A-Zal Explained
Atif Afzal |
Alias: | A-Zal[1] |
Genre: | Pop music, Film score |
Occupation: | Singer-songwriter, Music composer |
Years Active: | 2013 - present |
Atif Afzal (also known by his stage name A-Zal)[2] [3] is a New York–based singer-songwriter and composer.[4] [5] He is known for his music compositions for the American television series Ms. Marvel (miniseries),[6] Loki (TV series), and The Twilight Zone[7] [8] and for the films Resort to Love, Prague, Pune 52, Monsoon Shootout and Baji.[9] [10]
Early life
Afzal grew up in Hounslow, London and attended Hounslow Heath School.[11] He trained under an alumnus from the conservatoire Royal College of Music, London.[12] He studied engineering from K.J. Somaiya College and then worked at KPMG before starting a career in music.[13]
Career
Afzal began his career in 2013 by composing the film scores and soundtracks of Prague,[14] Pune 52[15] and Baji.[16] [17] [18] [19] He has also worked on international films including a German film, Gift,[20] a European film, Then a Hero Comes Along,[21] [22] a New York short film, The Alternative[23] and Bachelor Girls. In 2017, he scored the background music for Monsoon Shootout, which was produced by Anurag Kashyap and DAR Motion Pictures.[24] [25] [26] [27] He also composed music for the Marathi film Charandas Chor.[28]
Afzal's film albums have been released on major record labels including Universal Music Group, Times Music, Zee Music Company and Saregama. He has also sung the songs 'Shravan Shravan' in the film Baji and 'Chor Chor Saare' in the film Charandas Chor.[13]
Afzal moved to New York in 2018 and studied music at New York University.[29] [30] In 2020, he composed soundtracks for the American television series NCIS: Los Angeles and The Twilight Zone.[31]
In 2021, A-Zal composed soundtracks for Loki (TV series) and Alicia Keys produced Netflix film, Resort to Love.[32] [33]
In 2022, A-Zal composed two soundtracks for Marvel Cinematic Studios' Ms. Marvel (miniseries).[34]
Filmography
Films
Television series
Notes and References
- News: Daniela . Singer-songwriter A-Zal hits a "triple" with Marvel Studios, Netflix and Amazon Prime . Grit Daily News . 27 July 2021.
- News: Njoka . Eric . Musician Atif Afzal speaks to WION: All about A-Zal's 'Marvel'ous journey . . June 25, 2022 . en.
- News: Chopra . Swati . 'The Benchmark Is Very High With Marvel': Ms Marvel's Music Composer A-Zal . . 25 June 2022 . en.
- Tagat . Anurag . New York-Based Music Director Atif Afzal Talks Metal Roots, Making It in the Composing Space - . 22 October 2020 . . 12 October 2020.
- Web site: New York based Indian Singer-Songwriter Atif Afzal has released new mellow single . Radio and Music . en.
- Tagat . Anurag . Composer A-Zal Talks 'Ms. Marvel' Music and Finally Telling His Own Story . Rolling Stone . 8 August 2022.
- News: French . Jordan . Atif Afzal, The Indian Composer Behind Modern 'Twilight Zone' Music Tracks Has His Sights Set on the US Market . Grit Daily News . 11 December 2020.
- News: Khatoon . Farah . Composer Atif Afzal creates a surreal world for Loki's finale . Indulge Express . 30 July 2021 . en.
- News: Atif Afzal: Felt bad when my movie with Salman Khan got shelved . October 29, 2015 . . en. PTI.
- News: Service . Tribune News . Third time lucky . . January 28, 2015 . en.
- News: Correspondent . Special . A-Zal plans to collaborate with American rapper Cardi B for 17&11 Nights . Planet Bollywood . 11 October 2021.
- News: Correspondent . Singer-songwriter A-Zal talks about getting influenced by western music . Planet Bollywood . 27 October 2021.
- News: Shetty . Anjali . November 26, 2017 . When I entered the industry, I knew nobody. . 22 .
- News: Rafat . Prague Music Review . September 14, 2013 . Yahoo! News . en-IN.
- News: Times News Network . Shalmali Kholgade is music director Atif Afzal's lucky mascot . January 28, 2015 . . en.
- News: 'Baji' Music Director Atif Afzal . . en.
- News: . I had the liberty to compose. Absolute India . January 15, 2015.
- News: Rajani . Kanika . February 6, 2015 . A Grand Score!. Screen. 35.
- News: Shreyas Talpade goes gaga over 'Baji' music director Atif Afzal Marathi Movie News - Times of India . . January 24, 2015 . en.
- Web site: Adgully Exclusive: "My inspiration is A.R. Rahman"- Composer and Singer Atif Afzal . www.adgully.com.
- News: Composing music for global films is exciting: Atif Afzal . August 2, 2017 . Business Standard India . IANS.
- News: Bhattacharjee . Rupanwita . It was a bumpy ride: Atif Afzal . December 2, 2017 . The Statesman.
- News: Singh . Arpita . Monsoon Shootout composer used Skype to record music . . November 24, 2017 . en.
- News: Press Trust of India . Atif Afzal: Felt bad when my movie with Salman Khan got shelved . October 29, 2015 . . en. Press Trust of India .
- News: S Abid . Atif Afzal ready to fire with MONSOON SHOOTOUT! . Glamsham.com.
- News: Staff . Atif Afzal lends his vocals for first Marathi track . radioandmusic.com . December 15, 2014 . en.
- News: Abhijeet Sawant joins hands with Bollywood music director Atif Afzal for Baji . Urban Asian . February 5, 2015.
- News: 'Monsoon Shootout' composer used Skype to record music . . . November 24, 2017.
- News: Staff . Atif Afzal (aka A-Zal) talks about his upcoming pop music album. Los Angeles Life and Style . April 9, 2021.
- News: De Souza . Noel . Meet A-Zal, The Indian Musician Who Composed Music for Marvel's Loki . . August 17, 2021 . en.
- News: Rajpal . Rocktim . Remix culture killing originality, says music composer Atif Afzal . . 21 September 2020 . en.
- News: Lulla . Sonia . A journey worth marvelling . . 26 July 2021 . en.
- News: Sen . Debarati . Musician A-Zal: Anywhere you go in the world, you will always hear Bollywood beats being played - Times of India . . August 13, 2021 . en.
- News: Roy . Priyanka . A-Zal chats with The Telegraph on what it takes to break into Hollywood . . June 28, 2022.
- News: Tikare . Sachin . Atif Afzal's score in Monsoon Shootout gets applause . March 29, 2018 . The Free Press Journal.
- News: Sadhwani . Garima . A-Zal becomes a part of the 'Marvel'ous cinematic universe . National Herald . 8 August 2021 . en.
- News: Today . Telangana . Indian-American singer A-Zal composes Alicia Keys . Telangana Today . 14 August 2021.
- Web site: Chandar . Bhuvanesh . Music composer A-Zal on working in 'Ms Marvel' . The Hindu . en-IN . 12 July 2022.
- News: Pereira . Karen . Atif Afzal reveals secret Marvel film on the cards after composing music for 'Ms Marvel' and 'Loki'. . July 1, 2022 . en.
- News: PTI . Ms Marvel track was originally for a Salman Khan film . . 4 July 2022 . en.