The band was initially composed of three members: Irfan Sheen, Moiz Lalani, and Hassan Ali, all based in the US. Their name, Fitoor, was selected for its meaning in Arabic. It means “madness or passion” which seemed perfectly fitting as the members' passion for their craft has kept them motivated through the various ups and downs they’ve endured during their respective individual music careers.
And the covid pandemic became one more obstacle to work around. Through their own resilience and dedication, and with the help of technology, they quickly adapted to the new era of online collaboration. By using voice notes, video calls and more, they began to operate as a ‘virtual band.’
Post-pandemic power
During the pandemic, Fitoor shifted from the traditional live concert setup to playing virtual concerts, symbolising the post pandemic evolution that’s taken place in the creative world.
“Despite geographical barriers, we were able to come together,” says newest member Sarosh Mawani, who joined in 2021, pointing to the ability of technology, like music, to bring people closer together. So what does their virtual creative process look like?
“It'll usually start with Irfan,” he explains, “in a Whatsapp voice note where he's like, ‘hey guys, here's a thirty second melody that's been swirling in my head, can we do something with it?’”
“Then Moiz is going to be running with percussion and giving all these ideas on what type of drum beats and rhythms and percussive instruments we should be using, and then I'll do some of the production side.”
While they tend to divide responsibility, there’s a “willingness from each member of the band to explore outside of their comfort zone,” says Irfan.
Their set list is composed of a wide variety of music, but they have a strong passion for South Asian styles, specifically Desi music intertwined with Sufi artforms. Their own religious and cultural upbringing also influences their song choices, combined with a desire to connect younger listeners to traditional songs in an appealing manner.
The band members reminisced about one of their first original songs, Badle gi (it will change) which Irfan says they “wanted to make more visible, more heard across different audiences.” The Ismaili Sounds platform seemed the best place to showcase it, and, once it was released, the song spread across the world to the various regions where the Jamat is situated.
“Still to this day,” Irfan explains, “people reach out to me about that song, and they ask me about the meaning of it.”
A few of Fitoor’s virtual performances were broadcast on The Ismaili TV, which again connected them to a global audience. Later, Irfan had an opportunity to jam with Taufiq Karmali, a highly renowned and respected music star in the Ismaili community. Taufiq heard a Qasida that Irfan had performed and reached out to collaborate virtually.
Cross-generational considerations would become something of a theme for the group.
Connecting across generations
Their ability to stay connected to their faith growing up has inspired the band's goal of helping young people today do the same. One of the band’s unique attributes is their aspiration to connect with younger generations of the Jamat in a way that resonates. Discussing their sound, Moiz details how they turn “old, almost endangered melodies from South Asia, and bring them to audiences with a new flavour.”
With music being flexible, permitting room for artistic expression, the band members ensure they include songs, and variations of songs, that will appeal and speak to all generations. Irfan describes their performances as “taking audience members on this journey from when they themselves were kids all the way to maybe if they’re in their 70s.”
For many, music can be a form of comfort, while for others it can help uplift mood or help to connect with one’s faith. With the listeners constantly in mind, Fitoor’s members strive to deliver their best performances for all generations.Their continued creative work has resulted in an array of emotion evoking concerts for members of the Jamat, explains Sarosh.
“We had people crying, we had people dancing, we had people just smiling throughout.”
More recent tracks include their uplifting rendition of Khushali Aayi Hai, released for Khushali last year and Balaghal, released during Ramadan.
Each of their performances is exemplified by their tendency to collaborate, create, and connect. As members have changed over the years, their creative flexibility has enabled an exploration of different processes, and adapting to new methods that work. Now, having thrived creatively during the pandemic, what’s next?
The band have ideas for future projects, but also want to play a mentorship role for other musicians and artists in the Jamat. Having gained fans and followers, the bandmates are sometimes asked to advise fellow creatives. They encourage musicians to embrace official platforms of the Jamat, namely The Ismaili, and to reach out and collaborate with other Ismaili bands where possible. They also encourage artists to push through and keep practising the craft as “at some point, you will see the fruits of the efforts that you put in.”
