chat with Jawed Wahid

Gauri: Foundations TV is extremely excited tonight to be actually coming out of our own studio and visiting a different studio. If you’ve ever organized an event or even participated in an event in the New England area, you’ve already probably visited this studio. Our guest tonight is Mr Jawed Wahid. Welcome.
Jawed:  My pleasure. I enjoy being here. (smiling) It is my place.
Gauri: Of course. So as you can see, we’ve managed to bring him in front of the camera. He is barely ever seen in the front. He is not only the back bone of all shows, he is also a perfectionist. Most of the times I have seen hi tweaking the ports and knobs, trying to fine tune the sound for hours at a stretch just to make sure that the sound for every event is just right, just the way he would like to hear it. He is a very very dedicated person.
Jawed: It is a lot of work

Gauri: Absolutely it is a lot of work. It requires a lot of dedication and passion to be doing something like this.

Jawed: It is a labor of love

Gauri: I can see that you are in love with music and that actually brings us to our first question. Talking of love for music, I want to understand what was your motivation is dedicating this whole room to musical events? There are not only events that you participate in or help out with as a sound engineer, but you also host a lot of events here in this studio.

Jawed: Music has always been a passion for me. Though I was never formally trained for music as a child, I always found that music stirred something within me, a passion, and tremendous sense of peace. In my opinion, the joy of music is really multiplied as you share with people. I think music is something that should be shared. It is a group activity. Listening to music alone can be interesting but the pleasure comes with sharing. Hence I built this studio so I can share with many people.

Gauri: Excellent. I couldn’t agree more with what you said that the joy of music comes from sharing. It is truly ‘The more the merrier’.

Gauri: So, Jawed ji is not only the most sought after sound engineer in the area, he is also a very compassionate, sensitive and a very respectful human being and I think that is what differentiates him and makes him the most sought after sound engineer for most events here. Tell us a little bit about your evolution into reaching here where everyone wants to involve you in the events.

Jawed: Before getting into sound engineering, I had attended many programs that were disasters due to the poor quality of the sound engineering. It ended up being a waste of time for the audience and for the artists on stage. Those days they used to come from India. There were very few local artists who would perform. So being an electrical engineer with a specialization is signal processing, and naturally analytical being an engineer, I could easily understand what the factors were that were causing the bad sound to happen and I knew what would be necessary to fix the sound. So, I then went about getting top of the line expensive equipment that provided me with the tools that I needed to produce good quality sound. Contrary to what people may think, a mic is not just any mic and a speaker is not just any speaker. A high quality mic and a high quality speakers only would give you  high quality sound. So if you buy cheap mics and cheap speakers, you are actually going to get a very poor sound. And people just don’t seem to understand that fact. So, apart from my engineering background which helped me understand that, I have also extensively read about sound engineering techniques. I read articles on the internet all the time about good mixing techniques and poor mixing techniques. I am constantly learning and incorporating that in my work. So, every event I go to, I do something differently based on what I have learnt. I think life is always about learning and I am always learning sound engineering.
Gauri: Excellent. So, you’ve definitely shared the technical aspects of it that you have to go with the high quality equipment and you have to have a good knowledge about it. But I think there is something else to it which is the magic wand that you hold.
Jawed: (laughing) Yes, there is a little bit of black magic. If you give three people the same ingredients to cook, the output is going to very different. Somebody would produce a very tasty dish and on the other hand another person may produce a disastrous dish. I do agree, there is a ‘black’ art to it.

Gauri: Yes, there is a personal touch and I think you touched about it a little bit that every event you do something slightly different and you keep learning. It is an experience and it is an evolution in itself. It is a process that continues to evolve.

Gauri: So, speaking of events, how soon do you recommend that people contact you if they are trying to organize and event?

Jawed: Actually many event organizers first contact me for my available dates, and check the venue for their available dates and then the pick the dates based on when we are both available at the same time. Basically I get involved when the event is still a concept. If they plan the event and if I am not available, then that could be problem for them.
Gauri: So here’s a cue for everybody who is thinking of organizing and event in this area, get him involved early.

