Getting to know Zamad Baig – 1st Pakistan Idol Winner

Want to catch up with the 1st Pakistan Idol winner – Zamad Baig, stay with us:

How did it feel to become the first ever winner of Pakistan Idol? What kind of motivation do you think that gives to other amateur singers in this country?

It feels amazing, it is honestly an unreal situation and sometimes I think to myself and go, “Wow, I really achieved something great here”. When I went for the audition in Lahore I really did not think that I would be able to pass the audition, let alone win the whole competition and be where I am today.

What is the inspiration behind your new album that’s coming out?

So when I began the album, I thought to myself, “This should be something which shows who Zamad Baig is” and from there on all my feelings, my dil ki khuwahisain, things which I hadn’t been able to say out loud they poured out onto paper. So I would say the inspiration behind the album isn’t just one thing, it involves many things.

The album doesn’t have a name yet; three or four songs are on ishq (Dil Ishq Ishq and Ishqa Waay are two among them), there’s a song called Josh as well. The album should release in a few months, it all really depends on GEO.

Do you plan on writing and performing more soundtracks for the television industry?

I hadn’t thought about writing for the television industry before, I wanted to write an album like all musicians do. This was not because I wanted to be like all other musicians, of course who doesn’t, but because we’ve seen that once an OST does come out it does not have a long life. 

What is your next move going forward?

This is just the beginning for me, this album with GEO should release some time soon, and from there I will start working on another album. Wherever and whenever inspiration strikes I will create another piece.

Who are you favorite singers? And the genre that gives you most inspiration?

Sufi music gives me the most inspiration and one of my favorite singers is Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and of course Abida Parveen and my western favorites include Queen, and Led Zeppelin.

What about your favorite song?

That would have to be ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen, and ‘When the Levee Breaks’ by Led Zeppelin.

What is your music philosophy?

Write because you want to write, write because you feel like putting words to paper and then to music. Music should overwhelm the listener with emotions, and give them something to think about.