The Up-and-Coming Soundscapers of the Kashmir Valley Wakif Music is a creative team consisting of musician Wajid Music and producer Kafil Qurashie. They combine current electronic and acoustic elements with ancient Kashmiri roots. The strength, beauty, and emotional depth of the valley are echoed in their music. We talk about their creative process, partnerships, and the idea behind Wakif Music’s unique sound in this exclusive interview.
Tell us about the formation of your duo, “Wakif Music.”
In the early stages of our music journey, we were focused exclusively on creating hip-hop. I would often go to Kafil’s home, as we lived in the same town, and we worked on hip-hop together. Before collaborating with Kafil, I (Wajid) was primarily a rapper. However, during the creation of a joint album with UMX and Bleed, we produced a track called “Khaar.” It was during this process that Kafil and I realized we could take our music to a higher level. Kafil felt he had a stronger talent for singing rather than rapping, and we began to explore composing songs together. Over time, we crafted our own sound, which led us to form a duo. We decided to release music under a distinct name that would represent our style, and thus, Wakif was born—“Wa” from Wajid and “Kif” from Kafil.
This is a question for the two of you. Why did you decide to work together because you saw something unique in each other?
The reason we decided to work together is not because of any specific unique trait, but because we have a strong understanding of and respect for each other’s ideas. We consistently share and discuss different concepts, appreciating each other’s opinions. What stands out in our collaboration is this mutual respect and the ability to communicate freely. Kafil brings a natural creativity to the table, often creating something new, while I am always pushing myself to learn and improve, aiming for perfection in our music. This balance of strengths is what makes our partnership work.
Tell us about the entire creative process that went into creating the masterpiece “Akhir Sawaal,” which you recently released and caused waves in the Kashmiri music scene.
“Akhir Sawaal” is a song with deep emotional meaning, and it took a great deal of effort to bring it to our audience. Originally planned in July, it was delayed, but we are now thrilled to have released it. The song carries a personal connection for both of us. I remember when Wajid came to the studio, we initially planned to create a song with happy, love-filled vibes. However, as soon as I strummed the first guitar strings, the melody of “Akhir Sawaal” naturally flowed out.
Wajid immediately knew it was something special, and we decided to set aside the original concept and work on this melody instead. It took us two days to properly compose the track. The music video, though it may seem simple at first, carries a deeper story within it. We hope people will take a closer look and discover the hidden meaning.
This was also our first music video project, and we made many sacrifices to see it through. We’re overjoyed that people are resonating with it.
Could you provide the audience with any information about the planned projects?
Yes, we’d love to share that we have a bunch of tracks coming from Wakif soon. Unfortunately, we recently faced an issue with our system and lost all the projects we were working on, but we’re doing everything we can to recover them as soon as possible. We’re committed to being consistent and delivering our best work. Beyond just the songs, there’s a lot more to expect from Wakif this year, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.
As a Kashmiri artist and producer, do you believe that the feedback you receive from the public influences the way you create?
When it comes to the feedback we receive from the public, there are always two sides: love and hate. Seeing people love our music and support Wakif is incredibly motivating—it gives us hope and pushes us to create more and build something memorable with them. On the other hand, negative feedback can have a mixed impact. Sometimes it affects us, and sometimes it doesn’t. If we were to focus too much on the hate, we might feel the need to stop, but instead, we choose to keep moving forward. Ultimately, the best response to negativity is to keep making progress. Public feedback can have an influence, but it’s important to focus on the positive and keep evolving.
As we all know, the Kashmir valley is known for its rich legacy and sufi music; do you believe this identity inspires your musicality?
Absolutely, there’s no doubt that we are incredibly proud to be Kashmiris, and we feel fortunate to be part of a community with such a rich legacy of Sufi music. This tradition inspires us every day, in every moment. While we listen to various genres, Sufi music is something we return to often—it feels like it heals us, gives us strength, and helps us express ourselves creatively. We’re grateful to have access to the music of legendary Sufi artists like Ab Rashid Hafiz Sahab, Gulzar Ganie Sahab, and the soulful poetry of Rusul Meer Sahab, Rahim Sahab Soporie, and Wahab Khaar Sahab. Their being in sufi music deeply inspires us and keeps us motivated also the things we know our motherland have faced in past and in present have influenced a lot on our music.
Tell us about your favourite projects that you have worked on so far
That’s an interesting question! Honestly, after completing each project, it tends to become our favorite because we put so much of ourselves into the music. However, if we had to pick, working on *Shamma Session Vol. 1* with UMX and Bleed stands out as one of our favorite experiences. Additionally, our project *Hawa Di Kan* holds a special place in our hearts— it’s was our start and so that’s why we consider it as beautiful we’ve worked on.
For the two of you, who gave you the inspiration to become musicians?
As Kafil Quarshie I don’t think anyone ever inspired me it just came naturallly I think Need of being expressive and creative made me a musician
As Wajid Haleem, Kafil is the one who inspires me every day to be a better musician. I don’t really have any musical idols, but I have a friend who means everything to me, and his influence is what drives me forward.
With whom are you hoping to collaborate in the future?
From the outset, we’ve been eager to collaborate with artists whose sounds complement and enhance our own. We envision working with some great talents can’t reveal everything but there is a lot like a lot to come with amazing artists and we hope, and we believe we make good music with them and present it to our people.
Finally, if you could send one message to Kashmir’s young musicians, what would it be?
To Kashmir’s young musicians, our message is this: Trust the process and believe in your music. It’s essential to have faith in your journey and the effort you put into your craft. Challenges and hurdles will come, but they are part of the growth and learning process. Don’t let setbacks or obstacles deter you. Instead, see them as opportunities to strengthen your resolve and improve your skills.
Keep making music with passion and perseverance, regardless of the difficulties you might encounter. Avoid making excuses and stay committed to your art. Your dedication and resilience will be your greatest assets as you carve out your path in the music world. Stay focused, stay motivated, and never stop creating.
Listen to Wakif Music’s latest album on Spotify:
