Just back from an extended tour of Norway where they collaborated, performed and made new music, Fuzon spoke to Images on Sunday about the tour, Norwegian music, collaborations as well as their take on Pakistan’s music industry, upcoming tours and a whole lot more.

Norway or bustShallum Xavier: Our tour of Norway was exceptional and memorable. Considering this was the longest tour since we started touring, it was incredible in many ways.

Norwegian music is very diverse in its own special way. They have a very progressive and thriving jazz scene, understanding of proper structure, intricate ideas, beats, rhythmic patterns and several different kinds of soundscapes.

Their culture has taken the overall music scenario on to a different tangent, hence professional, progressive and distinct sounding music is admired, respected and appreciated by all regardless of roots, country, colour or religion.

I have been frequently touring Norway Since 2005 and have managed to find some brilliant musicians, and producers like Ingrid Kindem, who has been instrumental initially in developing a project and executing it diligently and professionally.

This was Fuzon’s second tour and my seventh time in Oslo; I find it quite fascinating. I have done exciting, fulfilling and substantial projects since I started touring it.

Music and Pakistan’s positive image abroadRameez: Music is extremely essential to show Pakistan in a positive and progressive light. It has no language, boundaries, colour, cast or creed. It’s the best communicator.

The power of music can bring the world together. I think people are closer than before just because of music and evidently the advancements in communication and technology. Political elements create and define boundaries for their own benefits while music has always been the beacon of hope, togetherness, peace and harmony.

Shallum: Bands in Pakistan have done a wonderful job in putting our name out there. It’s a commendable effort considering the limited resources, the political and the security environment of our country. That’s the way music can become a tool for bringing people together.

On Norwegian musicShallum: Norwegian folk music has quite a strong resemblance to certain eastern ragas and scales from a northern European perspective. It’s quite evident that their approach to such modes, scales and ragas has a significant amount of sophistication and research. Coincidentally, Norway has been exposed to a lot of eastern music since Fuzon started touring.

Collaborations Shallum: I will be working on a few collaborative projects with some gifted musicians/artistes form different countries including the mothership, Pakistan.

On performing at the US EmbassyShallum: The crossover collaborative project was initiated by the US Embassy in Islamabad. They invited a jazz band by the name of Ari Roland to Pakistan and approached me to come on board with Fuzon to initially develop a friendship song and work on a collaborative performance in Karachi and Islamabad.

The experience was phenomenal. They managed to organise three events, one in Karachi and two in Islamabad. People loved, enjoyed and appreciated the effort, the purpose, the collaboration and the music.

Fuzon and 2011Shallum: The year 2011 was a great year for the band. A few achievements include the tour of Bangladesh, the Azme Aalishaan campaign, the singing contest, the collaboration with Ari Roland, my winning the award for the best single at the Lux Style Awards, the tour of Norway, the collaboration with Kork, the number one symphony orchestra in northern Europe, 26 school concerts in three weeks in Oslo and the performance in Dubai on New Year’s Eve.

Future plansShallum: We have a couple of performances coming up in Karachi and then it’s off to India and Dubai once again. Fuzon will also be releasing a tribute album very soon. Also, I will be releasing a couple of singles as a solo performer. I will be collaborating with a couple of gifted performers to release two to three music videos. I have a few international projects lined up in the US, Dubai and Scandinavia in 2012.

Pakistan’s music sceneShallum: A lot needs to be done. The political and the security situations have crippled the live music circuit. We need to learn to work together. People from both Karachi and Lahore must like and embrace their countrymen. That is what Mr Jinnah wanted, right?

We live in a primitive society with very rigid and conservative views where our surname, family background, religion, etc, become important for progress, and quite honestly it has caused all the damage.

Even musicians don’t mix and mingle; there is a big divide. But there is still hope if musicians can come together and then bring people together.