"It's a wonderful experience to busk in Birmingham."
Birmingham, UK, is a place bustling with talent, among which is the musician Mohsin Naksh.
He is a British-Pakistani individual with a flair for melody and rhythm.
Frequently spotted busking in the city, Mohsin dazzles with his beautiful voice and soul-stirring renditions.
He often sings Pakistani and Indian tunes, melding his voice to create lilting moods and charming vernaculars.
His Instagram page is adorned with video clips of his busking experiences and he has established a keen following.
Mohsin also performs the requests of his live audience, showing his passion for delivering entertainment at its finest.
In our exclusive chat, he delves into his passion for music and his busking exploits.
What inspired you to get into music?
Music has been my ultimate love since my childhood.
My father used to listen to the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Sahab, who was a connoisseur of Qawwali.
I used to listen to his music with my father.
I think that inspired me the most to get into this field.
What motivated you to start busking and performing live?
I came to Birmingham, UK in 2023 and I had two objectives in mind.
Firstly, I wanted to entertain people with my music.
When I reached Birmingham, there were a lot of Indian and Pakistani people who were looking for entertainment.
I thought that this was the best time to entertain them.
Secondly, I wanted to fulfil and hone my passion for singing, so I thought that this was the best way I could follow my passion.
As a British Pakistani, how have your roots shaped your career?
India and Pakistan are very rich in their cultures and music is a major part of them.
So, as a Pakistani, I was very good and had a keen sense of understanding music.
That helps me a lot in my music career.
What do you think are the advantages of busking and how can people benefit from it?
Busking is a good way to get appreciation from the people for your art.
It’s also a good way to market yourself and gain opportunities.
You can get more opportunities from busking. You interact with different people and get different experiences.
Busking gives you an idea of what people want at that moment and also helps you adapt your craft to the changing times.
You often perform in Birmingham, UK. What do you like about the area and your audience there?
Birmingham thrives on diversity. It is one of the most diverse cities in the UK and that is its strength.
You find people from almost every culture and race in Birmingham.
I always get different people asking me to play a vast variety of songs, and in turn, that helps me gain attention.
It’s a wonderful experience to busk in Birmingham.
Are there any musicians who have inspired you in your journey? If so, in what ways?
There are a lot of musicians that inspire me along with singers and songwriters.
Apart from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who I mentioned previously, there are people like Ghulam Ali Sahab and Jagjit Singh.
Gulzar Sahab also is a key inspiration for me.
Among newer artists, I love Atif Aslam, Arijit Singh, and Karan Aujla.
I also really like to perform classical music and pop tunes.
What advice would you give to people who want to explore music as a career?
If you have the courage to work hard and be consistent, then go for it.
Don’t be afraid – just be passionate about the music and be ready to take any knocks as they will come in this industry.
If you have that passion, then this is the best profession for you.
As a South Asian, what do you think of the current Bollywood music scene? Has it deteriorated?
Bollywood music is something which inspired thousands of artists in the last two decades.
However, in the last few years, I have noticed that Bollywood is doing covers and remixes mostly.
But it has the potential to be back in form, which it is getting into and the industry is doing some great things in terms of music.
Can you tell us about any future projects or work?
I am working on two singles at the moment. I’ve recorded the songs and now within a few days, I am going to be shooting their videos.
I am going to release them on every single social media platform and will of course continue with busking and I will also explore new music.
Mohsin Naksh is an artist of tremendous potential and talent.
His wise words about the industry are things that many will find relatable.
Talking about performing live, Mohsin adds: “When the audience appreciates me, for me, it is the most beautiful feeling in the world.
“That’s what keeps me going.”
An asset and a sight for sore eyes in Birmingham, we can’t wait to see what Mohsin Naksh brings us next.
Watch Mohsin Naksh performing live:
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