The lead singer-front-man confirms the band’s material is ready but they’re producing it themselves.
To say that Pepsi Battle of the Bands (PBOTB) found a good band in its last iteration in Auj would be an understatement. Led by Abdur Rahman Sajid, he has grown in his role as a front-man. His popularity level is so high that at the last Auj concert, I saw some young fans sporting the same hairdo as Abdur Rahman Sajid.
When asked about it and the level of popularity Auj has achieved as a result of their songs on season four of PBOTB, Sajid tells Instep that he is still taking it all in. “I don’t want to lie; I don’t want to say it’s a dream come true,” he says. “It is a dream come true but I’m so numb with all of this that I think I feel more comfortable here, backstage and onstage than I do at home in my bed. It’s a very weird thought to have. Usually people say ‘it’s a lot of fun, it’s a dream come true’ but I’m trying to find that, somewhere in life where I can say ‘I’m having a great time, I’m having fun’ but I am numb and that’s a big problem.”
The first music video of the band, in collaboration with Pepsi, called ‘Duhrao’ was released about a month ago.
“As for the album (ft. eight songs), we’re working at full-pace. Our songs are ready. The best thing about Auj is that our songs - even before Pepsi - were pretty much ready because we’d work on our original content so I think that it gives us the edge. We don’t have to sit down and start from scratch; we’re bringing out the tracks and refining them with a producer.”
Most curious, Auj is producing its own album with Nasir Zaka, who is on lead guitars and backing vocals, and is also the composer, taking on the role. Explaining why the band is producing the record themselves, Sajid notes, “We want to experience that part ourselves.”
Speaking about the future of music in Pakistan, Abdur Rahman Sajid says optimistically. “I’m not being cocky in saying that I’ll bring a change but overall in Pakistan I see the scene expanding and growing.”
Auj, features Abdur Rahman Sajid (Vocals), Nasir Zaka (Guitars, Backing Vocals), Syed Hasnain Ali (Bass Guitar) and Muhammad Kashif (Drums).
