Their blissful song, Jubilee Mubarak - a tribute to Mawlana Hazar Imam – became an instant hit on social media. It reminded us of the millions of lives the community has changed for the better; filling us with joy, serenity and gratitude. The song was inspired by a multitude of musical styles, bringing together musicians from across the Ismaili world, and warming murids’ hearts everywhere.

Join us in this interview with Salim, as he describes how the duo were able to contribute to the Diamond Jubilee event, both through their song, Jubilee Mubarak, and through the Jubilee concerts around the world.

Salim, how did the concept for the beautiful Jubilee Mubarak song come to you?

Over the last three years, while we've been doing concerts all over the world, I’ve been seeing a lot of Ismailis who are interested in music. It used to make me very happy, but there is one thing I realized, that in our community, there is a lot of talent. I thought I should do something for them and I thought how lovely it would be if, for Diamond Jubilee, I got all of them united to come and perform a song.

I just thought that it would be great for Hazar Imam to see an offering which we make, wishing him, giving him our love, and saying thank you.

That’s a lovely thought. Can you tell our readers about some of the challenges you faced as you created the song?

Getting everyone on the same page was a massive challenge. We worked digitally and it was difficult since we were all working in different time zones. This song took about a month to execute, but the inception took several months. I wanted to make this a global dedication from Ismailis all over the world.

It was a challenge because there were people from Central Asia, Tajikistan, and Iran and I had communication issues with them. Some of them spoke English but not so well. Then, when they sent me their voices or instruments, it wasn't to my satisfaction, so, I had to ask them to redo it, and I liked only some of the stuff, so I used some parts from the earlier take. It was quite a digital festival like that! I found myself picking up Oud from one place and Rebab from the other, it was amazing. The whole process was very enriching, but it was also quite difficult.

What is your favourite part of the Song?

I love the phrase “Aal e Nabi Aulad e Ali”. When Hazar Imam comes for Deedar, somewhere in the  Intezari we use “Aale Nabi Aulad e Ali” and whenever I hear this phrase, I get goose bumps. I really wanted to use this somewhere in this song.

And then there was the extraordinary Jubilee Concert. What inspired the selection of songs for the Jubilee Concert?

There was a lot of thought put into this. People want to enjoy the spirit of music and celebration, so we've kept a great mix of devotional songs and at the same time, some traditional and there are some very popular Bollywood songs.

We used Indian sounds, because they are very appealing and extremely inspirational. People will hear it and feel a sense of tradition and the spirit of connection with our homeland. It’s very important for us to bring in that feeling of people trying to identify where they actually belong and our roots. We come from Pir Sadardin tradition and I thought it would be great to have that connect depicted in this Jubilee concert. It brings in a beautiful sense of tradition and a beautiful sense of Indian folk in the music that we produce.

How was the experience of working with artists globally for this concert?

As a musician I've always been very open to collaborating with people from around the world. It has always been a nice mix of Indo western and all kinds of traditions. What's really amazing is that in the Jubilee concerts, we are also doing English songs. Just a little bit of a mix like some Bruno Mars!

Do you have a message for youth who have just started their journeys in music?

Our Imam has started the Aga Khan Music Initiative and this time our entire goal is to inspire a lot of upcoming musicians and singers in the community to embrace music as the best part of their lives. To practice and to live a better life, because there is definitely a huge influence of this art form that affects our daily well-being. I strongly believe that music, or any form of art, makes a huge difference to our lives. It helps you connect your tradition, it helps you express your feeling better, it helps you find your own peace and truth and it gives you a sense of satisfaction while you're practicing your art form.

What are your thoughts on music being a profession?

We are very excited to give out this message through these concerts. A lot of people think music is just an art and it's okay to have it, and you need not really make it your profession, but that's not the case. Look at us, we've embraced it in its full form and we don't work a single day! I love what I do. I've actually been on a vacation for the longest time and I hope I can spread this message across to everyone. It's not just a passion, it's a passion turned into a profession. The joy of practicing it in daily life as a passion makes you a better human being. It brings communities together, it transcends borders. It's a beautiful sense of giving back.

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The passion Salim-Sulaiman put in their music truly hit a note within Ismailis all over the world. Just as music brings communities together, and transcends borders, so does Ismailism. It is events like these that remind us how vast, diverse, and involved our community is, and so we must continue to honour our faith through good deeds, devotion, and charity. I’m proud to be an Ismaili, and I’m sure you are too!

Wishing you a Hearty and Happy Diamond Jubilee!