To hear the music, click on the "listen" icon by that sample.

Instrumental	Listen
aap aur hum [you and i]

Salman's thoughts on Infiniti

To hear a song sample, click on the "listen" icon by that sample.

Infinit Tracks	Listen
1. Natchoon G
2. Al-Vida
3. Ghoom Tana
4. Nazar
5. Mein Tum Se Door
6. Tu Lung Ja
7. Terey Liye
8. Do Dil
9. Tanha
10. Sagar
11. Mun Gum Sum
12. Masjid-Mandir
13. Ghoom Tana (Remix)

Salman's thoughts on Infiniti

I am a doctor by training and a rock musician by profession. The two may seem diametrically opposed but I believe my destiny has always had something to do with healing. That is what I am trained to do and what I am trying to do with my music.

I was born in Lahore, Pakistan where I lived most of my early childhood. At the age of 5 my Father's job with Pakistani Airlines took us to the United States for a year and later, at the age of 11, Kuwati Airlines sent my family back to the United States where I completed High School in Tappan, New York. This experience widened my perspective of life and allowed me the unique experience of straddling both American and Pakistani cultures.

I studied medicine and got my medical degree from King Edward Medical College in Lahore. While I was in med school, I became a member of Pakistan's first pop band, Vital Signs, whose debut album sold a million copies and included the mega-hit anthem "Dil,Dil Pakistan". This is when I decided to give up my stethoscope and pick up my guitar.

In 1990 I left the Vital Signs and founded South Asia's biggest rock band, Junoon, which has sold over 25 million albums world wide. In 2001 Junoon became the first rock band ever to perform for the United Nations General Assembly by personal invitation of the U.N. secretary-general, Kofi Annan.

I was made a United Nations goodwill ambassador for hiv/aids. I tried to personalize the, "I Care, Do You? " U.N. poster campaign in Pakistan by paraphrasing a popular quranic verse: "Saving one life (from aids) is like saving the whole of humanity".

Junoon won channel V's "best international group award" in India and has also been the subject of a VH-1 documentary, ISLAMABAD: ROCK CITY presented by well known actress, Susan Sarandon.

I also recently appeared in two other documentary films: IT'S MY COUNTRY TOO which looks at Muslim-Americans post 9/11 and THE ROCKSTAR AND THE MULLAHS, which won a SAJA award and which brings me together with fundamentalist religious leaders to discuss the meaning of Islam. Both films have been broadcast worldwide on PBS and the BBC. Both films are very important to me in trying to bridge understanding between the community of my birth and the culture in which I grew up and now live.

The success of Junnon means that I've been interviewed or quoted in the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the LA Times, the Chicago Tribune, Newsweek and Time magazines and have also appeared as a commentator on television including CNN, BBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, MTV and VH-1 and other global media networks.My driving passion is promoting peace on the Subcontinent and in the World. I produced a video called, "Ghoom Tana Ghoom Tana", a song which appears on my latest solo album INFINITI. It is a song about building bridges between India and Pakistan and is currently being broadcast on MTV in the United States. - www.junoon.comA year ago I was performing in a concert for Peace in Afghanistan. My wife, Samina, had a dream that one day I would stand on a stage in Jerusalem and use my music to facilitate peace. With the One World Concert for Peace in 2006, Samina and my dream is coming true.

 

