream. Question: A media revolution seems to be in session in Pakistan, mostly through music. How do you see this? Ifu: It’s actually quite amazing to see how all our music channels are flooded with new artists. I see this as a great new development and hope that not only will Pakistan produce highly talented artists, but also the current music industry would shape into a more professional entity. I would especially like to see proper record labels established in Pakistan within the next five years. Question: How far do you see Pakistani music extend itself? Ifu : I was recently in France and was listening to a lot of French pop and rock music. Of course I liked some of the stuff I heard over there, but I honestly felt that Pakistani pop music has so much potential for international exposure, despite Urdu and Punjabi not being widely spoken languages. I think at large we are making better pop music than the French and I think this comparison is reflective of how I see Pakistani music extending itself in future. Question: What do you think about other Pakistani artists? Ifu: I think most of the new bands that have become popular in Pakistan, really deserve the success that they have had so far, as they are very promising. I think the success of more established bands such as Junoon, Vital Signs and Strings, is also highly commendable and something that all upcoming artists can look up to. Question: What flaws do you see in Pakistani music today? Ifu: I think a lot of artists in Pakistan do not take their instruments seriously and do not work on them professionally, relying purely on untrained talent. This often leads to success which is short lived. I think every professional musician should have a professional attitude towards their musical skills. Another flaw I see in the Pakistani music scene is lack of proper record labels and talent promoters. Question: Was RUNGG your first band or did you have any other band as well previously? Ifu: I’ve jammed and recorded extensively with most musicians from the underground scene in the past decade, but my first major band was ONCE. Our genre of music was progressive pop-rock. This band was created with my childhood best friend Zahid ur Rehman on guitars. Question: How has your experience with Pakistani media been so far? Ifu: Mashallah it has been excellent and we enjoy a great relationship with all media people and journalists. Question: Do you remember Rungg’s first live performance? When and where was it and how did it go? Ifu: Our first live performance was in Lahore, early summer 2003, and HUM NA was not even on air yet. It was an interesting experience but our live sound management was disappointing on this occasion. I do not recall the show too fondly. We opened for Fusion and the venue was Al-Hamra Hall No.2 (The Mall). Question: Whose idea was it to form Rungg? Ifu: Mine. Question: What’s the concept behind Rungg? Ifu: As musicians, Rungg is obviously our platform to go main stream in the music scene of the sub-continent. The basic idea was to do music that has a wide range of audience. In the course of this attempt, I feel that we have been able to bring out a sound that is not only unique but also original. We have kept our music simple both compositionally and lyrically. We see Rungg as a band that has given us a chance to do diverse stuff and experiment with our own creativity. We do not want this band to be very genre specific, hence the name Rungg. Currently what we have done is best described as pop-rock. Question: How would you define Rungg’s music? Ifu: POP-ROCK Question: Tell us about your recordings (describe your style)? Ifu: All our stuff has been recorded, mixed and mastered at Sarmad’s home studio. Sarmad has produced this album and we have pretty much followed the usual sequence in tracking the songs in the studio. I personally have never enjoyed recording in a studio as much as I enjoyed it with Sarmad for this record. Question: What inspires you when composing a song? Ifu: I think an artist is always communicating in a silent way with his/her inner self and everything external. Creativity comes as a result of this interaction. For me anything could be inspirational; my own mood, experiences and what I see around me. Question: How often do you practice on your music skills? Ifu: Every single day! Question: What comes deeper from your soul, music or lyrics? Ifu: I can’t separate the two. Question: hat do you focus more on, videos or concerts? Ifu: We focus on everything: videos, concerts, interviews, recordings etc. Question: When could we expect to see Rungg’s first album in the market? Ifu: Early 2005 Inshallah! Question: What do you think is the biggest achievement of Rungg yet? Ifu: So far we have just had two singles out and both songs topped the charts on the most widely viewed music channel in Pakistan. Question: What are your future plans? Ifu: First and foremost on the agenda is to do another video and release the album. Complementing this would be live shows Inshallah. We also want to get back into the song writing phase and start working on the second album very soon. Question: Are there any upcoming concerts or tours of Rungg? Ifu: We hope to perform live extensively after Eid this year. Question: Where do you Rungg in the next five years? Ifu: Very successful Inshallah! Question: How would you like to be remembered? Ifu: As a man amongst men. Question: What do you think about Question? Ifu: It is doing an excellent job in promoting new and upcoming talent in the Pakistani music scene. Two thumbs up for Question. Question: Final comments? Umer: Thank you for your support Questions to SARMAD: Question [Underground Media] - : Name?. Sarmad: Sarmad Abdul Ghafoor. Question: Date of Birth? Sarmad: 5th Nov 1975. Question: Place of Birth? Sarmad: London. Question: Hobbies? Sarmad: Don't have anymore. Question: Role in Rungg? Sarmad: Lead guitarist/co-songwriter. Question: The most memorable and most embarrassing moment of your life? Sarmad: Meeting joe satriani, steve vai, and john petrucci, Seeing Tori amos In concert, and most of the time spent with my wife is memorable. Most embarrassing: cant think of any. Question: How did your interest in music develop? And When did you first think of taking music seriously? Sarmad: I started playing rhythm guitar so my brother could solo over the Chords. Then I Really got into it when I listened to joe satriani's "surfing with the Alien"...that Changed my