(Tasvir Afghanistan): Shafiq Mureed is an
Afghan singer born in Kabul, Afghanistan. His Parents are from the Laghman Province of Afghanistan. Shafiq is of Pashtun origin.
As a singer he was influenced by Nazir Khara who taught him for few months.

Later he went on to produce one of his singles in Pakistan. He was graduated from Ansari high school.

He passed the university entrance exam successfully and chose Journalism as his major.

Beside the work in one of NGOs in Kabul city, he devoted his time to art too. Now he wishes to continue his higher education.

He himself says: When l couldn't  study my favorite major at the university, I decided that one day in a suitable occasion I will continue my studies in the United States.

He is known for his songs "Wali Rana Lari", "Hara Lar Ran Wroka" and “Shabo Roz Dar Feraq”.

He has God given talent. He won an award for his song “Beautiful Afghanistan” from the Ministry of Information and Culture for its inspiration and patriotism. This well loved anthem is regarded as an unprecedented service for Afghan music, especially for Pashtu singing.

Shafiq Mureed has a natural voice and sings with great expression and passion. He takes pride in singing in his unique, spontaneous voice without the need for computerized effects.

He is popular all over the subcontinent with a wide base of fans in Afghanistan and in several other countries where Afghans live.

Shafiq Mureed sings both in Pashto and Dari languages. The theme of his music centers mainly around romance and love, tragedy, and patriotism.

It’s about 15 years that he plays the Tola or Ney, the traditional reed flute of Afghanistan according to him he has found a different feeling in the Tola sound.

His latest song called "Afghanistan" has been chosen as the best song of the year 2012.
Tasvir Afghanistan wishes long life and successful career for Shafiq Mureed.

Tasvir Afghanistan Interview With Shafiq Mureed:

Who in your family encouraged you to pursue the art? I am the only one in my family who is singing and no one from my family supported me in this work. My father had passed away and my mother is still against my singing. She still insists me to become a doctor or an engineer. She does not believe singing to be a jab.

Are you satisfied with your works?
I am not pleased with my works up to now. I try a lot to offer something better than my previous work. I want my songs to be different from each other and I think monotony and repetition are factors that cause a great damage to the artist. People are always looking for variety and innovation and they want the same in music.

If a singer or a composer has no innovation or creativity in his works, people will get bored of him. This is the damage that I mentioned earlier. People are the only supporter and encourage of me: the people and their admiration made me hopeful to my works.

Sometimes people ask me: what is the origin of the feeling in your songs? I tell them that I have been always among the people, during the war and during the suicide attacks.

I am among my people and never been away from the people except for one month that I had to make a clip abroad. I have understood deeply the pains and joys of my people. I cannot be separated from my country and from my people.

How did you feel when you offered your first art work?
I was rejoiced when people heard and enjoyed my first work. I got pleased when in radios and TVs people ordered my songs because this showed that people have accepted me.

Now, I expect my people not to give up supporting their artists. People should encourage the artists so that together with the people they could elevate the art of the country.

What is your long term wish for your art work?
I wish one day I could achieve worldwide fame. As our people listen to foreign music, I would like the people of other countries to get familiar with Afghan music and listen to them.

I think its better that our singers use our own musical instruments in their songs even when they make mixed songs, they could use our local musical instruments and they must not forget innovations. I myself attempt seriously to present good works to the people. I never let myself disappoint the people who supported me a lot.

How many albums have you offered to the people? 
I have sung many songs up to now, the work on these songs that were presented with the name of “Ehsas” released in the year 2008. Some of these songs had been produced in the forms of clips are different from each other both in the way of performance and in the level of the work.

I have a special song called Shab-o-Rooz az Feraq-e- Roy-e- Janan (day and night in the departure of my beloved’s face) that is shot both in Afghanistan and in the United states. This clip is much different form my other clips.

While you have such public popularity and a lot of fans, why have you made less album?
I believe that a good work demands too much effort. I myself like to previous a work that is better than my present a work, that’s why I have to try hard to be successful.

We asked him about the music and his amusements. He answered our question smilingly:
“I am still an amateur. I do not know this art as a professional. It’s a divine talent that has been granted to me. I was interested in music from the childhood and my friends always encouraged me.

As a child I was playing the Tola: it’s my personal interest and my talent that engaged me in art. I worked with Mr. Nazir Khara for one year and also for sometimes I worked with Ewan Shafiq a Pakistani music director.

Shafiq Mureed Has Been Chosen As Tasvir Afghanistan's Best Artist of the Year 2012

Interview By: Faheem Hunarwar
Title Photo By: Masood Shekaib
Source: Shafiq Mureed