Gauri: Could you please share something about your association with SBAGD, which is coming up on September 7th?

Jawed: Sahib bibi Aur Guru Dutt is being organized by a friend of mine, Meena Sundaram. I have known Meena for about 4 years now ( my memory is kind of bad that way). We were introduced by our common teacher Warren Senders. When Meena was looking to do an event back then, she needed somebody for sound. Warren know I do sound, so he said, ”If you want to do sound, contact Jawed” and that’s how we got to know each other and we’ve been doing programs ever since. So, when Meena said, “I am planning an event based on the life of Guru Dutt”, so I told her that the fact that I am going to do your sound is given, but since this is such an intriguing project, I would like to get involved in something just more than sound. I am now helping out with some of the AV and a lot of the technical infrastructure. When you come to the event, you will see that there are a lot of interesting things happening, that don’t usually happen on a lot of other events. She needs a lot of technical support to make that happen. You’ll find it out when you come to the event.

Gauri: Alright! So looks like we have some surprises put in place for September 7^th . this is actually a good time to invite everybody who is listening to save the date for September 7^th. I know it is a few months in advance, but this is the time you should reserve that date for an excellent event which has some surprises in it.

Jawed: It is really going to be an interesting program and you’re really going to enjoy the new things we are going to present and the way we are going to present some of the material too.

Gauri: Excellent. Looking forward to it.

Gauri: Working with various people, at different locations, at various auditoriums, with different sound systems, and with all the different set ups, I’m sure there’s a lot of different challenges that you have faced. We would like to hear about those.

Jawed: Well, one of the things that I never do, or very rarely do is use the in house sound system because I don’t know what the quality is going to be like and if there is a problem with it, then I don’t know how to fix it. Whereas, with my own equipment, I know exactly how to manage it, control it , and if there is an issue, I can resolve it. I have been doing a lot of programs in most of these auditoriums, and in some of them, like in Keefe tech, I’ve done many programs. The staff there knows me very well by first name. they are very helpful. They’ll help me unload stuff and help me load stuff at the end of the day. Even if I am a little late, they don’t mind, or even if I stay a little beyond the time. They are usually a friendly bunch. The only real challenge I have is if I go to a new venue, where I’ve never done an event before. The staff invariably is very helpful, so that’s never a problem. I’ve never run into staff that is not helpful but in a new auditorium there is always a challenge of how to optimally lay out my sound equipment i.e. the placement of my mixer, placement of the speakers, how I run the wiring. Most importantly every auditorium has a unique sound profile, and I need to equalize the sound profile for  that auditorium and that takes a little while. For the auditorium that I have already done, I know what the sound profile is and it is easy for me to dial in my mixer for that auditorium. For a new one, it takes me a little longer, but I can manage that. Now I have a lot of high tech tools to help me.

Gauri: So, in two words, he’s the expert.

Gauri: How does it usually take you to set up the sound on the day of the event?

Jawed: Well, that has a two part answer. If it is a new venue where I’ve never set up the sound before then, I will require a site visit sometime ahead of the event. I talk to the event organizer and I meet them there and ask them for the venue technical person to be there. I like to do the site survey ahead of time so that there are no surprises. I like to know where do I load the equipment from. I don’t want to find out that day ,” oh you gotta climb up 4 stairs to get your equipment in”. That’s not gonna work. So, I find out where the loading is going to be from, how far the loading doors are from the stage etc. I need to know that all ahead of time so I can plan accordingly. If it is right next to the auditorium, I can load very fast. If it is at the other end of the school, then you have to walk 10 minutes for each load. So, that’s the first part. The second part is on the actual day of the event. That is dependent on what’s being performed. If it is going to be large group as we did for YJMH, that takes me many hours to do, coz you have to set close to 30 lines. For a small event, with a couple of singers, it can be less. YJMH was 5 – 6 hours spread over two days, including a sound check with the artists. Typically, for a smaller event, 2 – 3 hours should be more than enough to do sound check. I am usually there a minimum of 2 hours before the event, more commonly 3 hours, and another 2 hours after the event cause I have to pack up all my equipment and load up the van. So, I am always the first to arrive and the last to leave.

