Play TV got the chance to interview Shallum Asher Xavier who is a Pakistani guitarist, composer and music producer. He has been recording professionally for 15 years, and has played as a session musician and recorded with most of the renowned Pakistani mainstream artists including Ali Haider, Najam Shiraz, Zeb and Haniya, Hadiqa Kiyani, and Strings. Here's what he had to say

Every Musician/band has a story. What is Fuzon’s story?

It’s a long Long story, but I will try to keep it as short as I can, Three extremely dedicated
passionate and hard working musicians, wanted people to listen to their perspective, listen to their
thought process, wanted to take the music industry on to a different tangent. Initially it was just an
experiment by a couple of session Musicians, Emu and Shallum, which later took people by storm.

What are your plans for the near future?

Fuzon is Collaborating with a Norwegian symphony orchestra to perform in Oslo in November. This
performance is part of a tour comprising 10 school concerts in Norway.
Fuzon is also collaborating with an American jazz quartet from New York that will be flying down to
Karachi in September to Work with Fuzon develop a song for peace and eventually both the bands will
fly to Islamabad and perform at the rock Musicarium in the end of September.
Fuzon is simultaneously working on a tribute Album which will be out this year.

A clichéd question but your inspiration and choice of artist from local and international music?

Steve Vai,Steve Ray Vaughan, Toto, Aero smith, Van Halen, Extreme, Queen, Robin Ford,
Mr Big, Police.Mendhi Hassan Khan, Tufail Niazi, R.D Burman,
Journey, Iron Maiden, and many many more.

If you were to describe yourself in simple word choice, What would they be?
“Will work for Music.”

Talk about your interests
Shallum’s Interests: Seeking new horizons by engaging with people and learning about new and interesting ideas,
Fond of playing cricket, indoors and out doors, evidently indoors is always a personal experience that’s too private.

Shallum is a fitness freak. A gym Obsession. True or false?
Not a freak just a man trying to kill the negativity by working out, makes me a happy bunny.

Shafqat Amanat Ali did a fusion with Akhiyan for MTV Coke Studio. What would a Fuzon take be on
that?
I would rather listen to the original version, which obviously does not mean that the coke studio
version was not up to my expectations, in all honesty I don’t watch tv shows that don’t have me in
them, I am a very selfish man like that.
Have a lot of Respect for Lez, he is good guy. If I would have been a part of it I would have definitely
suggested some interesting changes.

You and the other band members play individually at various private gigs. Like Emu is often playing
with Khalid at Pacc and other gigs? Are we moving towards a Jazz-club culture of 1960’s?
I don’t know what we are moving towards but at least we are moving.


If so, Should we expect a trend reversal in the Karachi night life?
Well as far as I am concerned the night life these days, is about lives of people taken by other people,
I hope some one can fix that first,
Karachi needs a revival, this country needs a revival, our primitive, conservative conventional and
cynical mind set needs a revival.
“Its imperative to think as one or else there will be no one.”

What’s you favorite choice of an instrument? What’s your favorite make (Brand) ? (All members,
Guitar and Keyboard)
Gibson, Prs Guild ,Ibanez my favorite instrument is the instrument that I play.

What would Fuzon’s best performance be so far?
The best is yet to come.

Fuzons much more glamorously styled after Nabila’s officially a part of the Fuzon Family. How much
fun is that?
Nabila inclusion has been quite exceptional, her credentials, experience her thought process, and
ability to transform some thing simple into some thing substantial has enabled us to progressively cut
thought the clutter and visually understand our capabilities

Are you a movie fan? What sort of movies do you usually watch?
I love love love watching movies,
I watch all kinds of movies.
Will make one very soon.

If there was one thing you could change from your past, what would it be?
Don’t want to change anything, its all good.

What was the 1st car you bought when Fuzon became big?
A bottle green Honda civic, was really excited when I brought it home woke up next morning and saw
a name engraved on the trunk some one decided to write his name on my car with a stone,
And decided to puncture three wheels of my dad’s car,
This was how it started out for me after I got my first car.

What would you say to a new upcoming musician whose work is “inspired” by yours?

If you believe in your capabilities your passion, then do be afraid to fight against the tide, be brave,
strong and dedicated, the road might be long full of bumps, but it will take you to the place you want
to go if you keep your head straight. The Lord will shower his blessings.

Who are some of your most dear friends in the media industry / most favorite people in the music /
Media industry?
I have been blessed to have some really good people who have always been helpful encouraging
supportive and loving, I really want to thank each and every one and you know who you are.

Given a chance, who would you like to play with for a dream concert?
James Brown and Josh Stone.

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