	For concert queries please contact: Samina Ahmad at saminadr@gmail.com Cell no: + 1 845 821 0481
	USA Tour 2008
	March 8		Los Angeles Royce Hall 2:00 pm
	March 11		San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts Theatre 8:00 pm
	March 15		Miami Gusman Center for Performing Arts 2:30 pm
	March 17		Atlanta The Arena at Gwinnet Center 8:30 pm
	March 22		Chicago Cadillac Palace Theatre 8:00 pm
	March 29		Dallas McFarlin Memorial Auditorium 2:00 pm
	March 30		Houston George R. Brown Convention Center 2:30 pm
	April 6		New York City York College Performing Arts Center 8:00 pm
	December 2007
	December 7		salman ahmad will perform at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts [MCLA] on Friday December 7th at 7.30 pm in Bershires , North Adam produced by parallel voices as part of the songs of the spirit series.
	December 11		JUNOON INVITED TO PERFORM AT THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE CONCERT.THIS EVENT IS TELEVISED WORLDWIDE TO APPROX.350 MILLION HOUSES AND TAKES PLACE EVERY YEAR ON 11TH DECEMBER IN OSLO TO HONOUR NOBEL PEACE WINNER OF THAT YEAR. More Info
	November 2007
	November30		Junoon will be performing at charity fundraising event, The Ambassadors Ball, on Friday 30th November 2007. Details
	October 2007
	October 1		ALIENS IN AMERICA: CONSIDERING POST 9/11 TENSIONS THROUGH POPULARE CULTURE. MONDAY OCT 1, 7PM. FAIRMONT HOTEL (2401 M ST., NW) BROOKINGS INSTITUTION
	October 5		OBERLIN COLLEGE .....LECTURE/FILM SCREENING AND PERFORMANCE
	October 12		GRAMEEN SING FOR HOPE IN MANHATTAN, NEW YORK ON 12TH OCTOBER.......FOR DETAILS .....www.singforhope.org
	October 14		SUFI DEVOTIONAL TOUR - CONCERT IN VANCOUVER AT THE ORPHEM ON THE 14TH OF OCTOBER
	October 18		ONE MILLION VOICES TO END THE CONFLICT........onevoicemovement.org ON OCTOBER 18TH ,THE ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN PEOPLES WILL SAY ''ENOUGH'' ENOUGH STALEMATED NEGOTIATIONS,ENOUGH VIOLENCE AND CHAOS,ENOUGH SETBACKS AND EXCUSES SALMAN AHMAD HAS BEEN INVITED BY THE ONE VOICE MOVEMENT TO PERFORM AT THIS HISTORICAL EVENT IN TEL AVIV
	October 19		SUFI DEVOTIONAL TOUR - CONCERT IN EDMONTON AT WINSPEAR ON THE 19TH OF OCT
	October 21		SUFI DEVOTIONAL TOUR - CONCERT IN CALGARY AT CORAL ON THE 21ST OF OCTOBER
	October 24		SUFI DEVOTIONAL TOUR - CONCERT IN TORONTO AT THE HUMMINGBIRD CENTER ON THE 24TH OF OCT
	October 25		SUFI DEVOTIONAL TOUR - CONCERT IN TORONTO AT THE HUMMINGBIRD CENTER ON THE 25TH OF OCT
	October 28		SUFI DEVOTIONAL TOUR - CONCERT IN MONTREAL ON THE 28TH OF OCT VENUE NOT CONFIRMED
	September 2007
	September 6		SALMAN TO PERFORM /LECTURE AT THE CARTER POLICY AND RESEARCH CENTER IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA ON THE 6TH OF SEPTEMBER. AS PART OF THE 2007 HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS POLICY FORUM. FORUM TO BE CHAIRED BY FORMER U.S PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER,MRS.CARTER AND U.N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS LOUISE ARBOUR.......THIS YEARS THEME '' FAITH AND FREEDOM''.........PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS AS A COMMON CAUSE.
	September 7		JUNOON CONCERT IN HOUSTON, AT THE STAFFORD CIVIC CENTER ,STAFFORD,TEXAS........ON THE 7TH OF SEPTEMBER
	August 2007
	August 14		INDEPENDANCE DAY CONCERT IN OSLO, NORWAY
	August 17		JUNOON CONCERT IN TORONTO ON THE 17TH OF AUGUST......HERSHEYS CENTER CONTACT ROHAN MORRIS FOR DETAILS .rohanmorris@hotmail.com
	August 18		JUNOON CONCERT IN MONTREAL ON THE 18TH OF AUGUST.......SPECTRUM DE MONTREAL CONTACT ROHAN MORRIS FOR DETAILS .rohanmorris@hotmail.com
	July 2007
	July 13		Toronto - Hershey's center - www.mississauga.ca
	July 15		Montreal - olympia de Montréal - www.olympiademontreal.com
	July 20		Vancouver - Bell Performing Arts Center - bellperformingartscentre.sd36.bc.ca
			Tickets available at ticketmaster.ca
	May 2007
	MAY 1		"COMMON CHORDS" CONCERT AT QUEENS COLLEGE ON MAY 1 CELEBRATES CULTURAL SIMILARITIES BETWEEN MUSLIMS AND JEWS"
	MAY 11		The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Mrs. Mahmud Ali Durrani will hold a mesmerizing evening of Sufi-Rock Fusion featuring Pakistan's leading artiste, Salman Ahmad on Friday, May 11, 2007. Washington , DC
	April 2007
	APRIL12		SALMAN AHMAD AND SAMIR CHATTERJEE TO PERFORM AT THE OATH....BENEFIT FOR DARFUR ON THE 12TH OF APRIL,07 IN NEW YORK Oath: Benefit for Darfur - A Clinton Global Initiative Commitment . For more information please visit the website: www.NewOath.org
	March 2007
	MAR 4		SALMAN AHMAD OF JUNOON TO PERFORM AT THE NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, CHICAGO AT THE TECH AUDITORIUM ON THE 4TH OF MARCH 07 .....DOORS OPEN AT 7 PM SALMAN WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY PANDIT SAMIR CHATTERJEE ON TABLAS.
	MAR 7-11		JUNOON TO PERFORM AT ''LET MY PEOPLE SING FESTIVAL'' ON THURSDAY EVENING AT THE JAPANESE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER , LOS ANGELES FEATURING SALMAN AHMAD WITH PANDIT SAMIR CHATTERJEE
	MAR 16		SALMAN AHMAD OF JUNOON WILL PERFORM AT THE ASIA SOCIETY IN NEW YORK ON MARCH 16TH 2007 AT 8 PM THE PROGRAM INCLUDES MUSIC PERFORMANCE ,FEATURING SUFI PHILOSOPHY, AND A SCREENING OF ''ROCK STAR AND THE MULLAHS
	MAR 20		SALMAN AHMAD TO PERFORM AT YALE UNIVERSITY ON THE 30TH OF MARCH
	MAR 23		SALMAN AHMAD TO PERFORM AT THE MADADGAAR ANNUAL BENEFIT GALA salman will be accompanied by SAMIR CHATTERJEE on tablas
	MAR 26 -28		SALMAN AHMAD WILL PARTICIPATE AND PERFORM AT THE 2007 SKOLL WORLD FORUM   - OXFORD, UK Salman Ahmad,will be performing in Oxford,England at the Sheldonian theatre in front of a an elite audience of artists, environmentalists and social entrepreneurs like Nobel prize winner Muhammad Younus. Hollywood mogul and E-Bay founder, Jeff Skoll (Participant productions) has invited Salman personally to perform.
	MAR 30		Salman Ahmad to Perform at Yale, New Haven, CT
	February 2007
	FEB 2 FEB 9		Salman will make a quick visit to Denmark and Sweden in February to show "The Rockstar and the Mullahs" and take part in discussions at two prestigious film festivals in Copenhagen and Malmö
	FEB - MAY		SALMAN AHMAD TO START ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM AT THE QUEENS COLLEGE IN FLUSHING NEW YORK FROM FEBRUARY 07-MAY 07 FOR FURTHER DETAILS CONTACT THE COLLEGE. - THE AARON COPLAND SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND THE MICHAEL HARRINGTON CENTER PRESENT SPECIAL COURSE OFFERING FOR SPRING 2007 WITH GUEST FACULTY MEMBER SALMAN AHMAD ISLAMIC MUSIC AND CULTURE OF SOUTH ASIA TUESDAYS,1:40-4:20 PM QUEENS COLLEGE
	FEB 16 - FEB 19		SALMAN AHMAD INVITED TO ATTEND THE U.S ISLAMIC WORLD FORUM CONFERENCE IN DOHA QATAR FROM 16TH FEBRUARY 07 -19TH FEB 07
	FEB 24		JUNOON LIVE,OLD FORT, NEW DELHI AT EHSAAS- A fundraising event organised by the BREAST CANCER PATIENTS BENEFIT FOUNDATION
	November 2006
	NOV 13TH		UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS film screening/question answer session and concert performance
	NOV 11TH		PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY film screening/question answer session and concert performance
	NOV 10TH		UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI film screening/question answer session and concert performance
	NOV 8TH		NAFSA CONFERENCE IN KANSAS CITY Salman's lecture ,film screening and concert performance
	October 2006
	October 21 & 22		It's My Country Too on BBC World Saturday 21 Oct @ 14:10 Saturday 21 Oct @ 21:10 Sunday 22 Oct @ 04:10 Sunday 22 Oct @ 09:10 All times in GMT. All times are subject to change due to breaking news stories / events.
	September 2006
	September 8th - 10th		Young Leaders Summit to Examine U.S.-Muslim Relations Five Years After 9-11, Washington, DC
	Monday - September 11		SALMAN AHMAD WILL PERFORM AT ST.PETERS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH [22 BARCLAY ST] BETWEEN 7.30- 8.00 PM .ON 9/11/06 MONDAY THE 9/11 UNITY WALK IS BEING ORGANISED BY RELIGIONS FOR PEACE U.S.A.
	August 2006
	Sunday - August 6		6.00 - 8.00 PM STOWE ACRES COUNTRY CLUB STOWE, MA USA ORGANISED BY O.P.E.N FOR TICKETS CONTACT RUBINA KHAN AT 508-655-0757
	August 8		SALMAN AHMAD WILL LEAD THE 8TH AUGUST SESSION OF "HOPE NOT HATE SUMMIT" , IN WASHINGTON DC ,HOSTED BY THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTE. MODERATOR......GIDEON YAGO OF MTV VENUE......GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY TIME.....6 PM PROGRAM.....SCREENING OF A DOCUMENTARY /SONG ......QUESTION ANSWER SESSION ......ACOUSTIC /UNPLUGGED PERFORMANCE BY SALMAN AHMAD
	August 20		SALMAN AHMAD,SOUTH ASIAS ROCK WIZARD WILL HONOR THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL ---------ONE OF THE OLDEST IN THE WORLD DATE....20TH AUGUST 2006 TIME....12.15 - 1.15 PM VENUE ....SCHWENKSVILLE ,PHILADELPHIA PHONE NO 215-242-0150
	Sunday - August 27		3:15pm to 3:30pm Salman Ahmad to participate at La Casita project produced by Lincoln Center Out of Doors:
	Wednesday - August 30		5:30pm to 5:45pm Salman Ahmad to participate at La Casita project produced by Lincoln Center Out of Doors La Plaza Cultural/Lower East Side
	July 2006
	Monday - July 3		7.00 - 10.00 PM THE SOUTH ASIA DAY AS PART OF THE CANADA DAY CELEBRATIONS CHIN PICNIC @CNE GROUNDS TORONTO
	June 2006
	Saturday- June 24		7:30 and 9:30 pm JOE'S PUB, New York www.joespub.com
	Wednesday 3rd		8 PM LaGuardia Community College, New York www.lagcc.cuny.edu/lpac
	April 2006
	Friday 28th		Asia Society Third Annual Asian Dialogue on HIV/AIDS Mumbai, India
	Saturday 29th		15th annual Media Awards Los Angeles, CA 213-383-3443
	March 2006
	Wednesday 2nd		junoon performs in dubai
	Wednesday 30th		nassau community college new york film screening and concert
	February 2006
	Thursday 9th		a concert performance by ''Junooni'' and film screening at the ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, CHICAGO,
	11-14th		the panasian music festival at the STANFORD UNIVERSITY
	Saturday 11th		film screening of salman ahmads bbc award winning documentary ''the rock star and the mullahs''
	Monday 13th		junoonis concert
	Tuesday 14th		a possible collaboration of salman ahmads sufi rock music with a.r rehmans expertise as a music composer/ conductor
	Wednesday 15th		''junooni'', at UCI crystal cove auditorium, student center at 6-9 pm
	16-20th		salman ahmad will attend the u.s.-islamic world forum in doha, qatar , organised by the saban center for middle east policy at the brookings institution check out www.us-islamicworldforum.org
	20th		SALMAN AHMAD SPEAKS TO FILM MAKERS AT EDUCATION CITY, QATAR, DOHA,ORGANISED BY CARNEGIE MELLON ,ON MONDAY FEB 20TH 2006 AND SCREENS SEGMENTS FROM HIS TWO FILMS ,''THE ROCK STAR AND THE MULLAHS '' , ''ITS MY COUNTRY TOO''. www3.georgetown.edu/sfs/qatar www.qf.edu.qa/output/page414.asp
	Wednesday 15th		''junooni'', at UCI crystal cove auditorium, student center at 6-9 pm

