Rohail Hyatt

Rohail Hyatt
Background information
Born Pakistan
Genres Pop
Occupations Musician, Producer, Songwriter
Instruments Guitar, Keyboard
Labels HMV, Sony BMG, Fire Records, Pyramid Productions
Associated acts Vital Signs, Khuda Kay Liye, Coke Studio

Rohail Hyatt (Urdu: روحیل حیات) is a Pakistani musician, producer, and a rock music artist known for his work with the popular 1990s pop band Vital Signs. He is one of the finest music producers in Pakistan. He is the man behind Coke Studio, from Pakistan.

Contents

Vital Signs

Rohail Hyatt was a founding member of Vital Signs, the leading pop band of Pakistan for a decade. He was an integral part of the internal creative core and the entire management of the band. Together, Vital Signs produced four albums and were under contract with Pepsi Cola from 1991-1997. Rohail played the role of band member, producer, song writer, guitarist and keyboardist at different times of the bands history. The first hit for Vital Signs was 'Dil Dil Pakistan', which was voted the 3rd most popular song in the world by a poll carried out by BBC World.[1] The band's manager, Rohail's elder brother Zahid, introduced them to Shoaib Mansoor, who played an important role in leading the group to success. Rohail has also acted in Dhundle Raste (Television mini-series).

Production career

Since Vital Signs disbanded ten years ago, Rohail's portfolio has grown. As the CEO of Pyramid Productions, Rohail made his mark on the production industry in Pakistan. His relationship with Pepsi Cola International grew with television shows such as 'Pepsi Inside Edge' for cricket fans, and the local talent hunt 'Pepsi Battle of the Bands.' His credibility as a creative producer extended to a range of multinational clients from Levers, Nestle, Benson & Hedges, and Citibank to local giants like Rafhan and Habib Bank. Pyramid Productions grew from a $200,000 company in 1997 to a $4 million company in 2003.

In 2003 he produced an album featuring Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, nephew of the legendary Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. A number one hit in India ensued, bringing Rohail back into the limelight.

Further success

Although Rohail is elusive and very selective about the artists that he produces, he is the most sought-after music producer in Pakistan today. He has worked with some of the musical greats in the country, such as Ustaad Saami and Ustaad Fareed Ayaz, as well as lending his name, reputation and expertise to newcomers in whom he saw the potential to challenge and extend the range of contemporary musical standards. His ties with record labels such as the HMV, Sony BMG, and the local label Fire Records provide him with a stable outlet for his productions.

Rohail made waves in mid 2007 with his film score for Shoaib Mansoor's debut film Khuda Kay Liye. Rohail is currently Coca Cola's music consultant in Pakistan producing a music program named Coke Studio which has received critical acclaim all over the world.

Personal Life

Rohail hails from the famed Hyatt family of Wah, Punjab. His great-great-grandfather, Nawab Muhammad Hyatt Khan, was the official Perisan interpretor for the British under Jack Nicholson, and wrote the book Hyat-i-Afghan (A Report on Afghanistan and its Inhabitants).

See also

References

  1. ^ BBC Link

External links