 2 MINUTE INTERVIEW WITH
Shiraz Uppal
by RAHAT
Shiraz Uppal is a name everyone in Pakistani music industry reckons. He has written and produced many hit songs, a few of which are Tera Te Mera, Mann Ja Ve, Roya Re, Rabba, Saiyan Ve and has also worked with ace Indian musician A.R.Rahman, who he says is an inspiration for him and considers him as a guru and good friend. He owns a state-of-the-art studio in Lahore where he composes, produces and records for many Pakistani musicians and singers. He recently produced Atif and Hadiqa's hit song Hona Tha Pyaar for the film Bol. MAG caught up with Shiraz for a quick two-minute chat. Excerpts:
Q: Although you are an MBA, why did you choose music as your profession?
A: MBA was part of my education, but music has always been a passion and so I pursued it.
Q: How has the experience of singing in Indian films been for you?
A: It was wonderful, I was the first one among the pop singers in Pakistan to sing for an Indian film, which was back in 2001 for Nayak, whose music was composed by A.R. Rahman, and since then there is no looking back.
Q: What kind of genres do you prefer?
A: I like pop music with a blend of filmi music.
Q: How do you see the Pakistani music scene?
A: At the moment very bad, because a single industry cannot prosper unless Pakistan prospers.
Q: Tell us something about your S.U. Studio?
A: Its been there for around 10 years now and my studio has produced for almost every Pakistani musician. I have produced Atif and Hadiqa's song Hona Tha Pyaar for Shoaib Mansoor's upcoming film Bol and I am also producing Noori's upcoming album.
Q: There is a dearth of opportunities for Pakistan's underground and upcoming musicians. What do you think can be done?
A: They should come up with good music, have a video ready and release it on the internet. They'll get the feedback from the public.
Q: Any word of advice or aspiring musicians?
A: Only come into this profession if you have passion for it.
CELEB TALK
Celebrity Marriage Tips
 Famous couples reveal their secrets to marital success
Aishwarya & Abhishek
TALK IT OUT
"You must retain your own identity, but at the same time be sensitive towards the needs of your partner. If there's ever an argument, discuss it never go to bed with the fight still on."
 Jaya & Amitabh Bachchan
RESPECT
"No two people are the same but the idea of marriage is to come together and understand each other. It's about compassion and harmony. Also, respect is very important. You have to give each other space."
 Kajol & Ajay Devgn
TRUST ISSUES
"A woman should trust her husband, only then will she be able to win him over. I was brought up [in Bollywood]: I know that smoke can be conjured without fire. I trust my husband.  Without trust, we couldn't survive."
Shah Rukh & Gauri
COMMITMENT
"The commitment of marriage is within you, instead of commitment to families or others. Commitment given to oneself is the most important thing. If you can commit to yourself only then believe in a marriage,  otherwise, don't get into it."
Hrithik & Suzanne Khan
ROMANCE
"I'm an incurable romantic. I love the concept of being in love with one person throughout my life and I'm blessed to have Suzanne. I'm a very passionate person. For me, it's more than just the conventional relationship it's about love for family, for children and for people around me."
TECHNO BYTE
Cool Gadgets
 Acetate White LED Watch
The latest creation from TOKYOFLASH JAPAN to catch attention is the Kisai RPM Acetate White LED Watch made from hand cut, machined, and polished acetate which is the same material used in the production of high-end jewellery.
One unique feature of this watch (other than the method by which you tell the time) is that it is USB rechargeable and a single 3.5 hour charge will power your watch for a month. The internal battery is good for about 300 charges and is user replaceable. Can't you just see Castor from "TRON: Legacy" wearing this awesome looking timepiece on his wrist?
 Hi-Tec Sketch Art
Get a feel of the world's pioneer LED stick-in Tec toys. The Hi-Tec Sketch Art lets you do your own art. You only have to stick in the LEDs and they light up. There are background designs you can use or you can come up with your own. Your imagination is your only limitation.
You take the Hi-Tec Sketch Art anywhere, which makes it great for travelling or waiting on queues. It uses batteries and it has a USB cable, an AC wall adapter and a car adapter if you will be using it on the move. It will certainly keep the kids occupied on long car trips.
You can create art using a glowing art wire which outlines shapes in light that glows. If you want to have fun with technology, then this is what you need to get.
 Pop Art Toaster
You will never look at your toast the same way again with the Pop Art Toaster; not when it invites you to take a bite with a written invitation that says just that. Add some images if you wish too or other words like 'Ugh' if that's how you wake up feeling.
The Pop Art Toaster is one-of-a-kind table top toast burner. Unlike conventional toasters, it holds off heat from where the letters are curved out so that the words stand out on a piece of toast. It has adjustable thermostat control so that you can still choose if you want your toast just lightly browned or if you want it crunchier. It also has a non-stick baking plate that remains cool to touch. To go with it, you get a free USB coffee warming plate so your coffee doesn't go cold.
You can conveniently remove templates that are less than polite and might raise eyebrows if you so wish.
WORD POWER
Courses For Men, Taught By Women
101 -– PMS: Learning when to keep your mouth shut.
102 – How to go shopping and not get lost.
103 – The remote control: Overcoming your dependency.
104 – Wonderful laundry techniques.
105 – How to stay awake.
106 – Understanding your incompetence.
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