On June 7, 2014. Click for details.
Karim performs with passion and conviction, with his commanding stage presence and charisma, allowing his audience to be truly connected while they listen to his combination of carefully crafted lyrics, soulful melodies and honest emotions. He began to follow his passion for music at a very young age. Taking music lessons, singing in ritual worship gatherings, crafting the art of music composition and song writing have all helped him realize that pursuing music truly is his heart’s desire. He was born and raised in Pakistan, educated in England and Canada, and chose Canada as his permanent home, indeed, he takes pride in his multi-cultural heritage.
Karim received his PhD in Music and Religious Studies from the University of Alberta (Canada), in 2012. His research examines the aesthetic and power of musical sound within the socio-cultural and religious contexts of Muslims of South Asia and North America. He released his first album “Jhoom Jhoom: Celebration of A Lifetime!” in Canada in 2008. He regularly performs in North America and his greatest honour was to perform in front of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and His Highness the Aga Khan at the opening ceremony of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa, 2008, at the foundation ceremony of the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, 2010. Karim has taught ethnomusicology courses at the University of Alberta since 2011. Some of his courses include Introduction to World Music, Introduction to Ethnomusicology: Popular Music of Bollywood (Hindi Cinema), and Indian Music Ensemble.
He also received an MA in Music and Religious Studies from the University of Alberta in 2005 and he is a graduate of the Institute of Ismaili Studies, UK, where he received a degree in Islamic Studies and Humanities. Karim’s love for his South Asian cultural roots has inspired him to become an up and coming Canadian artist, creating sounds with powerful Sufi lyrics and timeless tunes that are indeed beyond one national boundary, indeed this album is an exceptional contribution in the world of sound.