August 2008

The deepest of emotions are invoked by language. The word junoon means “obsessive, passion” in Urdu, an Indian language born between the Ganges and Jamuna Rivers near Delhi. Its multicultural tradition developed side by side with the growth of Sufism that resulted from the literary products of earlier varieties of dialects, variously known as Gujari and Hindawi. It was also called Dakhani (southern), because in the sixteenth century Urdu literature, inspired by Sufi notions, developed in the courts of Golconda and Bijapur rulers in the Deccan. Aurangabad became the centre of Urdu literary activities in the late-seventeenth century and, with the migration of scholars from Delhi in the eighteenth century, Lucknow too became an important centre of Sufi culture.

The multicultural and pluralist culture of India, which became a catalyst for the interaction between the traditional and modern music of today, may be credited to a number of male and female Bhakti saints – Mahavira, Kabir, Chisti, Nanak, and Mirabai, among others – poets, and musicians from all walks of life and religions. With the advent of Vedanta (end of the Vedas), also called the Upanishads, during the 10th-11th centuries, the intellectual basis for the Bhakti (devotion) movement was mainly provided by the great Hindu theologian and philosopher, Ramanuja. Several, often contradictory, schools of thought arose, representing an unprecedented diversity in beliefs spanning monotheism, polytheism, and atheism. In the Nyaya-Sutras, the overwhelming focus is on rational and scientific thinking and analysis that emphasizes human understanding as natural phenomena and physical processes occurring in nature.

