Wali Shah (Interview)

Name: Wali Shah
Nickname: Flo
D.O.B: 1994.09.09
Favorite quote: “With great power comes great responsibility” – Peter Parker
Tell us a bit about yourself? 
18 Years young, Rapper, From Mississauga ON. Performed alongside… Jully Black, Kardinall Offishall, Danny Fernandes, Mia Martina, Tyler Mederios..
Inspirations?
Eminem, Immortal Technique, Tupac Shakur, RA The Rugged Man, AOTP/JMT, Joe Budden, Lazarus, Classified, SHAD,
Study background?
If you mean what I’m going to University for next year… University of Toronto – Social Science
What are your raps about?
Mostly socially conscience/political material. Very unlike the mainstream.
Have you ever performed in front of any audience? 
More times than I can count.
Who do you think is the living king of rap? 
Eminem (Mainstream) Immortal Technique (Underground)
Rapping? Define it in your own words? 
Poetry, just throw a beat in the background. [R]hythm [A]nd [P]oetry
Was your family supportive when you started rapping? 
Not at all. It was only until I started proving to them that I had potential by things like going on television, appearing in the newspapers, & doing shows that they really saw I had the talent. Coming from a South Asian background, your parents want you to become either a lawyer or a doctor; imagine having a conversation with your parents about being a rapper.

Aleena Saeed (Interview)

Name: Aleena Saeed
Nickname: Neena
D.O.B: October 22, 1991
Favorite quote: People recognize true love by the light in their eyes. Paulo Coelho
Tell us a bit about yourself?
Well I am a student of earth sciences, a fashion freak and I LOVE to travel and take pictures of landscapes, cultural diversity and people (in their true colors).
Study/Professional background?
Mmm … I am currently doing my bachelors in Earth Sciences. Its my final semester.
What kind of gear do you use?
* Camera body – Canon EOS 600 D
* Lens – at the moment I only make use of the kit lens, EFS 18-55mm
* Tripod - none
* Filters – none, didn’t feel the need as of yet
* Flash – built in, mostly I shoot without a flash!
* Camera bag – The EOS bag
Which is your favorite lens? Why? 
I haven’t used any other lens other than my Kit lens for now because right now photography is only a part time thing, A HOBBY. But I prefer macro lenses and will soon get my hands on those J
When you go in one of your travels, what all you take with you? Why?
I always take my cam with me. No matter where I am going. Also I take some necessities of the 21st gen i.e. my cell phone and quality music, a notebook and pen (to doodle) and a good book.

The Northern Lights (Interview)

Band name: The Northern Lights
Band members and their positions:
Jasim Haider (Lead Guitars, Rhythm Guitars, Vocals, Song-writer)
Mansoor Mujtaba (Vocals and Harmonium)
Eiman Hussain (Drums and Percussions)
Tauqeer Khattak (Bass Guitars)
One quote on you all are inspired by?
Honestly, there are too many to mention. Artists in general have the ability to absorb a lot things.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
Our band consists of four members. Each person brings in a different feel to our music. Our dominant sound is a fusion of Blues and Eastern Classical. It's more like a band of brothers. Jasim and Mansoor have been friends since their childhood, Eiman is Jasim’s younger brother. Tauqeer is Jasim and Eiman's eldest brother's childhood friend. It was Tauqeer who coined the name “The Northern Lights”.
Inspirations?
We are inspired by many artists but to name a few we would have to say Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Pink Floyd, Ustad Mehdi Hassan, Vital Signs, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, John Mayer and Joe Bonamassa.
What are your hopes for the near future?
We look forward to making some meaningful music. Music that is fresh, beautiful and spiritual. So stay tuned!

Nataliya Najib Khan (Interview)

Name: Nataliya Najib Khan

Nickname: None that I’d like to announce here ;)

D.O.B: April 13th, 1983

Favorite dish: Probably my favorite ever menu is the typical Lahori breakfast of Halwa Puri with Aloo Chanas. Yum.

Give us a brief introduction about yourself?

 Born and raised in various parts of Pakistan, I currently live with my husband and 2 year old daughter in the suburbs of Seattle. I spend my time taking lots of pictures for myself and clients, enjoying the gift of motherhood, blogging about life in general and missing my family back home.

Study background?

I did my Bachelors in Computer Science from FAST in Islamabad.

How did you got into photography stuff?

I grew up watching my dad’s love for photography so it was in my genes but I didn’t realize that till much later. I have always believed in the importance of freezing our memories but it was only in the last 5 years after I got married and moved to Seattle that I was inspired to make somewhat of a profession of this. My husband bought me first DSLR and since then I have not looked back. I love this hobby and profession because it gives us the power to look through that viewfinder and find what looks beautiful to you and just click. It lets us remember memories and moments. And to be able to give others the gift of beautiful memories is one like no other.  

What type of photography attracts you the most? 

My biggest passion in photography is finding beauty in ordinary every day moments, and currently I am extremely inspired by lifestyle sessions. Where people are captured in their own environments, their houses, their own city, doing what they usually do, unposed.

Overdose (Interview)

Band name: Overdose

Band members and their positions:

Sherry Khattak (Vocals & Guitars) ,Sarim Shafi (Guitars) ,Omair Farooq (Bass) , Bilawal Lahooti (Drums)

One quote on you all are inspired by?

“Giving up is not the key”

Tell us a bit about yourself?

Were just like any other band struggling through thick and thin to survive and cop up with the current music scenario from which our industry is undergoing

Inspirations?

We are heavily inspired by the current western rock music Alterbridge is a big inspiration for all of us

What are your hopes for the near future?

We have rigged up our own audio production studio by the name “NEON” So in the near future you would hear a lot from us InshAllah

If you guys were to describe yourself in simple word choice.. what would you say?

Overdose I guess

Who are your idols and why?

Idolizing is more of somewhat looking up to ,But from our perspective idolizing someone indirectly affects your music so we try our best not to idolize someone so much that his or her personality reflects in our music but I must say collectively we all love Noori as they proved to be really flourishing as compared to other rock bands.