Annie Khalid
Annie Khalid is one of the biggest names in music to come out of Pakistan. We got the chance to speak to her about her debut single 'Boom Boom', her career so far and what we can expect from her in time to come.
How did your career in the music industry start?
I started off when I was about 18.
I always wanted to perform - I kind of knew I wanted to be an entertainer - my parents would make home videos and stuff. When I look back I notice I was always at the front - I'd always try and get the most attention. I was like one of those loud-mouthed drama queens! I was always like that and I think when you want something really bad you just make it happen.
Who would you say you're inspired by?
when I was growing up I was very much inspired by the music of the late 90's - when Spice Girls were at their peak, when Britney Spears had just started, Jennifer Lopez had just started her career - I was into boybands like A1 and N-Sync and I was in love with cheesy pop music, and I still am.
You're now at a point in your career where you've sold over five million records, what's that feeling like?
I don't even think of it like that (laughs) I don't really think 'Oh, I've sold five million!'.
I've never overcome any adversaties in regards to people threatening me or telling me I can't do things - nothing like that.
I think I'm really lucky. I think that there's so many people that are trying so hard to get into this industry - even in Pakistan you have emerging artists every day with crazy talent and it's really hard to be noticed and it's really hard to get that platform - especially at the beginning of your career which I was so lucky to have.
Straightaway when the song was released it became 'this hit' all of a sudden and then it infiltrated into India, it was in a movie. It was just such an amazing start so I feel really, really lucky.
As you touched upon you started out in Pakistan. What challenges have you faced in your career?
People always ask me about what it's like to be a Pakistani popstar and to be living in Pakistan, working in Pakistan, singing in Pakistan, and I understand there's a lot of fascination around it but in all honesty I don't have any shocking stories to tell (laughs).
Sometimes I've done concerts, for example there were a couple I'll never forget.
I remember I did one in Hyderabad which is in Karachi and in Hyderabad it was insane. I was the main performer and there were a couple of supporting acts.
I flew in from Lahore to Karachi and then at Karachi we went on a tour bus because there's no planes in Karachi. So we were going through the desert and it was amazing and we had about 60,000. All you could see were heads - it was insane.
I remember having 20 policeman - which at the time I thought was too many bodyguards 'we don't need this many bodyguards or this much security' - but in the end even our policemen needed security! (laughs) It was insane. I remember trying to get off the stage once we were leaving and my manager was almost crying they were so scared because it was like just herds and herds of people trying to touch you!
Our security made a gate and we had a couple of extra volunteers who made a gate with their hands and with their bodies to try and get me through to my bus.
I've never overcome any adversaties in regards to people threatening me or telling me I can't do things - nothing like that.
Now that you're here in the UK, how have you found the public perception?
Quite stereotypical, but always interesting to hear people's views. I totally understand why they think the way they do because there is this idea and this image of Pakistan - especially in the media in the West - so it's fine. I just like to sometimes shock people and tell them what it's really like, and that's interesting because people don't usually - when they ask me questions about Pakistan and what I do - they don't expect the answers that I give them so that's always interesting to see their response and see how it kind of shocks them in a way.
Things do happen there, you can't deny that, there are extremists of course - everywhere, wherever you go there are extremists - but it's not always like that and I think I would definitely love to go back and live there for another 10 years.
So how would you describe your new single 'Boom Boom' out now?
I'd say it's definitely a dancehall track with a twist of Eastern in it - like a twang - people can tell there's a bit of that Asian influence but with Beanie Man in it, it's definitely kind of a dancehall rhythm.
How was working with Beanie Man?
It was fun! I was very - in the beginning - quite intimidated, just scared really. I remember those days I when I used to listen to his songs. I've got a lot of Jamaican friends as well so I've grown up with a lot of Jamaican friends and people and I've listened to that music a lot so I've got such an influence, and with Beanie Man being who he is - a mega star - I was quite scared in the beginning. I didn't know how to act or react, but the minute I met him he put me at ease. He's funny, he cracked a few jokes - everybody laughed - then he was teaching me his accent and how he talks. (laughs) He was really funny and he had everybody laughing on set the whole time.
When you look back at the making of the video - if someone was to watch it you wouldn't stop laughing because the whole time he's just doing crazy things with everybody. He's the kind of person who engages everyone around him - he doesn't make anyone feel left out - it was a great experience and if I had the chance to do that again I would definitely take it.
Do you have any upcoming projects that we should expect?
I'm working now on a lot of English music and there's an album on the way - we're working on an album right now. So a lot of music and a lot of music videos coming up.
Do we have an album name yet?
As of yet it's untitled but that's because we're at the process right now where you listen to new songs every day, and we've recorded a lot of songs but we know that they're not all gonna make it so we're shortlisting. We're at that stage right now so we're not too sure but I think once we get the basic layout of the songs that are gonna be included we'll figure a name.
Are there any further collaborations in the pipeline?
Tere are actually. My next track is a song that's actually for
the Asian British market - a song that I've done with Rishi Rich - a mega producer and I've always been a fan especially since he did that remix for Britney Spears and Madonna, 'Me Against The Music', because I love Britney so I'm working with him now which is great.
In the future and in regards to English names there are a couple of collaborations but I can't say their names yet sadly.
'Boom Boom' featuring Beanie Man is out now.