Shallum Asher Xavier
| Shallum Asher Xavier | |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 September 1978 |
| Origin | Karachi, Pakistan |
| Genres | Rock, fusion |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, record producer |
| Instruments | Guitar |
Shallum Asher Xavier is a Pakistani guitarist, composer and music producer. He has been recording professionally for 15 years, and has played as a session musician and recorded with most of the renowned Pakistani mainstream artists including Ali Haider, Najam Shiraz, Zeb and Haniya, Hadiqa Kiyani, and Strings.
In 2003 Xavier, with Imran Momina formed the internationally acclaimed band Fuzön. Shallum is currently working on his own album which features various artists from across borders.
Xavier fas been awarded Best Guitarist of Pakistan 2 years running, as well as an award for Best South Asian Band and Best Composer for his composition of Khamaj. He has collaborated independently with Ingrid Kindem, Hildegun and Mocci (Fryd), and has performed with them on a number of occasions in both Pakistan and Norway.
Born in Karachi, Pakistan, in 1978 to Samuel and Shirin Xavier, Shallum is the second of four siblings, and the oldest son. He grew up around music and musicians, and began experimenting on the keyboard when he was eight. Inspired by the American pastor at his Sunday school who played the guitar, Xavier knew he wanted to play live music, and began to teach himself.
Adopting Steve Vai and Joe Satriani as his mentors, the switch to guitar was complete. Xavier saved up his allowance, and bought his first acoustic guitar for Rs. 1000 from a chappati wala (roadside flatbread vendor) who had an after hours job at a guitar manufacturing workshop. He used this guitar for 3 years, bruising and cutting himself on the low-grade quality. He then sought out a musician who would teach him the basics of the guitar and musical theory. Roland lived across the street from Xavier and started teaching him. Xavier would also trek over by bus to a place near the commercial hub of Karachi where there would be rejected publications, and buy guitar player magazines- the only source for information on music available at the time.
Xavier did not have many friends, so when he discovered one other person in his neighborhood, Ovais, who was apart from the rest like himself, he found someone equally involved and determined about learning as much as possible about music and musicians internationally. Having someone who could relate to his passion was an incredible experience for him. Before long, some of Xavier's school friends from Saint Paul's English High School also started learning various instruments, and when Xavier was 14, they formed a band. They would practice day and night, often for twelve hours at a stretch. The fact that he had a group of friends determined about music, while realizing there wasn't a real "future" in it, was important. They were having fun. This support group was indispensable, having to encourage each other because there was little or no support from anyone else around them in their pursuit of this unconventional and uncertain career path. They were driven to focus on their music, be able to play well. As for Xavier, this was when he started focusing exclusively on who and what he wanted to BE.
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