- Madanjeet Singh

 

June 2008

The acoustic Sufi music concert was dedicated to the lawyer’s movement in Pakistan, the restoration of the Supreme Court judges, and the independence of the judiciary. It was yet another landmark in support of Pakistan's civil society, media, students, and rights activists who have heroically protested against the government’s illegal action in imposing emergency in Pakistan.

Like the western rock stars, Sting, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Bono, and Bob Geldof, among others, who are supporting worthy campaigns – against poverty, disease, vanishing rainforests – Junoon music is an antidote against religious extremism and terrorism. Salman Ahmad was designated a UN Special Representative for HIV Aids.

Junoon’s collaborative concerts include a piece composed by Yoshikazu Fukumora for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, titled ‘Tribute to Hong Kong’; and duets with guitarist Charley Byrd, violinist Igor Frolov, soprano Glenda Simpson, guitarist Barry Mason, and cellist Matthew Barley. He has been a Visiting Professor at the universities of Yorkshire, Washington, North Eastern, and New Mexico.

Junoon imparts a thrilling passion to its live performances, combining a blend of powerful arena rock with the spiritual tranquility of Sufi poetry. Founded in 1990 by guitarist-songwriter-medical doctor Salman Ahmad, the band took both Pakistan and India by storm in 1998 with the hit single ‘Sayonee’. It was a part of the band’s tremendously successful fourth studio album ‘Azadi’ (Freedom). The band’s hybrid Sufi music is blended with some of the world’s most innovative rock’n’ roll tunes and carries a powerful message of peace and tolerance by sharing stages with bands such as Oasis and Pearl Jam.

- Madanjeet Singh

 

March 2008

Music has no religion

“Music has no religion – like water, air and fire – and it connects the world, rather than divide,” declared Salman Ahmad, founder of the Sufi-rock band of Pakistani musicians. He denounced the culture of intolerance and asserted that his music has been enriched because he worked with renowned musicians throughout the world. A devotee of the Islamic mystical tradition of Sufism, Salman believes in humanity’s oneness with the divine, and has furthered that vision in his lyrics by making the Junoon band a voice for peace and international understanding.

- Madanjeet Singh

 

October 2007

A voice for harmony
Divya Unny

There are en number of socio-political issues Pakistani musician Salman Ahmad (of Junoon fame) has associated himself and his music with, but this one seems to be one of his largest platforms.

After speaking of Global warming, AIDS awareness, religious harmony through his music, he will now be a part of an initiative that is being touted as one of the biggest peace processes between two countries.

Salman Ahmad has been invited to be a part of the One Voice Concert— effort by thousands of Israel-Palestine citizens to end conflict and promote peace between the two countries. The movement on October 18 will start not only in Israel and Palestine, but also across USA, Europe and Canada.

Says Salman “I feel very honoured to be performing here. My songs take inspiration from poets like Iqbal, Bulleh Shah and Rumi; whether its ‘Ghoom Tana’ or ‘Sayonee’ my musical message has always been of recognising the oneness of humanity and celebrating cultural diversity.”

The concert is a part of the peace process that has big names from Hollywood like Brad Pitt and Edward Norton apart from political leaders.

Salman, who was also a part of the recently held Clinton Global Initiative in New York, adds, “In New York I emphasised the need for music, films and television to promote peace and understanding between cultures. In the audience were Bill Clinton and Queen Rania who are also ardent supporters of this One Voice Movement. I am sure this time we will garner huge support for the movement.”

 

September 2007

1) The One Voice concert is for the first time being supported by both the Israeli and Palestinian governments and as an artist who believes in Peace not War, I feel honored to be asked to perform in Israel/Palestine.

2) My songs take inspiration from  poets like Iqbal, Bulleh Shah and Rumi. Whether it's Ghoom tana, Masjid/Mandir, Khudi or Sayonee my musical message has always been of recognizing the Oneness of humanity and celebrating cultural diversity.

3) Music can help in bringing people together and awaken their conscience BUT It's up to the leaders to act on their conscience and move towards lasting peace.

4) We only have one earth to live on and today our earth is on fire due to the harm that we humans are causing through our ignorance (Global warming, HIV/AIDS) and our arrogance (war and terrorism) if we dont collectively put the flames out there will be no planet left for our future generations.

5)Last year I was invited to speak at the Clinton Global initiative in New York where I emphasized the need for music, films and television to promote peace and understanding between cultures. In the audience was Bill Clinton and Queen Rania and One Voice is also supported by them. I also intend to sing Bulleh Shah's Masjid Mandir:

""you may destroy the mosque/tear down the temple"

"break all that can be broken/but dont ever break anyone's heart"

"because the heart is the true House of God"

May 2007

Long before 9/11 and the subsequent drum beat of a war on terror and talk of a clash of civilisations between Islam and the West,Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan,Pakistan's greatest musical export, sang ecstatically about the Oneness of God and love for humanity.Muslim,Jew,Christian, Hindu,all people, with or without faith, who tuned into the power and emotion of his voice were transported to another place, beyond the self created ghettos of the mind and into a spiritual wonderland of joy and transcendance.

I was first introduced to Nusrat in 1990 by the Pakistani cricket captain,Imran Khan, for whose cancer hospital we did a fundraising tour of concerts together.Having been born in Lahore and grown up in New York,my musical leanings were the blues and classic rock:John Lee Hooker,Robert Johnson,Led Zeppelin,The Beatles and Pink Floyd.As a result, I felt a little out of place arriving at Lahore's Alhamra arts council carrying a stratocaster and a guitar amp to my first Qawwali rehearsal with the celebrated Nusrat. He sat onstage,cross legged on a persian carpet,looking like a Punjabi Buddha,while his qawwali group brought out the harmoniums,tablas, and cups full of Lahori chai.After the traditional greetings of "Salaamualeikum" (peace be upon you) I nervously asked Nusrat what he wanted me to play on the first song "Mustt,Mustt" (lost in you),he replied with a childlike innocence: "do whatever your heart tells you to do". It turned out to be the strongest piece of career and personal advice anyone could've offered me.Nusrat's voice and the songs performed that day and later on the tour had a profound impact on my music.To modify a Nirvana lyric,his music is "addictive and contagious".The poetry and the melodies opened doors inside my head which allowed Rumi,Bulleh Shah and Iqbal to enter and coexist with John Lennon, Jimmy Page and John Lee Hooker.

