Farhad Humayun Explained

Farhad Humayun
Native Name:فرہاد ہمایوں
Genre:Rock
Occupation:
  • Singer
  • Songwriter
  • Drummer
  • Percussionist
  • Composer
  • Audio engineer
Instrument:
  • Drums
  • Percussion
  • Guitar
Associated Acts:
Birth Date:5 October 1978
Birth Place:Jersey, United Kingdom
Death Place:Lahore, Pakistan
Years Active:2003–2021

Farhad Humayun (; 5 October 1978 – 8 June 2021) was a Pakistani singer, drummer, record producer and video artist.[1] He was popularly associated with the Pakistani drum jam band Overload[2] [3] [4] which he founded in 2003. Farhad[5] started his career as underground musician and formed two bands Co-Ven and Mindriot as a drummer. He worked with artists such as Atif Aslam, Symt,[6] Maha Ali Kazmi[7] and Meesha Shafi. Humayun received many awards and accolades for his work. He was also the owner of Riot Studios, a recording studio and music performance venue in Lahore.

Early life

Humayun was born on 5 October 1978 in the British Channel Island of Jersey at the Jersey International Hospital to parents Navid (née Rahman) and Shahzad Humayun.[8] [9] [10] His mother Navid Shahzad is a TV, theatre and film actress, scholar, and academic. She is also a recipient of the Pride of Performance, the highest literary award in Pakistan.[11] His father was an automobile salesman and an award-winning cricket commentator in Pakistan between the 1970s and the 2000s.[12] Humayun's maternal grandfather S. A. Rahman was a Judge at the Supreme Court of Pakistan and then Chief Justice of Pakistan in the 1960s.[13] [14] [15]

Farhad grew up in the Gulberg area of Lahore[16] and studied at Aitchison College until secondary school. He went to the National College of Arts in Lahore where he earned his bachelor's degree in fine arts in painting between 1997 and 2000.[17] He also studied audio engineering at the Recording Workshop in Ladbroke Grove, London.[18] [17]

Career

Humayun started playing drums at age 14 and was a regular in the underground movement in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad in the early 1990s. His influences at the time were mostly metal bands, such as Judas Priest, Dio, Black Sabbath, AC/DC.[10] He started as the drummer in the alternative rock band Co-Ven playing some originals but mostly covers by Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana, as was the norm at the time when satellite television was catching on in Pakistan. He formed his own metal band in 1994 called Mindriot inspired by the Soundgarden song.

Humayun recorded drums and toured with major Pakistani rock acts such as Noori and Fuzön and also served as the house band drummer for Coke Studio (Pakistani season 5) in 2012. He wrote with and recorded Atif Aslam on his first three albums as well as on Coke Studio.[19] Farhad produced Meri Kahani by Atif Aslam in 2006.[20]

While studying at the National College of Arts, Humayun[21] started casually jamming with friends at events of the college's Western Music Society, of which he was the president.[22] [23] That laid the foundation of one of Pakistan's most iconic and original acts Overload in 2003.[24] The band's mix of the modern (trap) drums set with traditional, mystical Dhol (drum), alternating between Indian Classical beats and Rock became a rage in Pakistan. Overload was a band of choice at fundraisers, celebrations, and cricket matches opening and closing ceremonies, such as the launching ceremony of the Pakistan Super League team Lahore Qalandars.[25] Known as the "loudest band of Pakistan",[26] Overload won numerous awards, including the Lux Style Award for Best Live Act in 2006.[27]

Humayun remains the artist with the most number of nominations[28] for a musician at the Lux Style Awards with 13 nominations and two wins.[29] He was also a successful businessman and owned and ran an entertainment and arts company Riot Productions (subsidiaries Riot Films, Riot Studios).[30] Humayun was also termed as the Pride of Pakistan by a popular newspaper Daily Times (Pakistan).[31] His song Jeet was played at Prime Minister Imran Khan's rally in Washington D.C in 2019.[32]

Collaborations

Humayun had multiple collaborations with other Pakistan-based artists including Ustad Jaffar, Nasir Sain, Pappu Sain and Tanveer Sain.[33] [34] He also released English singles including Give In[35] produced by Richard Hilton, keyboardist of the band Chic. The songs feature iconic musicians like Tony Levin on bass, David Torn on guitars and Richy Stano also on guitars. Recorded at Clubhouse Studios in Rhinebeck New York, the song was released in 2018. Farhad started his solo career in 2018 and released a number of singles including Murr Ke Dekho[36] and Kambakht[37] with Faiza Mujahid.[38]

Endorsements

Humayun was a brand ambassador for big brands, such as Porsche,[39] Dell,[40] Samsung,[41] Chester Bernard clothing,[42] and telecommunications companies including Mobilink,[43] and Warid.[44] He was featured in the television advertisement for Samsung Galaxy A.[45]

As of 2019, Humayun was the producer for Levi's Live,[46] [47] a project of the Levi Strauss & Co. on the revival of live music in Pakistan. He also produced Pepsi Smash for Pepsi Pakistan.

