Umair Tahir

music producer working with Young Stunners

Compiled from 1 recorded interview. Every statement below is drawn from the passage cited beside it.

Umair Tahir is a music producer who says he works with Young Stunners. He started out making electronic music and switched to hip hop around 2018 or 2019. He says his first hip hop release was also his first hit.

Early life and background

Tahir was described as an 18-year-old hip-hop artist. He stayed in Multan for three months. [1]

Education

Tahir completed all of his education in Karachi. He went to school and then on to college. He has not taken formal music courses and learned mainly from YouTube tutorials and experimentation. [1]

Career

Tahir calls himself a music producer. He started out making electronic music, including old-school house, and switched to hip hop around 2018 or 2019. He names Young Stunners as an inspiration in everything he does. [1]

He made his first song for a brand, and says his first hip hop release was also his first hit. He says he works with Young Stunners. He describes some of his songs as electronic rather than hip hop, and one as indie in vibe. [1]

He says he has not performed solo and has never performed as a DJ. He recalls a performance in Lahore with a crowd of about 20,000 people. He says he does not play any instrument and produces electronically, though he has recently been trying the flute. [1]

Production and pay

Tahir says a music producer does about 60% of the work on a song. He describes the usual order of work as beat first, then lyrics, recording and mixing. He says mixing, mastering and vocal treatment are part of the producer's work, while the artist's only job is to record vocals. [1]

He thinks he made the beat for one of his songs in about half an hour. He says that with clients, the usual arrangement is that they pay for the song first and then receive it. He says collaboration royalties are split half and half. [1]

Personal life

Tahir's parents were reluctant at first but did not forbid him from music. His father first saw his music work as part-time. Tahir says his music work has grown to a level close to full-time, and that he is financially independent and no longer takes money from his parents. [1]

Tahir names Multan, Gujranwala, Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi and Faisalabad among the places he has been, and says he has played in Faisalabad. He says he wants to go to the US. He says he cannot make music without travelling to other cities such as Islamabad or Lahore. He finds Islamabad calm, in contrast to Karachi. [1]

Future plans

Tahir would like formal music study, but says Pakistan has no such schools. He thinks his current way of working suits him for now. He has no set plan yet, but may pursue film making. [1]

Views on the music industry

Tahir says rap has peaked commercially. He says the rap industry has changed a great deal in the last two years. He says rap now sits in both commercial and underground spaces, with brands involved. [1]

He says commercial work limits what an artist can say, while underground work does not. He says electronic music in Pakistan is not yet at hip hop's level but should be. [1]

Views on hip hop

Tahir says hip hop came entirely from the West. He says hip hop has become a full culture, and describes it as a raw culture that came from the streets. He says most proper rap comes from Karachi, with some from Lahore and Islamabad, and that less hip hop comes out of Islamabad than Karachi. He says the film Gully Boy gave hip hop a big push in Pakistan and India. [1]

He says there are few Punjabi hip hop artists. He includes Hashim Nawaz among his top picks. He says female rap is not mainstream in Pakistan. He thinks anyone can rap if they are trained and have a story to tell. He says artists should try new things, because experimenting builds a new sound. [1]

He says hip hop listeners tend to be more aggressive, and that a listener's reaction to music depends on the person. He says Young Stunners have already spoken about social issues. He sees a big difference between his generation and older ones, and says his generation has learned to stand up for itself. [1]

Appearances

DateTitleWhere
2022-03-28 Pakistan's rap scene has peaked commercially, not creatively Thought Behind Things

Frequently asked questions

Who is Umair Tahir?

Umair Tahir is a music producer who says he works with Young Stunners. He started out making electronic music and switched to hip hop around 2018 or 2019.[1]

What does Umair Tahir do?

Umair Tahir calls himself a music producer. He says a producer does about 60% of the work on a song, and that mixing, mastering and vocal treatment are part of the producer's work. He does not play any instrument and produces electronically.[1]

Where did Umair Tahir study?

Umair Tahir completed all of his education in Karachi. He went to school and then on to college. He has not taken formal music courses and learned mainly from YouTube tutorials and experimentation.[1]

How did Umair Tahir learn music production?

Umair Tahir has not taken formal music courses and learned mainly from YouTube tutorials and experimentation. He would like formal music study, but says Pakistan has no such schools.[1]

Where has Umair Tahir performed?

Umair Tahir says he has played in Faisalabad, and he names several other cities among the places he has been, including Lahore and Islamabad. He recalls a performance in Lahore with a crowd of about 20,000 people. He says he has not performed solo and has never performed as a DJ.[1]

What does Umair Tahir think of rap in Pakistan?

Umair Tahir says rap has peaked commercially and that the rap industry has changed a great deal in the last two years. He says rap now sits in both commercial and underground spaces, with brands involved. He also says Pakistan has few record labels.[1]

What music did Umair Tahir make before hip hop?

