Imran belts out favourites

Pakistan-born singer Imran Khan’s made lively debut in Melbourne, writes Tim Blight

Dutch Pakistani singer Imran Khan rocked Melbourne on June 25 as part of the Unforgettable Music Festival which toured Australia and New Zealand throughout the month. Despite headlining the event, the singer, who was making his debut performance in Melbourne, took to the stage long after midnight due to local travel difficulties.

Doors opened at South Melbourne’s Neverland entertainment complex at 10pm, an hour later than publicised, and fans trickled in as DJ Vaibhav, Deejay Ali and Mixtabishi pumped out a musical mix of old and new, Asian and western R&B chart toppers. DJ Vaibhav and Mixtabishi had flown in from Adelaide and Perth respectively for the event, which was billed as Australia and New Zealand’s first ever music and dance festival. Following the local DJ’s, Punjabi singer Zora took to the stage, backed by bhangra musicians PlatinumDholis. Later still, DJ Shadow Dubai hit the turntables and proved himself as the premier up and coming South Asian DJ in the Middle East.

The night however belonged to Imran Khan, whose appearance had been highly anticipated. The crowd went wild when DJ Shadow spun the signature beat of Amplifier, and the 27 year old singer swaggered out on to the stage. The cool tunes lasted long into the night, with Imran launching into the funky Superstar with enthralled fans singing along.  Dressed in casual jeans, a red t-shirt, plenty of bling and his trademark sideways cap, Pehli Waar followed before reaching the point in the evening that many fans had been waiting for – the worldwide smash hit Bewafa. Holding his cameraphone out to the screaming party, he began an acapella version of the hit. At the hook, he cut the mike, allowing the faithful to chant the refrain “Bewafa nikli hai tu!” The bitter ballad has become an unlikely sensation for the singer who shot to fame with his fun bhangra beats.

After belting out his tale of heartbreak (which interestingly, Imran refuses to be drawn out on in any of his interviews) the party continued with the high energy hit Bounce Billo before wrapping up with the pacey Ni Nachleh, Khan’s debut single from 2007. More dancing and beats saw out the night, which was tinged with security issues. Guards regularly pulled revellers from the crowd before dramatically flinging them off stage in a public display of force, while several fights marred the evening for other fans.

Originally from Gujranwala in Pakistani Punjab, Imran Khan moved to Birmingham, England with his family as a child. His family moved once again to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, where he began to break into the European desi music scene. Described as “British Asian music’s current heart-throb”, his style mixes Punjabi lyrics and bhangra beats with the urban garage sensibilities of European nightclubs. Known as being very involved and accessible to his fans, speculation is rife about the release of his next album. The Unforgettable Music Festival kicked off in Perth on June 24, and following Melbourne, the festival headed to Sydney, then Auckland and Brisbane before wrapping up in Adelaide on July 4.