Gauri: So it’s  really not as easy as it looks. We kind of assume when we go to a good show, we enjoy it and come right out, we take the sound for granted. The sound was excellent as long as it didn’t bother our ears and everything went fine, what we don’t realize is that to create a sound that not only doesn’t bother the ears but actually brings out the beauty of music, there is so much dedication and so much sincerity of work that goes in behind the scenes as well.

Gauri: Speaking of sincerity and dedication and so much hard work, I’m sure there’s a lot of people who are listening to you and looking upto you and thinking…hmmm…what can I do to be where he is today. Can you share some advice/tips for people who are looking to follow your footsteps?

Jawed: First of all I should let everyone know that sound engineering is not for everyone. Contrary to what people believe that it is as easy as turning a couple of mics on, it’s not that simple. Just like thinking if everybody can  be a good cook or everybody can be a good singer. No, you can’t. You might learn the verse of the song, but if you don’t have that vocal quality, you can’t be a good singer. Similarly with sound engineering, you require a knack for understanding of how things work. If you don’t have that knack, don’t try. All you’re going to do is destroy someone’s program. So, no point trying cause that poor person is on stage and you’re giving them optimal sound. But if you feel that you have a knack for sound engineering, then first and foremost, you should invest in good equipment. Don’t cut corners on equipment. The equipment really makes the difference in the quality of the sound coming out. In fact I would say that the quality of sound coming out is directly proportional to the quality of the equipment. There’s no two ways about it. I have cycled through a lot of equipment over the last few years. Every time I find something slightly better, I go for it, even if I get a 3% improvement. People don’t perceive it, but I perceive it. And the second thing is that no one is born with the knowledge of sound engineering, so by all means pursue knowledge. I have read many books, I continue to read books. I go on the internet and I do searches on specific areas of sound where I think there might be a weakness and I find out tips that can help me overcome those weaknesses. So, I am always learning better sound engineering techniques. That’s the only way you’re going to get it. 

Gauri: excellent advice.

Gauri: Since this is an interview conducted by The Foundations TV, our listeners are looking to hear from you what your motivational and inspirational message for our listeners is?

Jawed: You asked the wrong guy that question. The reason is that, if life permits, follow your passion. Live for your passions. They give us true joy and satisfaction. I live for my passions. I am a passionate sound engineer, am a passionate skier. I ski 2 or 3 times a week during the season. I go out west to ski. I follow my passions. I passionate bicycle rider, I am a passionate motor cycle rider, I am a passionate sports car person. And I follow my passions but you have to balance that off with the realities of life. So, you have to make sure that your life is under control and you have over your head. Balance it off but don’t drop your passions. People tend to drop it off very early and they become workaholics. I am on the other side. I am a passion-a-holic and I work just enough to keep my passions going. That’s my advice.

Gauri: This is all surprise to me. I did not even know all the things you do. You live by the words that you believe in and that’s the whole essence of life. To be able to maintain that balance where you do what you need to do but you also are able to find the time to do what you want to do. That is an excellent message for our listeners to take away from this interview. And I am definitely going to walk out thinking what am I going to do tomorrow, is it going to be what I need to do or things that I want to do. So, I’m going to try and balance that out and I’m sure everybody will enjoy this interview as much as we enjoyed doing it. Thank you so much for your time and for hosting us here in your studio.

Jawed: My pleasure and best of luck to you on your new venture The Foundations TV.

Gauri: thank you so much, and on our way out we are actually going to take some of your advice on the sound. 

