Sonu & Atif live in Concert

Indian playback singer Sonu Nigam and Pakistani singer Atif Aslam join hands together to rock Indians in Washington DC Metro Area with their vocal talent at a live concert on August 4. Among the highest paid singers of their respective countries, Sonu Nigam and Atif Aslam have participated in various musical festivals across the world. Their signature music is a blend of pop rock, classical, semi classical, ghazals, Sufi and jazz. This is one of the best Indian events in Washington DC Metro Area in August 2017 and will be held at Eagle Bank Arena in Fairfax, VA.

They also frowned upon his brother Shahzads extensive cassette-tape collection, deeming music a distraction. I grew up thinking music was bad, said Aslam, who pursued a degree in computer engineering.                                                      It wasnt until a breakup and multiple listens to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khans collaboration with Canadian composer/producer Michael Brook, Night Song, that he fell in love with music. I didnt even know that (Bollywood actors) dont sing their own songs.                                               Using a guitar borrowed from his brothers friend, he taught himself to play and started performing in local bands in university. From the money he earned, he recorded his first song called Aadat and uploaded it to the internet.                     I am talking about those mIRC, dial-up network days, when you had your landline and your CPU, Aslam said. The song became a hit. His first solo album Jal Pari (2004) quickly sold over a million copies and stayed at the top of Pakistani music charts for close to five years. His success saw Bollywood come calling and Aslam became even more famous overnight when he lent his song Woh Lamhe to the Bollywood film Zeher (2005).                                                      At the moment, Aslam has an uneasy relationship with fame; its taken him away from his initial connection with making music.

Music is something that should give you peace. When I first heard it, absorbed it, I felt I was connected to the Supreme, he said. I didnt have to express myself to anybody, I would just sing. And most of the times, when I initially used to sing, I used to get scared of my own voice. It used to resonate so much, I would feel the presence (of God).                  After releasing three albums, and lending his voice to a numerous Bollywood soundtracks, hes now looking to make music for himself.

My first album was about finding the connection with the Supreme. My second album (Doorie, 2006) was finding another market. My third album (Meri Kahani, 2008) was rushed. And my film experience was about gaining experience, he says.

Its time to explore my own identity a little bit. I was playing music because I liked it. I got lucky that people started loving it and I became a rage. I sort of lost my identity. It was difficult for me to get out of the house, walk on the streets. I am trying to avoid the things attached with fame. I want to feel normal.                                                             Aslam said his mission for Saturdays show at the Air Canada Centre is to have the crowd dancing in the aisles.

I know that out of the thousands of people who show up, maybe nine of them will actually understand whats going on stage, music-wise, he said. But no one should be sitting down in my concert.