Nusrat also helped pave the way for my band, Junoon, to take the risks we did when we married electric guitars to bhangra drum and dhol grooves  while chanting traditional sufi texts considered sacred by the orthodox. In fact it was Nusrat who broke the traditional mould of the Qawwali singer, when he collaborated with Peter Gabriel,Michael Brook and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.In one particular conversation I had with him about about his brilliant album NIGHT SONG /with Michael Brook,he told me that he favored fusion because in the Quran its mentioned that God loves diversity, and Nusrat felt the most powerful way to celebrate and express diversity was through music.

Years later,in 1998, when Junoon's song Sayonee raced up the pop charts in India to help us become South Asia's biggest rock band, it was a special poignant moment for me because our album,Azadi (Freedom)/EMI had been dedicated to the memory of Nusrat who had sadly passed on a year earlier while only 48 and with all the music still inside of him.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan left behind a universal DNA in his songs, for all people to share and celebrate the yearning, the joy and the timeless message of Oneness.Can music help build the bridge of Unity between East and West? Nusrat certainly had no doubts!

 

September 1, 2006

I was recently awarded the VOICE OF COURAGE AND CONSCIENCE MEDIA AWARD IN LOS ANGELES BY MPAC FOR PROMOTING A MODERATE VISION OF ISLAM AND MUSLIMS THROUGH MY FILMS AND MUSIC AND ALSO USING MY CELEBRITY STATUS TO TACKLE DIFFICULT SOCIAL ISSUES LIKE HIV/AIDS IN SOUTH ASIA.

As U.N. goodwill ambassador for Hiv/Aids I'm planning to do a southasian (pakistan,India and bangladesh) college tour titled (ALVIDA TO AIDS) which focuses on Hiv/aids awareness and woman's empowerment to fight the stigma,discrimination and ignorance in our society.The tour will commence after the summer.

I'm spending more time abroad because of my music ,recording and performances and my work with the U.N. but I will be coming to Pakistan later in the year,inshallah.

 

July 24, 2006

Infiniti is the first pakistani rock album to be released on apple I-tunes (www.isufirock.com ) and I have been invited by US colleges like Harvard,Stanford,princeton etc to perform and talk about sufi music and poetry and its importance in building tolerance between nations and people.

I have recently organised a trip for 25 pakistani artists (strings,fuzon,mekal hasan,ali "chano",etc) to fly to Bombay and participate in a musical dialogue on FM Radio Mirchi with Indian composers and musicians.I think pakistani and indian artists can help raise the standard of indo-pak music,film and television if they are able to work together more freely.An example of this is the music video of Ghoom Tana where I chose a pakistani director(saquib Malik),indian artists (nandita das,naseer udin shah,shubha mudgal) and an indo-pak production crew to make a cross cultural music video which people in both countries can be proud of.

 

June 16, 2006

Deepak met me in New york in January and we talked about the need to create understanding between cultures and religions through music,films and television.Both of us happen to be trained medical doctors and I guess healing is a subconscious part of our creative work.

Madonna is a very good friend of Deepak's and is also very much interested in spirituality and was very eager to be a part of the music to HOW TO KNOW GOD.

HOW TO KNOW GOD is a film which explores divine intelligence and how people perceive God in the 21st century.

the musical soundtrack to HTKG will be both modern and traditional music.

Aside from Ghoom Tana the only other song in the film is from Madonna.

IN OTHER PLANS I've also been asked by the U.N. to perform at the U.N. general assembly during the upcoming UN HIV/AIDS SUMMIT IN NEW YORK ON JUNE 1ST.I will also screen ALVIDA my music video on hiv/aids and appear with other UN goodwill ambassadors

(Hollywood actors Richard Gere,Whoopi Goldberg, singer Mary j Blige and others).The summit will be hosted by UN secretary general Mr.Kofi Annan.Alvida is the world's first ever hiv/aids video from a muslim country.It's currently running on MTV India and is number 1 on North america's channel MTV desi.

- Salman Ahmad

 

June 9, 2006

Ghoom Tana is a song which I composed by taking inspiration from classical music.My mother's family comes from patiala,a city which is well known for it's wonderful ustaads singers and musicians...I composed GHOOM TANA in khamaach thaat which is mostly used in the evening raagas (kalavati/rageshwari).I then asked India's Shubha Mudgal to sing a duet with me.It is the fusion of classical and rock music which has made Ghoom Tana such a popular song .The first time Naseer-ud-in Shah and Nandita Das heard it they fell in love with Ghoom tana.

Deepak Chopra and Hollywood director Ron Frank got in touch with me after listening to Infiniti/Ghoom Tana and want to use it along with Madonna's song from Ray Of Light.

- Salman Ahmad

 

May 21, 2006

I studied and performed with Ustad Nusrat fateh Ali khan sahib, before forming Junoon, I was inspired by his bold decision to take qawwali in Hollywood films (last temptation of Christ) which helped make him a global phenomenon and put Pakistan on the cultural map. By the Grace of God ,now I have also been offered a similar opportunity to provide music.

GHOOM TANA, for a Hollywood film. Since Nusrat Khan Sahib was from Faisalabad and I was born in Lahore, it proves how musically fertile the land of Pakistan is. We need to encourage and recognize Pakistani artists the same way other countries appreciate their artists. Even talented Pakistani artists struggle to make a living and it is the government, the business community and the people's responsibility to make sure that the artists are taken care of so that they can work harder on their art and shine internationally. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was a great cultural ambassador for Pakistan but his sad loss in 1997 is irreplaceable. It takes a generation for an artist of his calibre to develop and we have lost many such Pakistani artists without providing for them during their lifetimes.

