When other children were busy playing cricket, the sons of Pakistan’s iconic musician, Ustad Hamid Ali Khan, would sit at home and do their riyaaz. For a family that traces its origins back to the legendary Ustad Kaluji, this was probably considered the most appropriate use of the boys’ time, and talent. It didn’t sit too easy with the youngsters themselves, but those very music lessons are what gave them their impeccable grasp on the nuances of classical music — which in turn has made their band, the Raga Boyz, a force to reckon with.
Composed of Wali Hamid Ali Khan, Inam Ali Khan and Nayab Ali Khan, the Raga Boyz have been burning up the Pakistani music airwaves with their soulful renditions that are part ballad, part rock, part pop — all with a sharp classical influence. Their music has recently found Indian fans as well: A performance at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival had the crowd screaming for an encore.
Recounting their early musical start, Wali Hamid Ali says, “As the ninth generation of the Patiala family, music was in our ‘blood’. All of us started our riyaaz by the time we were five…we were not happy about the fact that we didn’t get to play much, but now we realise how much it helped us.”
Despite their common training, each member of the band has developed different fortes. Inam and Nayab retain their pure classical bent, Wali’s genre is a mix of rock, pop and light classical and their fourth member Ahmed (who has now quit the Raga Boyz) combined rock and rap influences.
Taking up diverse styles was a personal choice, says Wali, “We’ve embraced our family’s music and tried to create something that’s easy to listen to for the public in general. So we incorporate classical music, rock and R&B in our music.”
This style will receive a great showcase in their new album, Zindagi, which is what the brothers are now looking forward to.