Personal life

Humayun was married to Asmaa Mumtaz.[48] They were divorced at the time of his death. In October 2018, Farhad was diagnosed with a brain tumor.[49] The singer announced a full recovery the next month after the tumor was removed successfully.[50]

Humayun died on 8 June 2021 of undisclosed causes.[51] [52] [17] [53]

Awards

!Year!Award!Category!Result
2005Indus Music AwardsBest New Artist
2006Lux Style AwardBest Live Act
2014Lux Style AwardBest Video Director
2014Hum TV AwardSong of the Year
2017Hum Style AwardMost Stylish Performer of the Year
Source:[54]

References

  1. Web site: Pride of Pakistan Farhad Humayun . 1 August 2019 . Daily Times . en-US . 21 August 2019.
  2. Web site: 12th Lux Style Awards 2013 Farhad Hamayun grabs nominations in two categories . . 21 August 2019.
  3. Web site: Farhad Humayun diagnosed with brain tumour . 2 November 2018 . The Express Tribune . en . 21 August 2019.
  4. Web site: Not so perfect 'Nimmi Nimmi' marks the return of Overload . 26 November 2014 . dawn.com . en . 21 August 2019.
  5. Web site: Aima and Farhad Humayun attend Indian classical band Jaubi's gig in Lahore . 4 May 2019 . Daily Times . en-US . 21 August 2019.
  6. Web site: SYMT and its love for music . 31 May 2013 . The Express Tribune . en . 21 August 2019.
  7. Web site: Keeping up with the pace of time . 17 December 2014 . The Express Tribune . en . 2 October 2021.
  8. Web site: "People have ceased to think" - Navid Shahzad. Newsline. en. 21 August 2019.
  9. Web site: Pakistan Cricket Board - official website. pcboard.com.pk. 21 August 2019.
  10. Web site: Talented and stylish - Farhad Humayun. 13 June 2021. www.thenews.com.pk. en.
  11. Web site: Popular Pakistani musician Farhad Humayun passes away, tributes pour in. 13 June 2021. Khaleej Times. en.
  12. Web site: 9 June 2021. Singer Farhad Humayun passes away. 13 June 2021. dawn.com. en.
  13. Web site: 5 August 2019. Pride of Pakistan Navid Shahzad. 13 June 2021. Daily Times. en-US.
  14. Web site: Farhad Humayun – In Memoriam Instep thenews.com.pk. 13 June 2021. www.thenews.com.pk. en.
  15. Web site: "People have ceased to think" - Navid Shahzad. 15 June 2021. Newsline. en.
  16. Web site: From passion to brilliance. 8 January 2015. The Nation. en. 21 August 2019.
  17. Web site: 9 June 2021. Singer Farhad Humayun passes away. 9 June 2021. dawn.com. en.
  18. Web site: Usman . Younas. 18 June 2013. Interview: Tunes of Overload with Farhad Humayun. 9 June 2021. dawn.com. en.
  19. Web site: Coke Studio 5: Move to the music. 4 May 2012. The Express Tribune. en. 21 August 2019.
  20. Web site: No covers, just originals for new series: Farhad Humayun. 12 May 2013. The Express Tribune. en. 21 August 2019.
  21. Web site: Meesha Shafi, Farhad Humayun and more mourn Linkin Park vocalist's death. Images Staff. 21 July 2017. Images. en. 21 August 2019.
  22. Web site: India-Pakistan musical bond is strong, says Shafqat Amanat Ali. 15 June 2021. gulfnews.com. 2 April 2016 . en.
  23. Web site: 23 October 2020. Coca Cola Has Been Served!. 15 June 2021. Media Quotient Inc.. en-US.
  24. Web site: Not so perfect 'Nimmi Nimmi' marks the return of Overload. Entertainment Desk . 26 November 2014. dawn.com. en. 21 August 2019.
  25. Web site: Lahore Qalandars launch with Overload. Javed. Faizan. 30 January 2016. The Nation. en. 21 August 2019.