life, and made me serious about music. Question: What inspired you towards music? Sarmad: My brother and joe satriani Question: Did you get any formal music education before starting? Sarmad: Nah!......only did a certificate in jazz harmony and ear training some Years ago. Question: How important do you think formal music education is? Sarmad: Depends on what you wanna do.....if you're naturally talented(people Will Tell you That), formal education can help you become great, but you can also do Without it. If you're not naturally talented but you have the passion, formal Education is must. Question: How long you have been involved in media? Sarmad: Well i've been playing guitar for the past 12 years, and have been in The Mainstream For 3 years. Before that i was in the underground music scene. Question: A media revolution seems to be in session in Pakistan, mostly through Music. How do you see this? Sarmad: I dont know if its totally because of music, but yes it has a big role To Play in It. Being a musician i think it's great!... It can change for worse if There's a Change of government though. Question: How far do you see Pakistani music extend itself? Sarmad: It has a great potential, given things keep on going the way they are. It's still in Its infancy now. Question: What do you think about other Pakistani artists? Sarmad: I respect most of them. Especially those who put in a lot of effort, And Stay true To their music. At the same time I understand why bands have to sell Out...we Haven't yet reached a point where we can survive successfully doing our Own thing! Question: What flaws do you see in Pakistani music today? Sarmad: We dont have the proper infrastructure for the industry...don't have Proper Event Managers, or record labels....it's evolving....(there will come a time When even Artists who don't do commercial music would be able to make a living out Of It, and Wouldn't have to sell out!)....we have a long way to go... Question: Was ‘rungg’ your first band or did you have any other band as well Previously? Sarmad: I have had a couple of bands before...still, and stoned within. Question: How has your experience with Pakistani media been so far? Sarmad: Very well Question: Do you remember rungg’s first live performance? When and where was it And how did it go? Sarmad: I think it was in April 2003 if I remember correctly...we opened for Fusion....played three songs...was an average first performance. Question: What’s the concept behind ‘rungg’? Sarmad: The concept is to basically do all types of music under one Name....like Capturing Different colors....I guess that's why we call ourselves rungg. Question: How would you define rungg’s music? Sarmad: At this stage of evolution I would call it song-oriented. Question: Tell us about your recordings (describe your style)? Sarmad: We recorded the album around a year and a half ago, and the songs would Fall into The category of pop-rock, if you have to pigeon-hole us. Question: What inspires you when composing a song? Sarmad: It could be anything...usually its my mood... Could be a movie, or some Other Song.....I usually get my creative juices flowing when I'm around Inspirational Musicians like ifu. Question: How often do you practice on your music skills? Sarmad: I used to practice a lot, but not anymore...becomes difficult when you Have a Full-time job. Question: What comes deeper from your soul, music or lyrics? Sarmad: Music! Question: What do you focus more on … videos or concerts? Sarmad: I guess videos for now.......will concentrate on concerts more in the Future. Question: When could we expect to see rungg’s first album in the market? Sarmad: 3 months (hehe.....that's our favorite reply.......lets see when that Is). Question: What do you think is the biggest achievement of rungg ‘yet’? Sarmad: Having 2 number 1's ....and making this girl cry upon hearing 'hum Na'(that's Something for me). Question: What are your future plans? Sarmad: Another video, and releasing the album......I'm looking forward to Writing More Songs actually. Question: Where do you see ‘rungg’ in the next five years? Sarmad: I want us to be really big...in a good way...and I want us to have at Least 3 albums Out by then (I wanna sound different on each album)... I wanna push the Boundaries Of music (it doesn't have any boundaries intrinsically, but we humans(i Hope i don't Sound like an alien) have made some for ourselves). Question: How would you like to be remembered? Sarmad: As an inventor...lets see if that happens (right now I'm learning all The Rules and Techniques, so I can break them and come up with my own). Question: What do you think about Question? Sarmad: Question is doing a great service to music, to bands and their Fans.......keep it up! Question: Final comments? Sarmad: If you're our fan....thanx for believing in us...never stop that! .... / It's all About choices!....what you choose now affects your life later.... And Remember, not Choosing is a 'choice' as well. Questions to ZULFIQAR: Question [Underground Media] - : Name?. Zulfiqar: Zulifiqar ul Hassan Question: Date of Birth? Zulfiqar: 15th Jan 1980. Question: Place of Birth? Zulfiqar: Lahore Question: Hobbies? Zulfiqar: Listening to music, socializing. Question: Role in Rungg? Zulfiqar: Rhythm guitarist. Question: What kind of a person are you? Zulfiqar: Explorer. Question: How would you like to be remembered? Zulfiqar: In good words. Question: What do you think about Question? Zulfiqar: Doing a great job in promoting bands and their music. Question: Final comments? Zulfiqar: Thanks for your support. Questions to WASIM: Question [Underground Media] - : Name?. Wasim: Wasim Kamal Question: Date of Birth? Wasim: 10th Jan 1982. Question: Place of Birth? Wasim: Peshawar. Question: Hobbies? Wasim: Drumming, Reading, Camping, Partying. Question: Role in Rungg? Wasim: Drummer. Question: What kind of a person are you? Wasim: Nice to everyone. Question: The most memorable and most embarrassing moment of your life? Wasim: After I performed at Nandos. Up till now this is the most memorable moment. The most embarrassing is when I broke up with my girlfriend. Question: How would you like to be remembered? Wasim: A great man....a greater drummer. Question: What do you think about Question? Wasim: Excellent site. Promotes good music. Question: Final comments? Wasim: Fans keep your eyes open for Rungg's album! Thank you for all your support! Interview By Kashif www.LahoriMela.com