- Salman Ahmad

 

Read more iSufiRock blogs...

 

August 2006

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comments: Will there be a new junoon album coming out soon if not why not make a dvd box set for example 4 disk dvd containing concerts, music videos, audio disk with the best music by junoon and documentrys it will be a good thing to do for the fans HASSAN,I'M WRITING A BOOK ABOUT MY LIFE WITH JUNOON THESE DAYS AND PREPARING TO PROMOTE MY ALVIDA/INFINITI  TOUR OF SOUTH ASIA.
name: Hassan Ahmed
email: hassan_king123@hotmail.com

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comments: hi this is furkhan from india,   and my ? is which is ur fav star and a music nideo.
name: furkhan ahmed FURKHAN, MY FAVORITE STAR IS SAGGITARIUS:) AND I LIKE TO LISTEN TO ROCK MUSIC (led zeppelin/radiohead) AND QAWWALI (nusrat fateh ali khan)
email: hi_2u11@yahoo.com

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comments: Salman Bhai, I need the VCD of Junoon concert in Central Park Newyourk. i can pay money for the VCD. can u make arrangements for sending the VCd to me in London.
Please Raja,you'll have to wait for the vcd till next year but in the meantime check out www.junoon.com for other albums and merchandise or check out apple i-tunes for Infiniti.
name: Raja Mehrab
email: rmehrab@yahoo.com

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comments: why are you not doing concerts in pakistan and what about junoon as a band
name: jahanzeb JAHANZEB, I'M TOURING IN AMERICA AND EUROPE TILL THE END OF THIS YEAR AND PLAN TO VISIT PAKISTAN NEXT YEAR.JUNOON WILL TOUR AFTER WE RELEASE ANOTHER ALBUM,INSHALLAH.
email: jahanzeb_krazy1988@hotmail.com
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comments: HEY,SALMAN I WANT TO BECOME A ROCKSTAR SINGER LIKE U,WHAT SHOULD I DO.MANISH,THE SIMPLEST WAY TO BECOME A ROCKSTAR IS:PRACTICE,PRACTICE,PRACTICE AND PRACTICE:)
name: MANISH
email: MANISHDADHWAL1

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comments: salman u said to do anything , u need to know yourself first, my and feels scared to  even think about it? what about someone who doesnt even want to think about what he/she wants? i know a TRUE junooni shoudnt ask such question, he/she got to be strong, but i really need your answer, if u think this is stupid, u can ignore it.ALL YOU CAN DO IS TO TRY YOUR BEST TO FIND YOUR PASSION,IF YOU LOOK HARD ENOUGH YOU'LL FIND YOUR PATH AND THEN ITS UP TO YOU TO WALK TOWARDS YOUR DESTINY.IF YOU HAVE THE SPIRIT OF PASSION NEVER GIVE UP!
name:
email: zerpero@hotmail.com

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comments: Where are the other members of Junoon I loved three of you perform together U r great but three of u were simply out of the world Really missin music like Azadi Parwaz. Plz tie up
name: Neha Singh NEHA,AFTER PLAYING TOGETHER FOR SO MANY YEARS WE'RE ALL DOING OUR OWN THING FOR THE FIRST TIME.I'M ENJOYING MY FREEDOM TO DO MY OWN MUSIC,DOCUMENTARY FILMS AND U.N. WORK.
email: neha_singh147@Yahoo.com

 

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comments: salman...m a gr8 fan of urs...m an Indian, i ve all the Junoon\'scollection available in Indai...but how can i manage to get thoes songs which r not available in India? AMAR,YOU CAN ORDER THAT MUSIC FROM WWW.JUNOON.COM <http://www.JUNOON.COM>

name: Amarnath Bandekar
email: amar_bandekar@yahoo.com

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comments: hey,salman i am sammer. i want to become a great singer like you, what should i do.
name: sammer khan START SINGING WITH A PASSION AND PRACTICE,PRACTICE,PRACTICE!
email: sammer khan

July 2006

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comments: Hey Sir How r u? Im From Wappingers Falls,New York. Im 14 years old guy. And I luv your music very much.Im actualyy a Bangladeshi and my name is Shahrukh.Im telling u a sad story of mine when I was very young I had a dream to watch ur Concert.2 years ago u came 2 my home land and I bought the tticket of Your concert when I went to your concert the security didnt allow me to enter.So please Tell me when is your next concert at New York
name: Shahrukh SHAHRUKH,YOU CAN COME TO LINCOLN CENTRE ON AUG 27 AND AUG 30,CHECK OUT WWW.JUNOON.COM
email: vikivai@yahoo.com

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comments: dear Salman Ahmad (in last live concerts when you perform live you used to take off your shoes and nowadays you are not doing that)........(WHY)
name: Rehman afridi REHMAN,LATELY I'VE GOT COLD FEET BEFORE I GO ONSTAGE:)
email: sayyonee@yahoo.com

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comments: salaam brother salman id just like to ask you wouldyou mind some one using junoon\'s songs but translating them into english with the same melody

name: Hassan Ahmed HASSAN,WHY DONT YOU WRITE SOME NEW SONGS INSTEAD OF REDOING JUNOON?
email: hassan_king123@hotmail.com

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comments: no more Questions just a response of Infiniti, \"supurb album keep movin\' as i listened junoon only n now listen Ali n Salman\" \"just simply Udham\"
name: Muhammad Mustafa Khan as Musafaer MUSTAFA,I LOVED MAKING INFINITI AND AM WORKING ON NEW SONGS WHICH WILL BE A BIG SURPRISE FOR MY FANS.
email: musafaers@yahoo.com

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comments: salman as i wrote before a question.my next question is that r u thinking to open a institute of a muzic in pakistan.speacially lahore.n when u r thinking to come to london with your majical music for concert.i really wana see ur concert out of country but with love of country.love junoon....a big junooni
name: faisal FAISAL,ONE DAY I HOPE TO START AN INSTITUTE FOR MUSIC FOR ALL THE JUNOONIS OF THE WORLD.
email: zaf22@hotmail.com

