Sukhawat Ali Khan, son of Indian-Pakistani vocalist Ustad Salamat Ali Khan and nephew of Nazakat Ali Khan, is a classical singer Sham Chorasi gharana tradition, as well as a performer of North Indian and Pakistani classical music and related folk music. He began singing and playing the harmonium at age seven and has performed around the world. He currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area where he performs in the world-fusion ensemble Shabaz (formerly the Ali Khan Band) with his sister Riffat Salamat and her husband Richard Michos.
About his heritage and music, Ali Khan has said:
Each song I do has classical thought behind it and I know how to sing it properly, but my style comes from my life too. I spent time in New York. I go to clubs. I like the hip hop beat, Latin, rave. ... There's a performing energy there that I also feel. It's the same kind of energy a good Qawwali singer has, and we can really express it freely in America.
Sukhawat's music was recently licensed for use by Surrealist animators the Hive of Dukes, who had recently heard Ali Khan's music online, for a Salvador Dalí -inspired cartoon called Living Evil. Sukhawat is currently playing in two music ensembles in the SF Bay Area: Ji featuring Sukhawat Ali Khan (Real Tribal) and Baraka Moon.
Read more about Sukhawat Ali Khan: Discography
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