In the ever-evolving landscape of modern pop music, few artists emerge as true pioneers, leaving an indelible mark with their unique sound and captivating storytelling. A-Zal, also known as Atif Afzal, is one such trailblazing artist who has taken the music world by storm with his debut single, “Movie Script,” released on August 11.
Based in New York, A-Zal is not only making waves as a soulful pop singer on the global music stage but is also breaking barriers as the first pop artist of Indian origin to make his mark in the American pop music scene. His musical journey is one of transcending borders and a rich tapestry woven from diverse influences, shaped by being born in India and nurtured in the vibrant British pop culture of London. This transcontinental fusion gives his music a fresh and unique perspective that resonates with audiences worldwide.
“Movie Script” is not just a single; it’s a sonic adventure. It is a testament to A-Zal’s irresistible musical prowess, effortlessly blending funky vibes, infectious rhythms, catchy hooks, and contemporary pop-laden melodies, embodying the essence of A-Zal’s distinctive style. The track has already carved a place for itself on the USA Mediabase charts, soaring at an impressive #114 during its opening week. It has also secured airplay on radio stations in the US and UK, sharing the rotation with industry heavyweight artists like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, and more.
But “Movie Script” isn’t just a musical delight; it’s a visual masterpiece as well. A-Zal, who also directed the music video, choreographed it with precision, infusing it with a vibrant energy that’s as refreshing as a summer breeze. The video prominently features the artist himself, inspiring viewers to break into spontaneous grooves. The synergy between the invigorating visuals and infectious rhythm elevates the “Movie Script” experience beyond auditory pleasures and into the realm of dynamic visual and sonic artistry.
A-Zal’s journey, however, extends beyond this groundbreaking single. As the only composer of Indian origin after A.R. Rahman to make a mark in Hollywood, he’s now stepping into the spotlight as an artist, storyteller and songwriter, ready to share his own narrative with the world. Having composed soundtracks for Hollywood blockbusters like Marvel Studios’ “Loki” and “Ms. Marvel,” “Movie Script” is an invitation to experience the rhythm of his unique life’s narrative and melodious expression.
Speaking of his new single, A-Zal says,
“When I worked for the movies, I always had a brief to write the soundtracks. I wasn’t able to tell my own story through my music for films. I’m coming out as an artist to tell my story to the world, where I’m the brief myself! It’s not just my songs, it is me.”
In an exclusive interview with Celebmix, we sat down with A-Zal and spoke about the mesmerizing journey behind his debut single, “Movie Script.” We delved into the transcontinental influences that have shaped his musical identity, his previous extensive projects scoring for major Hollywood studios, and the profound shift in his creative path as he steps into the spotlight. We also explored the enormous reaction to his single’s release, the captivating concept and direction behind the music video, and what lies ahead for this rising star in the world of pop music.
Join us as we unravel the story and artistry of A-Zal, a musician poised to make a lasting impact on the global music stage.
Congratulations on the successful release of “Movie Script”. It’s been gaining momentum on radio charts alongside industry giants like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, and the Jonas Brothers. When did you first learn about this achievement, and did you expect such a positive response right out of the gate?
Thank you! I got to know about the song being played on the radio in the second week after its release. I also got to know that it ranked at #114 in the charts, which was big news considering it was just the tenth day of the release. Since it’s my first song from the album, I didn’t anticipate a big start. The first week had a modest beginning, but something magical happened on the tenth day after the release. I received reports that “Movie Script” was already in rotation on various radio channels, not just in the US but also in the UK. I always believed the song had a radio-friendly vibe and was aimed at resonating with youth. Still, I must confess, I didn’t quite expect it to take off so quickly, especially within just the second week. I’m a huge fan of Taylor Swift, and while I love Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa the most, it was an incredibly humbling experience to hear my song played alongside theirs. This was the first sign of the song’s success, and it truly meant a lot to me.
Can you walk us through your creative process for shaping the musical arrangements and melodies for “Movie Script“?
Typically, my musical compositions take shape on either a guitar or a piano. However, the genesis of “Movie Script” followed a slightly divergent path. The initial spark came from crafting the bass melody, which served as the foundation upon which the entire composition unfolded. My focus was on crafting a captivating bass hook that could harmonise with a sparse yet groovy drum beat. While writing the song, I knew I wanted to do two things: a dreamy pre-chorus and a funky chorus that would go with the visuals. I already had a visual in mind for the music video, where there are miniature A-Zals dancing on the hand. So, it was an integration of the audio and the visuals, which I wanted to do right from the start.
Can you tell us why this song is important to you and why you chose it as your first debut single?
I decided to introduce myself with “Movie Script” because of the meaning of the song. “Movie Script” is all about living your life like a movie! My life has been full of dream sequences, like the journey of me making it to Hollywood, migrating to a country, and living without earning a single penny for two years after leaving a corporate job. I have done crazy things and gone against the tide all throughout my life, and the journey seems quite cinematic. So, “Movie Script” was the perfect title, and the song was just the perfect one to debut with.
