H e was rightfully called and died at the age of just 48. But before Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (NFAK) passed away, he accomplished a great deal. It wasn’t just that he popularized centuries-old qawwalis inherited from his 600-year-old lineage of qawwali singers.
His work with producer Michael Brook and Real World Records, culminating in the albums and before his passing, was seminal in putting Pakistani music on the global map. It was monumental, and nothing like it had ever been heard before by either the East or the West. During his 25-year career, NFAK gained fans among international artists, including Madonna, The Rolling Stones, Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, the late Jeff Buckley, and the late Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti.
What does this have to do with the present? To put it in context, Real World Records has announced a new Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan album. According to news on the Real World Records website, ‘lost’ recordings of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, never heard before and recorded 34 years ago, have been unearthed. Titled and set for release next month, on September 20, the album features Nusrat “at the height of his vocal capabilities in pristine sonic quality.
” Producer Michael Brook commented on the unheard recordings: “It touches you; it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Like the imminent light of the record’s title, these songs are transformative and transcendent, crossing languages and cultures. They draw the listener in, no matter their ex.