Umair Tahir started out making electronic music, including old-school house. He switched from electronic music to hip hop around 2018 or 2019.[1]

References

  1. Pakistan's rap scene has peaked commercially, not creatively . Thought Behind Things , 2022-03-28.
Show the source passages (60 statements)
  1. He was described as an 18-year-old hip-hop artist. Pakistan’s 18-Year-Old Hip-Hop Artist UMAIR
  2. He calls himself a music producer. [Umair] Ji, music producer.
  3. He completed all of his education in Karachi. Education Karachi mein hi saari.
  4. He went to school and then on to college. Little Folks School tha aur college mein gaya tha Delhi College.
  5. He has not taken formal music courses and learned mainly from YouTube tutorials and experimentation. Maine as such koi course wagera nahi kiya. YouTube pe tutorials dekhta tha bahut aur bas experiment kar karke saara scene.
  6. He has no set plan yet, but may pursue film making. Abhi waise koi mera koi khaas plan nahi hai, magar agar hua toh shayad main film making karoon.
  7. He stayed in Multan for three months. Main Multan ruka tha three months ke liye.
  8. He started out making electronic music, including old-school house. Start mein main yeh electronic karta tha, bilkul na matlab bahut old school house wagera banata tha.
  9. He switched from electronic music to hip hop around 2018 or 2019. 2018-19 ki baat hai, maine hip hop pe switch kar diya tha.
  10. He names Young Stunners as an inspiration in everything he does. Har cheez mein inspiration Young Stunners.
  11. He made his first song for a brand. pehla gaana hi woh tha, keh rahe the ek brand ke liye tha, jo Asli Hai gaana aaya tha.
  12. He says his first hip hop release was also his first hit. Toh wohi mera pehla gaana tha jo hip hop tha, jo release hua tha aur wohi matlab mera pehla hit tha.
  13. He describes some of his songs as electronic rather than hip hop, and one as indie in vibe. Yeh matlab electronic side pe the aur jo Lost tha, woh indie type ka tha vibe.
  14. He says he works with Young Stunners. Toh yeh unke main hain, magar hum bhi zahir hai saath kaam karte hain.
  15. He says he has not performed solo and has never performed as a DJ. Nahi, maine khud matlab play karta hoon unke saath, matlab waise maine koi akele perform nahi kiya, abhi koi DJ nahi kiya maine kabhi.
  16. He recalls playing a show in Lahore with a crowd of about 20,000 people. humne Lahore mein play kiya tha Rhythm Fest shayad. Right. Usmein koi 20,000 awaam thi.
  17. He says a music producer does about 60% of the work on a song. Mere liye toh 60% kaam hi music producer ka hota hai.
  18. He describes the usual order of work as beat first, then lyrics, recording and mixing. pehle beat banti hai zyada tar, uske upar woh log na phir likhte hain, phir record karte hain aur phir mix wagera hota hai.
  19. He says mixing, mastering and vocal treatment are part of the producer's work. And mixing, mastering, vocals wagera treat karna, woh sab hamara kaam hai.
  20. He says the artist's only job is to record vocals. Artist ka kaam hai sirf usne vocals record karne hain bas.
  21. He thinks he made the beat for one of his songs in about half an hour. Asli hai maine shayad aadhe ghante mein banaya tha.
  22. He says that with clients, the usual arrangement is that they pay for the song first and then receive it. Jab clients ke saath karte hain toh shayad pehle yahi hota hai ki matlab aap pehle gaana paise do aur aapko aapki cheez mil jayegi
  23. He says collaboration royalties are split half and half. royalties wagera scene hota hai, aap hum dono ka gaana hai, bas aadhe aadhe bas.
  24. He says he is financially independent and no longer takes money from his parents. I mean, are you fully independent now? Ji. Are you apne parents se kuch le rahe hain? Nahi.
  25. His parents were reluctant at first but did not forbid him from music. Parents ki shuru mein thoda karte the mana, matlab music ke usme mana nahi kiya mujhe.
  26. His father first saw his music work as part-time. abbu kehte the ki yeh koi matlab music kar rahe ho bas yeh koi part time toh hai
  27. He says his music work has grown to a level close to full-time. part time mera itna hai ki mera full chal raha hai usse kaam.
  28. He would like formal music study, but says Pakistan has no such schools. Mujhe hota toh hai shauq, magar yeh hai ki sadly Pakistan mein nahi hai iska koi music ka matlab is tarah ki aap koi schools wagera hon.
  29. He thinks his current way of working suits him for now. Toh main sochta hoon ki abhi jo chal raha hai wohi fit hai
  30. He names Multan, Gujranwala, Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi and Faisalabad among the places he has been, and says he has played in Faisalabad. Main Multan, Gujranwala, Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Faisalabad, Faisalabad mein bhi play kiya tha.