How do you envision this initial exposure moulding your path as a rising pop star, and what do you hope listeners take away from this track “Movie Script”?
I aim to leverage this current traction and take forward the momentum into my upcoming singles. The second track from the album is set to launch in October, and I’ll be unveiling the release dates shortly. For a rising singer, momentum is really important and I am positive that this launch will have a ripple effect on the next songs too. If my song can take my listeners out of their existing world and transport them into another cinematic world that is full of their fantasies, I’d consider it to be a big win for me. That’s the idea of every song I write, it needs to take my listeners to a different world, at least for a brief moment.
Of course, “Movie Script” marks a significant shift in your artistic trajectory. What drove you to step into the spotlight as an artist and a storyteller in your own right, and how does this shift in purpose and newfound autonomy influence the stories you want to tell?
I took this decision as I really wanted to tell my story to the world and not just compose music for a film’s narrative. I thought it was time I stopped writing music for other characters and started focusing on just one character, that is me A-Zal. My songs are all about the way I feel and every title is a direct synopsis of my life as an artist. I tell my story and journey through my songs and it is far more satisfying to be a storyteller about myself as opposed to film characters. Having said that, I really enjoyed the process of songwriting for Marvel’s “Loki” and “Ms. Marvel” series and these film projects will always be close to me.
Having composed for a diverse range of projects, you’ve certainly navigated different creative landscapes. How do you adapt your musical style and composition techniques to suit the distinct storytelling mediums of films and television?
Every project is unique not only in terms of the script and soundscape but also in the director’s vision. For the same scene, two different directors may want two totally different routes. I always have to take the director’s vision in mind and fuse it with my vision for the scene, which makes it a collaborative process. I really enjoy that collaboration as it is exciting to watch the scene evolve from a blank slate. For me, there is not much difference in the creative process when it comes to films and television when it comes to soundtrack writing. For original scores though, it is slightly different as the themes really matter more in television as the series will be longer in terms of watch hours and also fragmented in terms of episodes. That results in themes being repeated in every episode and they need to have a strong connection with the viewers, while also having a high recall value. That’s the challenge and fun of writing music for television series.
Can you highlight the key differences in your approach between crafting original songs as a sole visionary and composing shorter musical cues for films? How has this transition impacted your songwriting and music structuring?
For my own songs, the process is much more refined and easier as all my songs are related to some aspect of my life and I know that better than anyone else. For some of the intense movies I have worked on such as “Monsoon Shootout” and “Prague”, I almost went into a zone-like method acting mode. I literally would lock myself in the studio and write scores day and night without interacting much with the world while being in that space of characters and narrative. So, the transition from writing for movies to writing for myself is actually an easy one. The only challenge I face is portraying it as accurately as I can to my audience so they get to know the real A-Zal.
The music video for the song beautifully complements its upbeat nature, igniting an instant groove. Can you elaborate in detail on what sparked the creative inspiration for the video and your role in its making? We’d love some behind-the-scenes insights into the production aesthetics and choreography!
I self-directed the music video for “Movie Script” and this was the toughest part of the process. I decided to self-direct the video as I wanted the exact representation of my thoughts into a visual. I am sure there are tons of amazing music video directors who could have done that too, but I wanted to keep it very personal and keep that as a part of my storytelling. Every audio and visual that my fans will see is coming straight from my heart. The reason why I have kept the music video heavily animated is to give the cinematic experience to the audience. The entire storyboard was written by me, but I had a solid team to execute my vision into the visuals. The entire music video took just two weeks to conceive, plan and shoot. However, the animation in the post-production is what took three months and it turned out to be quite complex at the end. But, we were able to get 100% of my thoughts into the visuals, and that was the most satisfying part of the process. It’s interesting to know that most fans reached out to me saying that they loved the music video even more than the song itself. I’d take that!
Your soundtracks have found their way into iconic shows like ‘Loki,’ ‘The Twilight Zone,’ and ‘NCIS: Los Angeles,’ etc. Can you share with us any interesting anecdotes or behind-the-scenes glimpses during your time working on any of these projects, or perhaps from others that have left a mark on you?
These projects were a game changer for me as they helped me get noticed in the industry and with the audience. Some of the audience that liked my soundtracks in these series have reconnected with me for “Movie Script”. The most interesting thing is that I was approached for ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ and ‘The Twilight Zone’ during COVID almost at the same time by CBS. And from there, one project led to another. The biggest standout moment is that every single project had a different genre of music I had to write.
From your impressive list of accomplishments, what do you consider the highlight of your journey so far?
Working with Marvel Studios has undoubtedly been the highlight of my career so far. When I relocated to the USA, I reached out to various Hollywood productions, hoping for a chance to collaborate. Unfortunately, I consistently received the same response: “We don’t accept unsolicited emails.” This left me puzzled and often made me feel like I didn’t quite belong in the industry, despite my involvement in over 12 international films and receiving recognition at esteemed film festivals like Festival de Cannes. However, seeing these very same productions approach me later on was incredibly gratifying. It reinforced my belief that persistence pays off and if you keep at it, things will eventually fall into place.
