The Siren of the Seaside City: An Interview with Zoe Viccaji

My favourite track of her recent Coke Studio performances, ‘Raat Gaye’ showcases her vocal range in a very subtle, laid back manner within a theatrical atmosphere — like Mad Men set in Karachi! I ask her about her inspiration for that particular song and its vocal style and what her biggest challenge was while executing her vision.

“‘Raat Gaye’ is actually derived from a song I wrote in English called ‘Quarter to Three’ – It’s something I wrote just when I returned to Pakistan from five years abroad, and I felt a bit lost. I wondered who I was or what I would ever be. That’s when ‘Quarter to Three’ came about – you’ve hit the nail on the head! I think it was stylistically influenced by my love for musical theatre.

“When I was composing it, I was thinking ‘action’ and a storyline of some sort, and perhaps my participation in Chicago the musical was playing its own tunes in my head. When I was asked to contribute songs to the sixth season of Coke Studio, there was no doubt in my mind that it had to be this song. Unfortunately or fortunately CS could only take Urdu songs, so we sat with Sabir Zafar and had the song translated.

“The biggest challenge was getting the gist of what I was saying in English down in the Urdu lyrics. For example, we discovered it was hard to speak in third person in Urdu. The English lyrics go: “Quarter to Three, late after midnight, and she is still awake. //Wondering who she is and what she’ll ever be.” Urdu would just not capture that meaning in a direct translation– try for yourself! So we had to be more innovative and ended up with: “Raat gaye, aisay mein jaanay, kiyun houn jaagti// Kaun houn main, kaun houn – kahani kiya meri? So yes, the translation was the biggest challenge. Getting the flow of words and the weight while retaining the original meaning. Great learnings!”

Viccaji’s original compositions have some lovely poetry in their lyrics: simple yet evocative, nostalgic and even yearning. I ask her about her preferred method of coming up with the words to accompany her music.

“I like it to be a flow of consciousness. I come up with a melody and then just allow random lines to come to the tune whether they make sense or not. As I continue to work the song, the words naturally fall into place or get thrown out. I’m just about to enter the phase of writing again, and I feel my methods are changing slightly- I hope for the better!”

Zoe Viccaji’s diversity as an artist has often been praised, especially in the context of  her theatrical performances, but she’s very clear on how she sees herself: “A singer who loves to act!” With her musical commitments steadily increasing, devoting time to theatre would require some major time management on her part. I ask her if she will eventually branch out into non-musical performances as well.

“I’m not sure. I do know that I yearn to be in a theatrical performance again, especially after seeing my close friends do some plays recently. And yes, non-musical performances also attract me. I was doing a lot of theatre in college and not all of it was musical theatre.”

With contributions to ad campaigns for Levi’s, Bonanza, Wateen and Clear Shampoo, Viccaji has shown remarkable dexterity in creating commercial jingles without compromising on her integrity as an artist. I wonder if this is something she can sustain in the future and whether this blending will be seen in her future albums.

“Yes, I hope it’s something I can sustain. I try to work on music (whether it be singles, jingles, OSTs or playback) that adheres to my sound or my tastes. Of course, I’m always open to delving into a sound that I want to explore or look up to, but nothing that feels like selling out.  While I know justifications can often be made to allow for many things, I try my best to follow my heart and what feels true to it.”

The Levi’s campaign certainly stands as a testament, as her a capella rendering of ‘Mera Bichra Yaar’ with Strings was undoubtedly one of the best commercial pop singles in 2010. Its smooth-as-chocolate vocals and haunting lyrics proved to be a huge boost for Viccaji’s burgeoning fame at the time, and firmly established her as an exceptionally talented singer with a unique approach to reinterpreting songs.

While discussing emerging trends in the Pakistani music scene in the next couple of years, her lament is one that many a Pakistani music fan can relate to. “I’ve always wished for more live shows. Big public concerts! Music festivals, and full-day events revolving around music. Unfortunately the security situation doesn’t allow for that, and that saddens me immensely. I have no choice but to look beyond our borders for that experience – at least for now.”

As my time with the wonderfully eloquent Ms Viccaji comes to end, I ask her about what she wishes she had known when she was starting out.

“Ah, great question! But I’m afraid the detailed answer would be too long. Even after pondering over how things could have been different, or perhaps better if I had known better, I keep coming full circle to this one thought: I am a product today of all that I went through before- the journey was painful at times, as much as it was fun and exhilarating. I’m happy where I am now, and if there’s something I’m not happy with or want to improve, there is time, and there are more opportunities to come.

“I met this Sikh gentleman on the plane who related a very cheesy but true quote that stuck with me: (In a thick desi accent) ‘Don’t forget now – you see the past is the history and the future is a mystery, but the present? It is a gift. So enjoy it and make the most of it now.’ No looking back, I say! Of course I would love to help other people coming into the ‘biz’ in Pakistan so they don’t make the same mistakes, and can have a smoother journey – but then again, they too will only learn through experience. I know that now, in retrospect.”

Clearly, with the velocity that the unstoppable Zoe Viccaji has demonstrated thus far, we can only anticipate the great heights she will surmount in the coming years.

 

Asmara A. Malik is a physician, mother and murderer of darlings,  living in Islamabad, Pakistan. She won the LUMS Short Story Contest 2013 and was shortlisted for the Matthew Rocca Poetry Award by Verandah, an Australian journal of art, design and literature.  She can be reached at http://zoey-istan.tumblr.com/

Natasha Jahangir is a photographer and architecture student based in New York City. She is a regular fixture at New York Fashion Week, and has photographed various shows for Oscar de la Renta. Her photography has also been featured in publications such as Teen Vogue and Hello! India. She can be reached at http://onephotographatatime.tumblr.com/