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comments: Salman i am a big junooni n i love ur sofi music. u done a great achievement in the world of music.but i just wana know that why Brain left the Junoon.Junoon is incomplete without Brain n when u gonna release ur new album of junoon
name: Faisal FAISAL,BRIAN IS TAKING A WELL DESERVED BREAK FROM BEING ON THE ROAD FOR SO MANY YEARS.WE SHOULD LET HIM HAVE HIS PRIVACY. email: zaf22@hotmail.com

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comments: hy wad do a think abt atif aslam???
name: ruuuuu
email: sweetbuddys_12@yahoo.com ATIF ASLAM HAS MADE A POSITIVE START BUT HE NEEDS TO WORK HARDER.I WISH HIM THE BEST FOR HIS CAREER

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comments: hi do u still work on your music skills?do u plan to join
bollywood?
name: ruuuuu RUUU, I WORK EVERYDAY ON MY MUSICAL SKILLS,AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL I CAN'T AFFORD TO BECOME LAZY.
email: sweetbuddys_12@yahoo.com

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comments: sir we guys r from small village near patiala(punjab) india. sir we guys just want to meet u before we die. its our last request. we love u guys a lot
name: manpal n manhar
email: punjabi_lover_boyin@yahoo.com SATSRIKAL MANPAL!SEE YOU IN PATIALA NEAR QILLA MUBARIK SOON!:)

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comments: Hi Salman Bhai....My name is Murtaza and I live in Sharjah, UAE. I have been a great fan of Junoon for as long as i remember. Apart from the amazing vocals of Ali Azmat and the uncomparable support from Brian, the greatest reason why I am a Junooni are your Guitar playing skills. I simply admire the way you play the instrument. I recently bought myself a guitar and am taking classes to master it myself. It would be a great asset if you could give me any advice on the skills required and if you could be kind enough to share your favourite guitar notes with me. Thanx a LOT
name: Murtaza Talib
email: murtaza_talib@hotmail.com MURTAZA,IF YOU WANT TO BECOME A GREAT GUITAR PLAYER,PRACTICE,PRACTICE,PRACTICE AND NEVER LOSE YOUR PASSION FOR PLAYING.

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comments: hey salman, im a music producer based out of new york. I waould like to collaborate with you on a song.
name: scha SCHA,DO YOU HAVE A WEBSITE?
email: scha127@gmail.com

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comments: salman bhai plz give me ur no. to contact i want to contact u as i m am a big junooni
name: pranav sharma PRANAV,I HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON IN INDIA,WHEN I COME LATER IN THE YEAR.KEEP CHECKING ISUFIROCK.COM AND JUNOON.COM FOR DATES.
email: goonj123@rediff.com

June 2006

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comments: salam,,,,.. ur album is just rockin around.....salman will u pleaz clerify....is junoon group is broken?cuz u and Azmat are singing
separatelly....? name: Usman Awan USMAN, AFTER PLAYING TOGETHER FOR A LONG TIME,I'M ENJOYING TOURING WITH INFINITI.BUT JUNOON IS A WAY OF LIFE NOT JUST A BAND:)
email: cheetah_awan342@hotmail.com

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comments: asallam alaykum Hu! you guys rock ~ I always thought  qawwali & rock n roll would make a good combo, and your band prooves it, thanks! Please put me on a mailing list, because I want to see you when you\'re near! If you have time, check out my blog on sufism and music... selam http://musicandsufism.blogspot.com/
name: kevin germain
email: kdgermain@charter.net

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comments: even i want to create peace between India and Pakistan ,please advice me how can I name: poojaa POOJA,KEEP THINKING ABOUT IT AND PEACE WILL HAPPEN ONE DAY SOON!
email: sksunny111187@yahoo.co.in

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comments: Hi, I\'m a first year medical student and was wondering if your medical traininghas helped you greatly in your role in promoting world peace? Also, when you entered medical school, did you want to be a doctor, or did you always want to be a musician but do the course to give you some options? name: Janagan Alagarajah JANAGAN,STUDYING MEDICINE HELPED ME BECOME MORE CARING OF PEOPLE AND I LEARNT THAT KNOWLEGE IS NEVER WASTED.
email: janagan.alagarajah@kcl.ac.uk

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comments: can i know more about \"ghoom tana\"? is it a video or film . name: riyaz ali
email: RIYAZ,YOU CAN WATCH THE VIDEO OF GHOOM TANA ON WWW.JUNOON.COM  AND ORDER THE SONG FROM WWW.ISUFIROCK.COM
yargam@sify.com

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comments: Salam, Salman.
Which world music do you think closely articulate mysticism and universal humanity. name: Moosa M Amiril MOOSA,I SUGGEST LISTENING TO 'GHOOM TANA' AND INFINITI AND ALSO NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHAN'S 'NIGHT SONG" WITH MICHAEL BROOKS
email: moosamiril@smartwifi.com.ph

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comments: which song\'s vedio are you releasing next from infiniti in india? name: Mandy MANDY,WHAT SONG DO YOU WANT TO SEE A VIDEO OF? email: Mandyy_dhillon@yahoo.net

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comments: there is a video clip out about u showin u sayin dat islam is a sexy re;igon(nauzbillah)...clear ur position
name: umer sheraz UMER,WHAT I MEAN TO SAY IS THAT ISLAM IS ATTRACTIVE AND VITAL.
email: usrandhawa@hotmail.com

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comments: Come On At the Real Path Of Spiritualism and leave all these wicked habbits.
name: Asif GUIDE ME TO THE REAL PATH:)
email: asiffaiz82@yahoo.com

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comments: HOW DO U GET UR HAIR SO SHINY AND SLEEK? I GOT A FRO BRO AND NOTHING WORKZ!
name: USMAN MALIK COCONUT SHAMPOO,3 TIMES A WEEK!
email: jahantheman@rokstudent.com

