Natasha Baig recalls rocky road to success

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Singer Natasha Baig, identified for her energetic stay performances and highly effective voice, has had a bumpy journey to success. Whereas her drive to make music gave her loads to carry on to, it additionally disadvantaged her of her father’s love.

Seems the singer, hailing from Gilgit Baltistan, grew up going through abuse and judgement from these closest to her, together with her father, who was a prisoner of the shallow societal constructs surrounding ladies in music.

Talking about her music journey, her relationship together with her father and her shift from cricket to music, Baig shared loads of regrets and classes she has learnt alongside the way in which on Mooroo’s podcast.

Desires, household, society

Baig, who was a cricketer by the title Natasha Zakir, left cricket as a result of her father didn’t approve of her athletic profession. “I used to be giving my aptitude take a look at for MBBS as a result of he wished me to pursue it however I used to be depressed that a health care provider’s diploma stole sports activities from me. Sports activities was like a drug to me. However since music was additionally an curiosity, that zeal took domination over all the pieces else.”

Baig shared that she couldn’t cross any assessments, however individuals in her group began recognising her expertise and provided her gigs however alas – her father didn’t approve of this both. “I used to be extra assured due to everybody’s reward. I had began singing Kailash Kher and Rekha Bhardwaj.”

Baig’s father’s paranoia about her singing ardour was so robust that he as soon as received “scary offended” when he thought she sang the 2010 tune Tujhe Bhula Diya from Anjaana Anjaani. “He was visiting from Dubai and we had been all sitting within the lounge and this tune got here on. My father was like ‘Did you sing this?’ and I mentioned ‘no, in fact not.’ and he wouldn’t consider it.

‘Don’t conceal it from me’, he mentioned and I attempted to persuade him saying, ‘Papa, it’s from India. That is from Bollywood. Who would name me to India? This does not even make sense.’ However he received very offended. Actually, actually offended. It was scary,” she recalled, confused about whether or not to take it as a praise or an insult.

Baig added that by that point, she had recognised her singing potential was God-gifted and by refusing this gist, she could be essentially the most ungrateful particular person on the planet. “Immediately, after I see these new children performing music and their dad and mom coming to their reveals, it hits me loads. It makes me cry inside. I’m joyful for them. It’s simply all I ever wished for myself as nicely,” she exclaimed. Baig additionally shared that she tried very arduous to persuade her father and even advised that he come together with her to auditions and studios so he can see the encompassing and folks himself however he by no means agreed.

“For six years, my father and I weren’t on speaking phrases. I ventured into music by then and he was in Dubai. A cousin posted a video on Fb and far-away family from prolonged households commented and tagged my father and bashed me. Kids are very susceptible and I really feel like even when they do one thing fallacious, their dad and mom ought to communicate to them as a substitute of letting the entire world hate on them. However my father by no means approached me and mentioned ‘I requested you not to do that. Why did you?’ No. He as a substitute enabled everybody on that publish. He joined them,” she cried.

Preventing again tears, she added, “I don’t have any hate or complaints now as a result of he’s not alive anymore. He handed away in 2020 so it’s unfair to say these items however at the least, dad and mom these days ought to know what to not do with their children. I began getting all these gaaliyan from my father. Buhat buhat gandi gaaliyan – those that I can’t even think about somebody it. A number of issues remained unsaid between me and my father, all due to the society, of family and foolish strangers.”

Baig added that now, the identical family who had been in opposition to her, contact her. “I wished to show him and everybody who was in opposition to me fallacious. I wished to inform him that it was fallacious. Simply because I’m a lady and I’m from Hunza, I can’t pursue music? Why? There’s nothing fallacious with it. I wished to be the bearer of change and that occurred to some extent. Now, I really feel very joyful when individuals use the hashtags #DaughterofGilgitBaltistan as a result of which means I proved my level,” she smiled.

A rocky highway to success

About why Baig is transferring to Lahore, the singer revealed that her current Punjab Group of Faculties (PGC) tour influenced that call. “I had lesser reveals in Punjab earlier than PGC, particularly in Lahore. I’d simply carry out in Islamabad, Multan, and possibly Bhourban however not Lahore. And PGC takes you throughout Punjab—even to locations you wouldn’t even learn about and that’s nice penetration,” she mentioned, including that entering into this system was notably tough for her since she was based mostly in Karachi they usually particularly search for individuals from Lahore.

“It’s like how Coke Studio is necessary for a singer on this nation. In my view, PGC can also be necessary for mass penetration since you get to see an enormous crowd of youth,” Baig exclaimed whereas telling the story of how she began PGC from merely 10-15 reveals to doing further reveals upon the administration’s demand. “They in all probability didn’t know me as a stay performer at the moment,” she mentioned.

Surprisingly, Baig began off her music with English songs and never Urdu or songs in her regional language. “I began with English songs, not as a result of I wished to be burger or cool however as a result of when our Jap conventional music is tough. Once I take a look at Abida jee, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Sajjad Ali, you’ll be able to’t think about your self singing that manner,” she mentioned, including that she grew up watching Disney reveals and felt dissociated with Coke Studio and native music again within the day. “Miley Cyrus was my age so possibly I related together with her due to that however she additionally has her personal tone. I grew up listening to Lata Mangeshkar and ladies in music had this shrill voice and I didn’t in order that’s additionally why I felt like I didn’t belong.”

The musician revealed that late pop icon Michael Jackson was her idol. “Michael Jackson’s dying additionally affected me loads. The craze for stay performances that I’ve is impressed by him. Clearly, I don’t precisely carry out like him however that zeal for a larger-than-life efficiency comes from his music. Immediately, if individuals discuss my stay performances then that credit score goes to Micheal Jackson. He’s like my non secular instructor.”

I’m in management now

Baig recalled a time in life when her dad and mom separated and he or she needed to work whereas being in college to pay lease at dwelling. It’s not that they weren’t in a position to afford it, however her father thought it was a sane “punishment” to not pay any childcare at dwelling and lower off all monetary ties. “The battle for monetary independence made me suicidal at occasions,” she paused.

“Once I discuss these struggles in interviews, lots of people from my life attain out and inform me that I shouldn’t say all of these items. Why Shouldn’t I? I’m not attempting to make myself or another person a villain right here. I simply wish to inform those that I used to be going by way of hell,” she exclaimed. “I need individuals to know that parenting is an enormous accountability.”

On a lighter aspect, Mooroo requested Baig about her plans for marriage. “There’s nobody in my life at present however I do know that marriage is necessary so I’ll do it. For now, my music is my husband. And I don’t desire a musician as a husband. I need that at any time when I fall in love, it must be mutual.”