Goher Mumtaz

Goher Mumtaz the multitalented composer, lyricist, guitarist and singer born on 27th July in Faisalabad, Pakistan and is the former of the band Jal.
In his early days as a young child Goher played on small piano which he received as a birthday gift.

Restricted by his parents he sold his bike to buy his fist guitar when he was 11 years old and began his musical journey. Goher Mumtaz is a self-taught musician as he acquired no formal training in music and spent countless hours in teaching himself not only playing guitar but even composing and singing.


Goher Mumtaz took his basic education from Divisional Public School, Faisalabad and did his pre engineering and BSc. Hons from GCC and then completed his his MBA.

His life was turned upside down when he met an accident just after his intermediate exams which had him bed ridden for 6 long and painful months. It was this period when he devoted his complete concentration to music by spending many sleepless nights trying to grasp notes and playing on his own guitar and coming up with his own compositions. Goher then went on and on many competitions and performed in local restaurants in Lahore. His life`s turning point was when he came up with Aadat.

Atif and Goher met at college at PCBA in Lahore, and first performed in various hotels in Lahore and Islamabad. After their first single Aadat Atif and Gohhar made their own bands. Atif made a solo album in 2004. Xulfiqar Jabbar (Xulfi), a member of Call band introduced Shazi, a bassist, Jal. Goher added Farhan Saeed after seeing him in a concert at Islamabad. All 10 tracks were by Goher Mumtaz. They released their 2nd album, Boondh.

His inspirations were primarily Junoon and says inspiration can come from anywhere or any sound
First from his family to be in music field
When he recorded his first track and made his parents listed to it they were very proud and from then always supported Goher in his music.

The Albums

Aadat (2004–2006)

Jal released their debut album, "Aadat", which did well at the charts. Their first single "Aadat" topped the charts and stayed at the top for two weeks. Singles from the album were "Panchi", "Bikhra Hoon Main", "Aadat", "Lamhey", "Ik Din Ayega", "Dil Haarey", and "Teri Yaad". Five songs from the album received Top 40 airplay in Pakistan. The title track, "Aadat," was remade for the Bollywood movie Kalyug and “Lamhey” was featured in the Bollywood movie Zehar.

Few of the songs from the album, also appeared on Atif Aslam's debut album "Jal Pari" after Atif Aslam left the band. This led to a dispute between Atif Aslam and Jal about who owned the rights to the songs.

Sales of the album were such that it remained at the top of the Pakistani music charts for several weeks after its release. Sadaf Stereo Records, the record company which released the album in Pakistan announced that Aadat was the best selling album of 2004. This was followed by the release of album in India by HOM Records, where it was highly successful too.

In 2006, Jal had created waves as the latest Pakistani band on the block, even as their album Aadat continues to climb the charts locally, and their track "Woh Lamhe" was a hit, even a year after its release.

Boondh (2007–present)

In 2007 Jal released its second music album named "Boondh" and in 2008 released it in Mumbai, India.Goher Mumtaz, a guitarist, vocalist-composer and lyricist of the band, narrates how this band was formed.

"I always wanted to have a band of my own and a common friend introduced Farhan Saeed to me. Then we jammed together for five-ten minutes and thereafter we started our performances. We never looked back after 2003 album 'Aadat' was released. Thus, the band was formed, with the name 'JAL'."says Goher

The name suggests that the band is just a small droplet of water in the sea of music. "Boondh" which features Bollywood actress Amrita Rao in one of its music videos has a total of 12 songs, including two unplugged versions and two remixes. Farhan Saeed, the lead vocalist of the band, explained in detail why the album was titled 'Boondh'.

"'Boondh' is not the name of any song in the album, but is basically the theme of the album and covers all the songs in it. The name suggests that we as a band are just like a small droplet of water in the sea of music, which covers Pakistan, Asia and the entire world where our music is heard. It is our small contribution to the sea of music," said Farhan.

This album focuses primarily on the pop and the soft rock genres. The album was followed by a live tour, mainly in South Asia, with concerts all over Pakistan, and a few places in India

Jal

Jal was formed in Lahore in 2002 when Gohar Mumtaz composed his first song "Aadat" and began his search for likeminded musicians to complete his band. He saw Atif Aslam performing in college function and was impressed by his voice and offered him to join the band and later he met Shazi(Aamir) had few jamming sessions with him and invited him to join the band.

Jal's first song "Aadat" was released in December, 2003. Before the release of its video "Aadat" was released of the internet through local Pakistani web portals. The song enjoyed the status of the most downloaded Pakistani song on the internet for quite some time and was very popular by the time the video was released.

Directed by Umer Anwar which took Pakistani music scene by storm. Receiving an amazing amount of air time by all the music channels and entering music charts. The video was rated 4th best video of the year 2003 by ARY The Muzik within days of its release. The success of the "Aadat" can partly be gauged by the countless concert offerers the band received immediately after the release of the song and partly by its rating to date on music channels.

However, by the end of December, 2003 due to musical differences, Atif Aslam parted ways with the band while Gohar Mumtaz once again searched for a vocalist. It was then that Sultan Raja, Bassist of Call, introduced Farhan Saeed Butt to Gohar and thus Jal found a new voice. By the time Jal came up with their new line-up "Aadat's" video was already doing rounds on the local music channels with the former singer Atif Aslam's vocals. The song was thus re-done for the official release in their debut album Aadat.

Music style

Jal is fond of Junoon, and is influenced by singers like Hamid Ali Khan and Mehdi Hassan. Jal's sound primarily falls in the Pop/Rock genre. Playing along the lines of Latin-Acoustic guitars, the main emphasis of their music is on the melodies and the lyrical content. Keeping their songs melodious and catchy at the same time the band believes that music is truly the world's universal language capable of bringing our hearts and souls together. A well composed song, personified with honest and heartfelt lyrics and spirited rhythms, will eventually be heard by manifestation of emotions expressed in an energetic and harmonious manner. Fueled by the desire to freshen up the Pop/Rock genre in Pakistan these qualities give Jal's music a very high degree of accessibility both in terms of composition and lyrics.

Band members

Current

Farhan Saeed- Vocals ,lyrics.

Goher Mumtaz - Lead guitars, vocals, lyrics.

Aamir Sheraz - Bass guitar, backing vocals.

Salman Albert - drums

Gumby – drums

Former

Atif Aslam - vocals, backing vocals

Sessional

Saad Sultan - rhythm guitar

Awards

Within days after release Aadat's video was declared the 4th best video. It remained on the top of the charts for over two weeks since its video release.

Jal's single Woh Lamhey broke through to the charts instantly and stayed on the top for two continuous months.

Jal's video Ik Din Aye Ga was declared the 2nd best video among the top 100 videos selected by The Musik channel.

Jal's debut album Aadat was declared the best selling album of 2004 on Geo TV by Mr. Khalid Sadaf (Owner of Sadaf Stereo).

Jal also received a special award by Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital in recognition of their support and efforts to raise funds for fighting cancer in Pakistan.

In 2006, Jal won an award at MTV Asia Awards 2006, following an award Indus Music Awards for best rock band in Pakistan.

In 2008 Jal won a best song Musik Award for the song Chalte Chalte.

In 2008 Jal won a best song award, the best video and the best album of the year at the Lux Style Awards.