Rohail Hyatt
| Rohail Hyatt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Rohail Hyatt |
| Born | Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, Pakistan |
| Genres | Rock/Hard rock |
| Occupations | Executive producer of Coke Studio |
| Instruments | Keyboard instrument/Electronic keyboard/Synthesizer |
| Years active | 1983-Present |
| Labels | Coke Studio, EMI Pakistan, PTV Studios, HMV, Sony BMG, Fire Records, Pyramid Productions |
| Associated acts |
Vital Signs 1987-1998 Junoon |
| Notable instruments | |
| Electronic keyboard | |
Rohail Hyatt[1] (Urdu: روحیل حیات), is a Pakistani record producer, occasional actor, film composer, rock music artist, and keyboardist.[2][3] Hyatt is one of Pakistan's finest music producers and is largely credited with helping shape and pioneer Western-styled rock and pop genre in Pakistan's music industry.[4]
In 1987, Hyatt founded the Vital Signs and released its commercially hit and critically acclaimed album, Vital Signs 1. The first album included the international number-one single "Dil Dil Pakistan", and "Tum Mil Gaye", which was composed by Hyatt.[5] The big commercial success of Vital Signs' first album helped rise and shaped the rock music industry of Pakistan.[5] In 1991, Hyatt produced and released the band's second album, Vital Signs 2, distributed by the EMI Studios Pakistan, though it had mixed reviews.[5] From the period, 1993–95, Hyatt gained public fame and critical acclaims for composing the two best-selling albums which helped lifted the recognition of his work in the music industry.[5]
In 1998, Hyatt disintegrated the band after facing with various issues, leaving Junaid Jamshed focused on his solo career. Hyatt later founded the Pyramid Productions which later emerged as one of finest music producing companies of Pakistan, and produced the first Ghazal album, featuring Fateh Ali Khan.[4] In 2007, he composed the music of highly critical acclaimed and internationally successful film, Khuda Kay Liye which helped shaping his image and work in the international community.[4] In 2008, he founded the international music outlet, Coke Studio and has credited with featuring Pakistan's notable and newcomer featured artists, which is broadcast each season.[4]
Early life and education
Hyatt grew up in Rawalpindi, Punjab Province of Pakistan in the prominent family of Sir Liaqat Hayat Khan.[6][7] He studied at the Peshawar University before embarking his career in music.[4] Hyatt recalls that his interest in music grew at an early childhood and his parents had encouraged his interest in Western music. He grew up in the midst of "a serious hippie community.[4] His parents' choice was dominated by Nat King Cole and Engelbert Humperdinck, but after his parents bought him his first keyboard, he began composing the traditional Pakistan music from a very early age.[4] His mother had great impact on him and his interest in music who arranged music lessons for him to learn keyboard. Hyatt recalls that "his mother had him to go to sleep in the afternoons by putting the radio on, and it was all local pop music.[4] However, his interest in producing and playing Western music begins after his aunt brought Pink Floyd's The Wall album in 1980, which he listened for hours.[4] About the Pink Floyd, he reportedly quoted: "That just did it for me. It opened up a whole new direction of soundscapes and influences."[4]
During his youth, he was a member of the Under-19 Pakistan cricket team and it was eminent that his future was in the sport until he came across Rizwan-ul-Haq.[5] The two became acquaintance and Hyatt discovered that Haq was also a guitarist after Haq played guitar at school playing the song.[5] At the Peshawar University, he met with guitarist Shahzad Hasan (Shahi) and decided to form the band, although no name for new band was reached.[5] In 1980s, he was a member of two underground bands — Progressions and Crude X.[5] Bassist Nusrat Hussain, who he cites as a major influence in learning and on his outlook on music along with the global acts of that era, was a member of Progressions whereas Shahi was in Crude X.[5] During the mid of 1980s, Hyatt left the university and referred himself as "a bum," in the university.[4] Hyatt later was employed at the British embassy where he worked there in a desk job. He later abandoned his job at the British embassy as the idea of playing keyboards and guitar in a band was far more alluring than continuing his desk job at the British embassy.[4]
Vital Signs
In mist of 1980s, Hyatt partnered with Shahzad Hasan (Shahi) to began working on the rock/pop music genre; both launched the Vital Signs in 1986.[8] Earlier in 1983, Hyatt met with Junaid Jamshed who sang Careless Whisper, a 1984 single by George Michael, at the Islamabad Model College.[8] During this time, Hyatt was looking for a singer for his new band and Hyatt had earlier wanted to work with Jamshed, but due to various reasons, Hyatt could not arrange meeting with Jamshed.[8] At that night in the university campus, Jamshed sang Careless Whisper and had impressed Hyatt to become band's new lead singer.[8] With the help of Hyatt and Nusrat Hussain, Jamshed was inducted in Vital Sign and signed a record deal with record executive and producer Shoaib Mansoor to his PTV Music Studio.[8]
For the most of the part of the decade, Hyatt was the Vital Signs. Hyatt led the Signs on the internal creative core and the entire financial management of the Signs. Together, Vital Signs produced five 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 band's 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.[9] 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.
Post 9/11, I did wake up and I wanted to discover who we really are and which part of the world we are in and what our history might be. That for me was an awakening. That we are Hindus, we are Dravidians, we are Central Asian, we are Muslims. We are a melting pot of all these people and these cultures and they've brought their art forms over the years, their instruments and their ways and their philosophies. So that was liberating, and of course that led to a process of self-discovery....
Awards
See also
References
- ↑ Originally, his name was 'Rohail Hayat' and he is a great-grandson of Sir Liaqat Hayat Khan, a prominent Punjabi leader of British times. However, he later changed his name's spellings for artistic reasons
- ↑ "MTV Pakistan: Rohail Hyatt". MTV Pakistan. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
- ↑ Showbiz. "Showbiz profile". Showbiz. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 Matt Ross. "Rohail The Chief". Matt Ross of the Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone, Pakistan chapter. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 By Madeeha Syed (July 26, 2009). "Exclusive: The life and times of Rohail Hyatt". Dawn News Archives. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
- ↑ http://www.urduwire.com/people/rohail-hyatt_422.aspx
- ↑ Originally, his name was 'Rohail Hayat' and he is a great-grandson of Sir Liaqat Hayat Khan, a prominent Punjabi leader of British times. However, he later changed his name's spellings for artistic reasons
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Syed, Madeeha. "The life and times of Rohail Hyatt". Madeeha Syed. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
- ↑ BBC Link
- ↑ SONYA FATAH (August 1, 2012). "Rohail Hyatt". Stagecraft. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
External links
- Vital Signs - A Personal History by NFP
- "In The Name of God"
- Rohail Hyatt
- Coke Studio
- Mother Jones Review
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