Chat with Siraj Khan

Gauri: Hello everyone, Welcome to The Foundations TV. Our guest today is Siraj Khan or should I say, THE Siraj Khan. Having worked with him on various projects for the last year and half, I have not only gotten to know him better as a person, but also observed how inspired and energized others get when he is in the room. At times he may be the most significant voice in a room, directing those around him, suggesting ways of improvising and narrating inspiring anecdotes and at other times he may be sitting quietly in a corner absorbing all talents in a room and figuring out how to unveil the potential of a person or a situation at hand. He is certainly a person who takes genuine interest in the talent display around him and is eager to showcase them through numerous cultural projects that he is personally involved in. And that Siraj Ji brings me to our first question.

Gauri: Welcome to The Foundations TV. Such a pleasure to have you here. You are a well known personality in New England. Most people have seen you either on stage, or back stage managing and directing. I know you have been very active in the community for the last few years, but I would like to trace it a little back to know what was your first ever interaction with the stage? How did you start , evolve and get where you are today.

Siraj: (laughing) You called me a ‘stage personality’. That is so amusing. I am no great stage personality but my association with stage goes back to my school days, singing on stage, participating in various  student dramas. Whenever I was asked to participate in something, I used to jump into it and felt very comfortable. And then through college and growing up , and got married, but I think, if I have to look back, it was music which was what really got me on stage. I was really at my best sharing the music, presenting the best possible to the people and sharing my joys with the others. Music really, I thought,  was the best way to do it.

Gauri: Wonderful. So, this is really nice as I have seen you enjoying music during the shows here in the last one and a half years. Most of the shows that we have worked together on, I have observed you sitting and enjoying the music even during the rehearsals. I can see that is the closest to your heart. So, certainly that is very nice to hear from you as well.

Gauri: Now I would like to hear a little bit more about the shows that you have been involved in recently and what different roles have you played in all these shows that we see your name listed in.

Siraj: Well, something very close to my heart, as most people know, are the O P Nayyar nights that I have been doing since the great man passed away. From 2007 upto last year, every year, religiously, we have been doing this, and it is very moving that so many people have joined this journey with such passion. And then one of my fondest memories is doing the Geeta Dutt show in 2011. It was called Hawaon ke Taraane and it had a black and white theme. Can you imagine 70% of the audience was wearing black and white attire at my request. I mean, it was most incredible. So, I produced and directed that included the entire music and the whole nine yards. Last year Rooh-e-Sahir that I co-produced with Harish Dang and Razia Mashkhoor. I was the creative director for that and that was a huge hit where we projected a poet. Normally it is a music director or a singer. We had Melodies and Memories. I remember Shankar Jai Kishan night with Sharda. I produced and directed that. More recently, we had Madhubala show and you were part of it as well. I was the program manager for Adnan Sami show. So, I was not on stage for that one, but I managed everything back stage. And I have very fond memories of the Din Check show, in which again I was with you. So, the role that I had has been different namely back stage, front stage, creative, music, and I have enjoyed everything that I have done.

Gauri: This is wonderful. Playing different roles is absolutely an enriching experience not just for you, but also for the audiences as they get to see all the different talents that you bring along with you. So, that actually brings us to the next show that you are involved with which is Sahib Bibi aur Guru Dutt and I would love to hear from you what role you are playing in that show.

Siraj: Well, there is a very interesting connection. I remember, I told you about O.P. Nayyar. O.P.Nayyar and Guru Dutt had a very strong connection in all the old movies like Aar Paar, CID, so that came in very naturally. I got at assignment of taking care of the music, the songs, and the sequence, who’s going to sing what, to develop the alignment with the characterization. I would really request the listeners who are watching this show to come and witness this very unusual event. It is brilliant combination of music, literature, acting, all looking at the fantastic personality that Guru Dutt was.

Gauri: That is extremely exciting for everyone I’m sure. Guru Dutt has a lot in his life that we can all get inspired by and this show seems to be coming together really well. With talent such as yours, I think there is no reason for anyone of us to miss that. Looking forward to seeing everybody on September 7^th, 2013, at the Keefe tech auditorium, starting at 5:30 p.m. . The tickets are already available on Lokvani as well as Boston Desi Connection. So, please go ahead and buy your tickets. Looking forward to seeing you all there.

