The resurrection of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Without the internet, social media, or branded music programs, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan carved a global legacy, singlehandedly putting qawwali and Pakistani music on the world map. The sheer power and precision of his voice and the musical depth of his compositions garnered praise from the likes of Peter Gabriel, Madonna, A.R Rahman, and Jeff Buckley amongst others. “He is my Elvis,” Buckley famously stated while asked about Khan. August 16, 1997 was a day of great loss for the music world. Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, one of its finest jewels, lost to a continuous battle with various health issues.

In a career spanning several decades, Khan became a global icon, with much of his best work gaining wider recognition in the years leading up to his untimely demise. But that leaves us with a question: what if he had persevered a little longer? Enter the team at Real World Records, the record label founded by former Genesis legend Peter Gabriel.

Real World Records was the first international label to sign him after Gabriel stumbled upon Khan and was completely blown away by his performance. Upon going through their old tape archives, Real World discovered four pristine recordings of never-heard-before qawwalis NFAK and his troupe had recorded at the company’s Wiltshire Studios back in 1990. This new collection, Chain of Light is slated for release on September 20, and has created a buzz within the music world, with many people ecstatic about the release of unheard music from Khan, while others doubt the authenticity of the recordings.

Nukta was treated to a snippet from the upcoming documentary Ustad, which chronicles the life of Khan from his humble origins to global superstardom, alongside snippets from the album, at an exclusive preview event.

The Process

Real World Studios have managed to beautifully document the process of bringing these lost recordings back to life through a short documentary film about the upcoming album. The documentary highlights how the tape was discovered by a young intern who was rummaging through the studio’s old tape archives. What he stumbled upon prompted him to alert his superiors, who realized the significance of the discovery.

The film follows the meticulous process as engineers restore the original tape. It featured comments from label's founder, Peter Gabriel, who is credited for discovering Khan and introducing him to global audiences, and Michael Brooks, the guitarist/producer who worked with Khan on his critically acclaimed fusion records Mustt Mustt and Nightsong.

Ustad the Documentary

The second treat of the night was a preview of Ustad, an upcoming film that traces Khan’s journey from humble beginnings to global superstardom. Helmed by Zakir Thaver (of Salam fame), founder of Saiyna Bashir Studios, the documentary opens with a charming moment between Khan and a foreign journalist who asks him about his journey. Khan in his simplicity and humility answers in English, piecing together all the words he possesses in his limited vocabulary.

The snippet features interviews and accounts from notable people including the likes of Peter Gabriel, Micheal Brooks, Khan’s managers Haji Najibi and Rashid Ahmed Din. The documentary includes never-before-seen footage of Khan's live performances and interviews with notable figures alongside unseen footage from the Real-World recording sessions.

“1990 was a key point in Nusrat’s career, it was the beginning of him crossing over into a Western audience,” Khan’s international manager, Rashid Ahmed Din, says. “Everything just clicked. He always wanted to experiment and not be limited to one sound and these tracks express that movement beyond.”

Talking about the sheer musical brilliance of Khan, producer, and longtime collaborator Micheal Brooks stated, “It was all seat-of-the-pants stuff. Nusrat carried a book of lyrics with him and he would be trying out new ideas all the time – when he settled on one, he liked, he would head into the live room and launch right in. He’d only stop when we waved through the window and told him to, otherwise they’d go for as long as they wanted!”

Producer Zakir Thaver, in a Q&A session after the screening, stated that the film was still in the process of securing interviews from collaborators and friends of Khan, like Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, Martin Scorsese, and A.R Rahman, all of whom shared collaborations with Khan during his reign over the music world.

Chain of Light

Without a doubt, the highlight of the night was listening to snippets from the forthcoming album Chain of Light, which is slated for release on September 20, 2024. Although we got to hear three-minute snippets of all four tracks, all of which clock in over 10 minutes, the listening session captivated the audience, leaving them in awe of Khan's unmatched vocal prowess. The sheer power and effortless versatility on display in these new recordings solidify Khan’s place atop the world music mountain.

Opening with the qawwal standard, 'Ya Allah Ya Rehman', the group fires on all cylinders with an up-tempo tabla groove coupled with the group’s powerful voices. NFAK shines through with his commanding voice and vocal syncopations layered over the minimalist harmonium and driving tablas. As soon as the track starts you know you are listening to the real deal as Khan breaks into a powerful alaap that takes hold of you instantly.

The second track titled 'Aaj Sik Mitran Di', is a masterpiece of Sufi poet Pir Syed Mehar Ali Shah, one which Khan has previously performed at various live gatherings. This rendition started with a slower tempo, later picking up pace as the group began their hand clapping in double time, with Khan’s masterful vocal acrobatics taking centerstage once again.

The third track and arguably the most interesting, 'Ya Gaus Ya Meeran', also happens to be the only recording to ever exist of this rendition. This song is indeed a testament to the raw musical genius of Khan, who seamlessly sings on top of complex rhythm patterns carried by tablas, and unusual chromatic melodies woven throughout.

"Nusrat would never explain why he recorded certain songs; it all depended on his mood," says Rashid Ahmed Din. “But ‘Ya Gaus Ya Meeran’ is a very difficult composition that changes patterns and isn’t easy for anyone to sing. Nusrat had the talent to compose over this music and it opened the song up for other people to sing in the future.”

The fourth track 'Khabram Raseed Imshab', is a poetry piece written by one of the founders of qawwali, Amir Khusro. Khan has performed various renditions of this qawwali during live performances across the world. This particular version is the first studio recording of the track in such high quality. Like the previous tracks, 'Khabram Raseed Imshab' also shines a light on the sheer magnitude of Khan’s vocal dexterity and musical prowess, which shine through every moment of this track, showcasing him as both an immaculate singer and a brilliant composer.

Legacy Moving Forward

With the Chain of Light release just around the corner, one wonders if this lost album will move Khan’s legacy forward, one which has endured over two decades after his demise. With countless releases under his belt, the release of these new lost recordings has only reinvigorated public interest in the qawwali master. It's thrilling to think there may still be lost Khan recordings sitting in some storage facility, waiting to be discovered.