Hello Amjad, so where exactly are you today?
I’m at home in Delhi. I spend half my time here and half my time in New York – which is beautiful and exciting. New York is the capital of the world. Where are you from?
Time Out started in London.
I had the honour of meeting [the UK’s] Princess Diana, it was amazing, she was so gracious, so beautiful. Later Prince Charles invited me to Highgrove House and Sandringham Palace.
How was the late Princess?
I met her in Delhi on her first and only visit to India. We went to dinner with the Prime Minister [at the time]. [There were] so many celebrations everywhere, and suddenly me and my wife received an invitation – it was only meant for 20 people. The Prime Minister gave so much respect to me he made me sit right in front of her.
How was the dinner?
There was a lot of talk because Diana was cold – it was outdoors in February and she was shivering. Fortunately I was carrying a shawl from my forefathers. I felt hesitant, but finally I got up and gave her the shawl – a shawl that was 400 years old.
Blimey. Did she keep it?
As she was leaving she wanted to return it, but I persuaded her to keep it.
The Dalai Lama is also a fan of yours. What is it about your music that makes it so appealing to so many important people?
I often say there are two parallel worlds in the universe; one is of sound, the other of words. In our country we say sound is like God. In every religion there is sound. [For example] you have the call to prayer in Abu Dhabi – isn’t it beautiful?
It is.
There’s nothing to understand in sound. With sound you can’t lie, can’t manipulate: if I am out of tune people will realise. So my life is so transparent. Music is a food for the soul.
Yes, about your music…
Today we have achieved so much as mankind. With technology we’re at our highest [point], but in music you have 12 notes. These 12 notes were realised 5,000 years ago and today all over the world we use the same 12 notes. No one can create a 13th.
True. You’re playing in Dubai alongside your two sons Amaan and Ayaan,
It’s very rare for us to perform together, but we have a special place [in our hearts] for Dubai. The whole world comes to live in the UAE, and there is a cosmopolitan audience so it’s inspiring to play there.
Amjad will perform at Madinat Theatre, Dubai, on Tuesday May 28. www.timeouttickets.com