Gauri: Lets talk about something really interesting. From what I hear and from what I understand, you have been a traveler and have travelled to over 70 countries. Now that is really intriguing to me. It is well known that the more you travel, the broader the experiences and the more enlightening it gets. I would love to hear about your experiences as a traveler and how that enriched your life.

Siraj: Yes, it is probably now 75 countries. Travel is very fascinating. Reason behind my travel has been work, pleasure, adventure, all combined. My wife Yasmin, also loves to travel. So that always helps. I consider myself to be a world citizen and live a life without boundaries. I think that has been the outcome of all my travel. A lot of people would think that these 70 or so countries are exotic places like Europe and all, but fortunately or unfortunately, I have been into terrible places too, to tough terrains like Sub Sahara Africa, and some of the Asian countries. But every country had a separate experience. Not sure if that answers your question.

Gauri: It does and I would like to go a little deeper here and would like to hear something funny, interesting or once-in-a-life-time kind of experiences. I am sure you have many, but I would love to hear one or two of them.

Siraj: Well, I was working for a company called Path Finder. I was setting up their office in Papua New Guinea interacting with all sorts of people there, including cannibals. Actually even slept one night at a cannibal village. My mother and my wife were praying for my safety, as they thought that the cannibals would consume me. I ended up there in the evening with no telephone, no pure water to drink and stuff like that, and no electricity. So that night, they were doing their own music around the fire, and I was asked to sing and I sang, ‘maang ke saath tumhaara maine maang liya sansaar’ . Now that was the time when Nayyar saab was alive, so when I met him, I told him that I sang his song while I was with cannibals. He just gave me hug. This is what I love about music that it is the only international and global language. Everyone understands that and I have come to be a great believer in that. I tend to do a lot of bridge building through music. I have made more friends through music than through anything else professionally.

Gauri: So three things I gathered while I was listening to you.
1. If I was in your place , I would be so scared sleeping in the same place as the tribal population . I truly would be very uneasy with that . So kudos to you for your bravery.

2. The other thing I would’ve probably loved to do, as you were describing how people were  running around the fire and doing their thing. I wish we had a means of sharing pictures at that time. I would’ve loved to see pictures of that.

Siraj: I do have pictures of that. That is something to be standing next to the cannibals and have a picture taken with them Infact the whole village was there and the chief was there as well.

3. The third thing that immediately struck me was what you said that music has no language and no matter where you are, any song you sing, or any melody that you can create just by being in the moment adds more beauty to the moment.
               Siraj: Absolutely, I couldn’t agree with you more

Gauri: Even though the flow of conversation has been so interesting, and we could go on for ever and ever listening to the stories and anecdotes you have to narrate to all of us, but in the interest of time, I would like to bring ourselves to the last question of this interview. Since we are here at The Foundations TV where our intent is to spread inspiration through awareness, what’s your inspiring message to the listeners of The Foundations TV?

Siraj: Well my message is something that we did not touch during the entire interview, and may be this is a good time to do it, is my passion for education and knowledge. I am not in the academia at all but this has been a great driver for me all along. My message is probably well contained in one of Mark Twain’s quotes “I’ve never let my schooling interfere with my education”. This is what it was all about for me, with all my experiences with tribal and all. It was all about broadening my horizon. Whatever way you choose to do it, there is really no end to seeking knowledge. This is something that I would like to pass onto not only just the kids but even to people older than me because it a very frustrating to see people take up retirement, just having chai, reading newspapers and watching TV. I would rather everyone goes out there and shares their knowledge and experiences that they have acquired.

Gauri: Wonderful message indeed. And my take away from this one and hopefully for the audiences as well is that you never stop learning in your life and you never stop growing in your life and the width of your experiences is what adds to your knowledge. So, definitely continue to widen your sphere, continue to learn whatever you can, and continue to grow in whichever direction your heart takes you. This is what we would like to end at, today. Thanks so much for being here at The Foundations TV

Siraj: Thank you for giving me the opportunity and I wish only the best for The Foundations TV . It is a good start and may it, just like a plant, flourish and cultivate into a big tree.