Ali Shah Interview: Music as a Universal Language
- Evan
- 22 hours ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 18 minutes ago
Music is a universal language. No matter what instruments are played, what ideas are explored, or which language is spoken, music can be enjoyed in any culture. There is no language barrier when it comes to rhythm and melody – something Ali Shah understood when he dropped his latest single, ‘Burn Blue’, an English/Urdu pop banger.
For Canadian-Pakistani singer Ali Shah, ‘Burn Blue’ was something of a turning point for the artist. Having written and performed all his music in English previously, the new track represents a creative evolution for the artist, straying from his more typical pop sound.
“I’ve been wanting to do it for a very long time,” Shah said. “Urdu is my first language. I always wanted to implement it somehow, but for a long time I didn’t know how. Then I heard this beat, and I was like, ‘Okay, this is the moment. This feels like the right type of beat to do it on,’ and I just tried something new.”
Urdu may be Shah’s first language, but the singer has always been drawn to English when it comes to writing songs. “. I feel like I’m much better at writing in English, so I guess I was always afraid to write in Urdu and not be as good … Writing in Urdu was difficult and is still difficult for me, because I don’t know if I’m saying things in the most poetic way possible, unlike English where I’m more sure of myself.”
The cross-cultural style of ‘Burn Blue’ goes beyond just the language spoken. The production offers a distinct blend of Eastern and Western sounds, combining a Western pop structure with a danceable Eastern flair. “I wanted to have the catchy, straight-to-the-point melodies of [Western pop music], but then have certain instrumentations of Pakistani music. To mix that, it makes it feels like it’s not either/or, it’s a new lane, borrowing from both.”
In terms of content, ‘Burn Blue’ is a cheerful departure from Shah’s typical style. With a catalogue of songs diving into the doubt, dread, and sadness from failed relationships, ‘Burn Blue’ is a shimmering reflection of a fresh romance without fault. “All my music is autobiographical,” Shah said. “I’ve personally found a great relationship and that really helped me to tap into a different space. It was weird because, all my life, I’ve been writing songs about, ‘No one loves me, I need this, I need that,’ and now I’m just like, ‘Wait, now this is happening.’ It’s a different set of emotions.”
The latest single is just one part of Shah’s upcoming EP, Boy Blues. With a few songs still to go and no set date for release, Shah is in no rush to drop the project. “I’m so Type-A with everything – I’m very scheduled, this, that, that, but with music, I’m very hands-off. If it comes out, then it comes out. I conceptualised this EP two years ago, and ever since then, I’ve slowly been putting the pieces together. I don’t like to rush it, because creativity rushed isn’t to its fullest potential.”
With two years from the genesis of the EP now, Shah has gone through a plethora of life changes, and with that, his process as an artist has seen some adjustments. “I’ve just had these big life changes, and I’ve just slowed down as a person, and I think that’s lend itself to me slowing down my music and wanting to take my time with it. I think two years ago, I was much more like, ‘Rush, rush, let’s put it out, let’s do this,’ but as time has gone on, I’m much more inclined to waiting and seeing it through.”
Although the EP is driven by Shah’s blossoming relationship, there are still hints of doubt and darkness sprinkled throughout the project. “I think any independent musician who’s on the come-up will have moments where it’s like, ‘Should I even do this? Is this worth it? Is this where I need to be in my life?’ I think that has been embedded in this EP. Although that isn’t related to the content, I feel like you can feel that pain, feel that questioning. It adds a level of realism because my music is a direct reflection of my life, it always will be.”
For Shah, the response to ‘Burn Blue’ has been just as rewarding as making the track itself. “With this song, what was really rewarding was hearing people’s reaction to the language switch. People were so shocked, so excited about it. I had so many of my friends from other backgrounds who have their own ethnic music be like, ‘Oh my god, this reminds me of my own,’ because it has such an international sound.”
With the EP still to be completed, Shah’s plans are far from concrete, but the success of ‘Burn Blue’ could be an indication of things to come. “I still have two or three more songs to finish … Those ones, I am still debating how much I want to [experiment]. I’m making that decision as we speak. You’ll see – I guess, stay tuned then, right?”