Faraz Anwar

Faraz Anwar

Faraz Anwar
Background information
Born 15 July 1977 (1977-07-15) (age 34)
Karachi, Pakistan
Genres Progressive metal, Jazz, Instrumental rock
Years active 1989–present
Associated acts Mizraab (1996-Present)
Dusk (1994-2004)
Website Faraz Anwar

Faraz Anwar (Urdu: فراز انور) (born 15 July 1977) is a Pakistani guitarist, known for his solo instrumental work and his band Mizraab. He has been called "Pakistan's master of progressive rock."[1]

Contents

Biography

Faraz Anwar was born on 15 July 1977 in Karachi. In 6th grade he decided to pick up a guitar after seeing a video of guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen on TV. Faraz got his education from St. Paul and St. Andrews, but left after his matriculation because he wanted to pursue a career in music. At the age of 11, he won Pakistan's national music competition, and at 14 he became a full-time musician. Most of his work consisted of touring with top-tier acts and studio collaborations.[2][3]

One of his projects is a collaboration with Imran Raza, which combines classic rock with such Eastern musical influences as "South Asian flutes and classical Sufi singing"; according to The Weekly Standard, it was President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan who brought the two together.[2]

Own projects/bands

Discography

Abstract Point Of View (2001)

His solo album, Abstract Point of View, was released in 2001 on Gnarly Geezer Records, the label owned by Allan Holdsworth. It is only the second guitar-based instrumental album to have been produced in Pakistan.[4]

Track listing

  1. "Through the Passage of Time" – 12:44
  2. "Maze" – 4:53
  3. "Prophet" – 6:56
  4. "Don't Let Your Spirit Die" – 5:30
  5. "Last Summer" – 4:46
  6. "Why?" – 10:28

Untitled (Internet release)

This album was recorded in 1995-96, when Anwar was 16, but was only released, through Mizraab's fan site, in 2004.

Track listing

  1. "Don't Know" – 6:32
  2. "Show Me the Way" – 5:30
  3. "Reason" – 3:57
  4. "Hearts of Darkness" – 5:28
  5. "Spanish Eyes" – 2:27
  6. "Strong Believe" – 2:42
  7. "Where Am I?" – 4:54
  8. "Invasion" – 4:35
  9. "Roshni" – 4:58
  10. "Aankhon Main" – 4:21
  11. "No Where to Go" – 5:52

Videos

References

  1. ^ Akhtarzada, Ali (1 December 2007). "Give me fuel, give me fire, give me that which I desire". Daily Times (Pakistan). http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\12\01\story_1-12-2007_pg12_12. Retrieved 13 July 2010. 
  2. ^ a b Gartenstein-Ross, Daveed; Nick Grace (10 December 2007). "'The Bombs of Dhamma': Pakistan's pop music scene". The Weekly Standard. http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/435lzjpg.asp?pg=2. Retrieved 13 July 2010. 
  3. ^ Husain, Rumana (17 March 2002). "Focal Point: The chained princess". Dawn (newspaper). http://www.dawn.com/weekly/images/archive/020317/images9.htm. Retrieved 13 July 2010. 
  4. ^ Siddiqui, Salman (25 January 2010). "Strumming through history". Dawn (newspaper). http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/culture/03-Strumming-through-history-ss-01. Retrieved 13 July 2010. 

External links