  31. He says he wants to go to the US. Nahi. Abhi tak nahi hua? Nahi, jana hai mujhe US.
  32. He says he cannot make music without travelling to other cities such as Islamabad or Lahore. mujhse nahi music banta agar main matlab do mahine baad Islamabad na aaun ya agar Lahore na jaun
  33. He finds Islamabad calm, in contrast to Karachi. Islamabad fit hai, sukoon ki bas vibe hai, toh main matlab Karachi itna shor sharaba hai
  34. He says rap has peaked commercially. peak hua hai, commercially bahut peak hua hai.
  35. He says the rap industry has changed a great deal in the last two years. rap industry jo do saal pehle thi, woh ab jo hai na bahut zameen aasman ka farq hai.
  36. He says rap now sits in both commercial and underground spaces, with brands involved. ab matlab brands bhi kar rahe hain, commercial bhi ho gaya rap aur underground bhi hai.
  37. He says Pakistan has few record labels. Magar yeh hai ki ab bas thode labels wagera ki kami hai.
  38. He says brands tend to limit the art form to a degree. kyunki brands jab karte hain na to brands ek certain level of art form ko maar ke karte hain.
  39. He says brands such as Pepsi have started investing in music, which he sees as a good development. Pepsi wagera sab invest kar rahe hain, to yeh acha Itna aa gaya hai.
  40. He says Coke Studio mostly features artists who are already established. Mere hisab se Coke Studio pe zyada tar wohi ja rahe hain, matlab jo pehle se built hue hue hain.
  41. He says hip hop came entirely from the West. Nahi, nahi, hip hop toh saara West se aaya hai.
  42. He says hip hop has become a full culture. Kyunke hip hop mere hisab se poora culture ban gaya ab.
  43. He describes hip hop as a raw culture that came from the streets. hip hop jo matlab bilkul raw cheez hai, street se nikla hai sa culture saara.
  44. He says most proper rap comes from Karachi, with some from Lahore and Islamabad. jo zyada hip hop hai, matlab jo proper rap rap ho raha hai, woh Karachi se nikalte hain. Kuch Lahore se bhi hain, Islamabad se bhi hain.
  45. He says less hip hop comes out of Islamabad than Karachi. Isi wajah se I guess Islamabad se phir hip hop kam nikalta hai.
  46. He says the film Gully Boy gave hip hop a big push in Pakistan and India. Gully Boy ne bahut matlab ek push diya hai jo Pakistan, India mein na, masses ko essentially.
  47. He says there are few Punjabi hip hop artists. Mere hisab se Punjabi hip hop artist kam hai
  48. He includes Hashim Nawaz among his top picks. Hashim Nawaz hai aur mere teen chaar ek boys hain, aapko shayad pata ho, Savage, Jani wagera.
  49. He says female rap is not mainstream in Pakistan. Pakistan mein mainstream toh bilkul hi nahi hai. Probably Eva B ke alawa koi nahi hai.
  50. He thinks anyone can rap if they are trained and have a story to tell. Mere hisab se toh kar sakte hain agar matlab unko train kiya jaye aur agar unka story hai
  51. He says artists should try new things, because experimenting builds a new sound. artist ko har cheez matlab try karni chahiye taake, kyunke experiment karte karte hi aapki ek new sound banti hai
  52. He says electronic music in Pakistan is not yet at hip hop's level but should be. Electronic ka scope mere hisab se yeh hip hop ke level ka toh nahi hai, magar hona chahiye.
  53. He says a listener's reaction to music depends on the person. Yeh mere hisab se toh bande pe depend karta hai.
  54. He says commercial work limits what an artist can say, while underground work does not. Ab commercial mein ja ke aap nahi sab bol sakte, matlab aap puri dil ki baat nahi kar sakte
  55. He says Young Stunners have already spoken about social issues. Matlab pehle jaise na yeh YS hai, in logon ne is bare mein baat ki hai, social commentary wali jo aap keh rahe hain, yeh log is bare mein baat kar chuke hain.
  56. He sees a big difference between his generation and older ones. Difference bahut aaya hai, matlab ke farz karein koi mujhse koi 10 saal banda bada hai, toh woh shayad meri umar mein woh na karta ho jo main abhi is umar mein kar raha hoon.
  57. He says his generation has learned to stand up for itself. Toh yeh farq aaya hai ke matlab aapko apne liye khada hona aa gaya hai, matlab is generation ko.
  58. He says hip hop listeners tend to be more aggressive. Toh is wajah se jo hip hop ke listener thode zyada aggressive hote hain.
  59. He has recently been trying the flute. Aur ek main flute wagera try kar raha hoon aaj kal.
  60. He says he does not play any instrument and produces electronically. Nahi, mujhe instrument koi nahi aata. Koi nahi aata. Sab electronic hai.