A young singing sensation Afaq Shafi Dar from central Kashmir’s Shalimar is captivating the music lovers on the internet by his adorable voice.
“Music has no boundaries and can reach out to any part of the globe through social media”, Afaq says.
His content on Social Media has earned him thousands of subscribers notonly from Kashmir but around the globe. Afaq is aiming to progress in the genre.
“Music reflects the power of music to bring people together and create a sense of unity and understanding that transcends linguistic and cultural barriers”, he said.
Afaq was initially recognized by people when his first hit song Mouj was released in 2021. Later he was approached by local music labels like Chinar Music and Kasheer music where he recorded two different songs and both gradually got the attention of people.
Afaq has more than 10 hit religious songs which he has composed himself. It took him at least 5 years to get recognized by people.
“My family supported me every time and now people around the world listen to my music through the medium of social media,” he said.
In 2022, Afaq went to Mumbai along with famous film director Onir where they worked together with music composer and director Pritam.
“From my childhood, I followed my dream and before 2019 my songs were limited to schools and colleges. After that, I started singing professionally on social media platforms and got wider acceptance among the youth in Kashmir,” he said.
Some of Afaq’s popular songs include ‘Mouj, Jawab Dikna,Wadyo Sar,Shayid, Shah Khasaan. Few Naats also went viral on social media.
“Patience is the key to learning and understanding any musical instrument. There is no alternative to hard work and consistency,” he said.
“We should always feel proud about our culture and heritage. I want to promote the Kashmiri culture in every part of the globe, so that youth will be more inclined towards heritage art,” he said.
Afaq says music is a form of expression that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers, and it has the power to connect people from different parts of the world, regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs.