  26. Web site: Overload vocalist Farhad Humayun diagnosed with brain tumour. www.thenews.com.pk. 2 November 2018 . en. 21 August 2019.
  27. Web site: 12th Lux Style Awards 2013 Farhad Hamayun grabs nominations in two categories. Pakistan Today. www.pakistantoday.com.pk. 21 August 2019.
  28. Web site: Lux Style Awards: Who will bag the music awards?. 4 July 2012. The Express Tribune. en. 21 August 2019.
  29. Web site: Overload's Ankahi nominated for Lux Style Awards 2013!. 16 May 2013. Pakistani Fashion - Entertainment News by EbuzzToday. en-US. 21 August 2019.
  30. Web site: When Aima and Maya rocked the house!. 7 February 2019. Daily Times. en-US. 21 August 2019.
  31. Web site: Pride of Pakistan Farhad Humayun. 1 August 2019. Daily Times. en-US. 21 August 2019.
  32. Web site: Farhad Humayun's song 'Jeet' played at Prime Minister's rally in Washington D.C.. www.thenews.com.pk. en. 21 August 2019.
  33. Web site: Images Staff. 7 December 2015. Did you know? Overload rocked the streets of Islamabad. 13 June 2021. Images. en.
  34. Web site: Dhamaal - Overload 2007. 13 June 2021. ReverbNation. en.
  35. Web site: Farhad Humayun releases first English single. Ameen. Nida. tnst.thenews.com.pk. en. 21 August 2019.
  36. Web site: Farhad Humayun releases first solo single titled 'Mur Ke Dekho'. www.thenews.com.pk. 21 July 2017 . en. 21 August 2019.
  37. Web site: Hamza Ali Abbasi turns lyricist with Farhad Humayun's new song Kambakht. Images Staff. 20 August 2018. Images. en. 2 September 2019.
  38. Web site: Overload's Farhad Humayun drops 'Kambakht' video. gulfnews.com. 20 August 2018 . en. 21 August 2019.
  39. Web site: Farhad Humayun chosen by Porsche Pakistan.
  40. Web site: Usman. Younas. 18 June 2013. Interview: Tunes of Overload with Farhad Humayun. 15 June 2021. dawn.com. en.
  41. Web site: ul Haq. Irfan. 18 June 2015. Farhad Humayun Stars in Samsung Galaxy TVC. 15 June 2021. HIP. en.
  42. Web site: High Profile Magazine. 15 June 2021. Issuu. 7 June 2011 . en.
  43. Web site: Obituary for Farhad Humayun: A Dreamer and a Fighter - Nayha Jehangir Khan - Youlin Magazine. 15 June 2021. www.youlinmagazine.com. en.
  44. Web site: Farhad Humayun – Warid Glow. 15 June 2021. Koolmuzone. en-US.
  45. Web site: Farhad Humayun Stars in Samsung Galaxy TVC. ul Haq. Irfan. 18 June 2015. HIP. en. 18 February 2020.
  46. Web site: Farhad Humayun makes a comeback after 'life altering' surgery . Pakistan Today . www.pakistantoday.com.pk. 21 August 2019.
  47. Web site: An exciting new music platform launched in Lahore. 27 September 2016. Daily Times. en-US. 21 August 2019.
  48. Web site: Fashion's rock chick. Instep Magazine . 15 January 2021.
  49. Web site: Overload vocalist Farhad Humayun diagnosed with brain tumour. 15 January 2021. www.thenews.com.pk. 2 November 2018 . en.
  50. Web site: 18 November 2018. Singer Farhad Humayun makes full recovery after getting brain tumour removed. 15 January 2021. Something Haute. en-US.
  51. News: Ace musician Farhad Humayun passes away . The Express Tribune . 8 June 2021.
  52. Web site: Arif. Aayan. 8 June 2021. End of an Era - Overload's Farhad Humayun Passes Away. 9 June 2021. Musicians of Pakistan.
  53. Web site: Pakistani singer Farhad Humayun passes away. 9 June 2021. www.thenews.com.pk. en.
  54. Web site: Saira . Agha . 1 August 2019 . Pride of Pakistan Farhad Humayun . . Pakistan . en-US . 9 June 2021.

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