From London to composing for Hollywood projects, with your Indian roots, how has this rich blend of diverse cultures and experiences influenced your music style and unique perspective?
You are a product of the circumstances that you face in life and every single day ends up shaping you up as an individual. With my diverse cultural exposure, I always call myself a global citizen. I picked up things from various cultures and it has been a variable in shaping my personality. I don’t know how it reflects in my music, but I’m sure it does play some part in my storytelling. The best years of my life were growing up in London and being exposed to British pop culture. British pop music attracted me like a magnet and it still does. Ed Sheeran and Adele are two current pop sensations who I love and their music has such strong storytelling. It all started with the music programs that I took at Hounslow Heath School.
Your music has been compared to Ed Sheeran’s heartfelt melodies which is incredible. How do you infuse your own personal touch into your sound and songwriting while paying homage to the influences you grew up on?
That is the biggest compliment for me. It all started with my cover song “Perfect” which I had put on my Instagram. It got over 230k views and listeners started commenting that I sound like Ed Sheeran. For me, Ed Sheeran’s voice is the voice of an angel, and if I am compared to him, I really don’t mind. In fact, many started calling me the ‘American Ed Sheeran’, which actually sounded weird to me when I first heard it. I strongly feel that I have my own identity which the listeners would know better when they listen to my album ’17 & 11 Nights’, and that’s the reason why I am working really hard to get the record out to the world. Infusing my personal touch is not really a difficult thing actually as it comes naturally. I never take particular inspiration from a different artist as every true artist has their own story, and I have mine too which is unique.
Being the first pop singer of Indian origin to break into the American pop music scene is a significant achievement. What does this milestone mean to you personally and what would you tell other aspiring artists who might be inspired by your journey?
This just shows how amazing the country is in terms of accepting talent. I feel rewarded to know that I am the first artist of Indian origin to break into the American pop scene. I felt even more rewarded to see my name and “Movie Script” being played on radio channels among established American artists. Personally, this milestone is a very important one as every artist wants to be accepted by their audience. We do music for ourselves first, and then for our listeners. Being received so well in the American pop scene encourages me to do more and tell my story completely. For aspiring artists, I would say that you need to be the first one to back your talent. Don’t let others decide. I often see artists seeking validation and asking around if their song is good or not. While it is good to get feedback, you need to believe in your talent before others and also remember that music is subjective, you can never get 100% of the listeners to love your music. So, don’t be discouraged, be at it and make it work.
You’ve worked in both Bollywood and Hollywood. How do these two different music industries compare in your opinion, and what’s your major takeaway?
Bollywood and Hollywood are two diverse industries and their entire process is totally different. Bollywood focuses more on the current trend and my briefs were always to do something that is charting. In Hollywood, I never had such discussions with the directors and music supervisors. We totally focussed only on one thing, which is what the film requires. We never care about what is trending and what is not. That allows me to give my creative best and I really like that approach.
How do you find ways to weave elements of your Indian or British heritage into your music? Can you pinpoint a moment where you felt that this unique blend truly resonated with your audience?
I don’t actively set out to blend the Indian or British cultures I was exposed to during my upbringing into my music. This aspect is more apparent in my film compositions rather than in my pop album. The album predominantly carries a Western sound and doesn’t incorporate elements from world music. However, when it comes to creating soundtracks and scores for films, I do experiment with a hybrid approach by occasionally blending world music instruments into the orchestral arrangements.
How do you maintain your creative drive and stay grounded amidst such transformative experiences?
They both come naturally to me most of the time. But, at times I do have to make additional efforts to maintain the creative drive. There are times when I am working on four unique songs in a single day and it can lead to creative fatigue. In fact, creative fatigue only shows that an artist is active. To break the creative fatigue, I do things like going on road trips around New York. Travelling really helps me a lot to get inspired and maintain that creative drive. To stay grounded is something that I consider really important as an artist. The only way I will continue to be a true artist and tell my true story is by being grounded in spite of any transformative experiences. I have to write true words in my songs, as my listeners want to hear that. For that, I have to stay true to myself and that only happens when you are grounded.
What exciting projects or milestones can we look forward to from A-Zal in the near future?
Up next, I have a series of singles lined up from my upcoming album. The next track I’ll be releasing is titled “Lonely Town,” and I’ll be sharing more details about it in the upcoming days.
Thank you, A-Zal for graciously engaging in this enlightening conversation! With “Movie Script” available on all major digital streaming platforms, A-Zal extends a warm invitation to music aficionados and fans to partake in this exhilarating voyage. Don’t hesitate; immerse yourself in the captivating melodies of “Movie Script” today by clicking here!
A-Zal stands on the brink of etching an indelible mark onto the global music stage, with “Movie Script” serving merely as the inaugural chapter of his extraordinary musical odyssey yet to unfold!
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