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comments: iam syed ashrafali ali from india, hyderabad i am very very big fan of junoon i listen ur songs from 1998 i first saw u at zee cine awards with the song sayonee iwas flat with u guys plz release ur each and every album in india i cant survive with out ur songs

name: ashraf
ASHRAF,CHECK OUT GHOOM TANA
email: khanashraf3@yahoo.com

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comments: hi
i am a great fan of yours. your tone of the best guitarist of the
world.now salman iwant to know that members of junoon are releising their own album .does it mean that \'junoon\' is no longer exist. does the band break up? as a fan of junoon and yours i am egarly waiting to know that. at the end i wish you a very good luck. ok \'ALVIDA\'
name: mehedi hossain JUNOON IS A WAY OF LIFE,NOT JUST A BAND,ONCE A JUNOONI ALWAYS A JUNOONI!
email: mh_jubo@yahoo.com

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comments: why did junoon dissolve ???brother raghdip, Junoon is a stae of mind,body and spirit it can never dissolve.keep the faith and stay on the active side of infiniti!peace-Salman
name: raghdip
email: razmatazdude_007@yahoo.co.in

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comments: Why don\'t you plan a new video and a re recording of the classic Sayonee?
name: Anij Janardhanan hey Anij,you've given me a great idea, I'm in the studio these days recording new songs maybe i'll think of a new version of sayonee.stay on the active side of infiniti.Peace_Salman
email: anijtj@gmail.co,

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comments: when can we have u perform in india frequently..??Hey Akash,I'll be touring india later in the year,keep your dial on isufirock.com and junoon.com and you'll have all the info about the infiniti concert tour.peace-salman
name: Akash Uba
email: akash_uba@yahoo.com

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comments: salman in the future if u meet any with a much more powerfull voice then ali azmat so will u work with that guy as a junoon-Who knows what the future holds but right now I'm planning to do collaborations with global artists and am also writing new songs in english for a brand new album.stay on the active side of infiniti,peace-salman
name: Ali
email: hassan_ghaffor@hotmail.com

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comments:  my Q is what shall the new musicians should do ...... to be succesfull musician like u-THE FIRST THING TO DO IS TO KNOW YOURSELF SO THAT WHATEVER MUSIC YOU MAKE IT WILL ALWAYS COME FROM UR HEART.PEACE-SALMAN
name: Ali
email: hassan_ghaffor@hotmail.com

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comments: aslammorligoom i come from thailand you singsong is good ilike sing you
name: marutkhan pattanaautsa tHANKS MARUT,STAY ON THE ACTIVE SIDE OF INFINITI,I WAS IN BANGKOK IN 2004 AND IT'S AN AMAZING PLACE!STAY ON THE ACTIVE SIDE OF INFINITI!PEACE-SALMAN
email: marutkhan@sanook.com

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comments: izn\'t music haram
name: sanah-SANAH,WHY PROHIBIT THOSE THINGS WHICH THE QURAN HASN'T PROHIBITED?STAY ON THE ACTIVE SIDE OF INFINITI!PEACE-SALMAN
email: f_bilqees@hotmail.co.uk

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comments: did you visit srilanka
name: sampath HEY SAMPATH,TWO OF MY FAVORITE CRICKETERS ARE SANATH JAYASURIYA AND MURLITHARAN,CANT WAIT TO COME AND PERFORM IN SRILANKA!PEACE-SALMAN
email: ajith@lankabellnet.com

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comments: salam aley kum.im from india.i would like to know by which sufi saint u r impressed.
name: khubmiyan BABA BULLEH SHAH IS MY MAN,I LOVE HIS POEM "MASJID/MANDIR" WHICH I SANG ON INFINITI.PEACE-SALMAN
email: luv_khubie@yahoo.com

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comments: assalamualaikum. i\'m from malaysia. i dig ur music. please come to malaysia, will you? FAIZAL,I'M PLANNING TO COME TO MALAYSIA IN DECEMBER,KEEP YOUR DIAL ON ISUFIROCK.COM AND JUNOON.COM AND I HOPE TO SEE YA IN KUALA LUMPUR.PEACE-SALMAN
name: faizal
email: bob_deadlyoranges@yahoo.com

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comments: hi Salman , i am gr8 fan of your music ..i accpet i donno nehthing in sufi music ..but still u r compostions attarct me  .. I admore u r work Sir .. Hats Off -STAY ON THE ACTIVE SIDE OF INFINITI MAN AND THANKS FOR THE GOOD VIBES-SALMAN
name: crypt
email: crypt.su@gmail.com

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comments: chal rena da sajjad ali album
name: nadeem
email: onetrue_king0345@hotmail.com

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comments: how u make such a beautiful and wonderful and lovely and unbelievable songs? i like very much the album junoon. i am mad about the song sayyoni.
name: mohsin khan
email: mloveguru@yahoomail.com

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comments: What is your qualification?
What is your HOROSCOPE? I'M A MUSICAL DOCTOR AND A SAGGITARIUS:)
name: Hassan
email: abh230@yahoo.com

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Date: Sun, 21 May 2006 14:39:10 GMT
questionfor: Salman
Do ya really think that sufism is de only way to submission?
Aadil
aap_may@hotmail.com

 

all rivers lead to the ocean,Sufism is about having faith in a higher power and experiencing that faith in all aspects of your life.

a sufi poet from the 15th century wrote "when you come to the mouth of the five rivers,pick one and live"...

I'm inspired by sufism because of it's message of one-ness and because it empowers me to follow my own destiny.Faith frees you from following the herd.

Salman

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comments: Salman Bhai ! This is Mohdjunooni...who got ur guitar at the 1st Asian Buzz 2006 show in Dubai.U hve no idea how happy I was that day !! I just wanted to say that If u ever come to UAE even for a visit..give me a call if u wanna go for a dubai tour hang-out to any place ! I would be really happy by doing it . Thank U
Love Junoon and Long Live Junoon
Mohdjunooni
junooni_on_fire@hotmail.com

 

May 2006

thanks and good luck bro!enjoy the guitar and write some kick ass songs on it.

best
Salman

 

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