There was no roadmap, no certainty, or guarantee of what would come next for Atif Aslam when he was starting his musical journey. In an exclusive conversation with Curly Tales Middle East, the singer opened up about the uncertainty of his early days, dealing with creative blocks and finding a deeper purpose beyond music and money.
‘I Was Clueless,’ Says Atif Aslam
Looking back at his early days, Atif admitted that he had little idea where his journey would take him. After one song, the question was always, “What’s next?” Even after releasing a second song or an entire album, the uncertainty remained.
As his music reached more people, so did the pressure to meet their expectations. From his second album to his entry into Bollywood, every new milestone brought another level of responsibility.
Atif believes much of what he has achieved is down to divine grace rather than a carefully planned journey.
Creative Blocks Are Part Of An Artist’s Journey
Quitting, however, was never something he seriously considered. Creative blocks were a different story.
When inspiration feels endless, there are also times when there is just too much to process. His approach is simple: be thankful, stay patient, sit quietly when needed and keep moving.
Finding A Purpose Beyond Music
Atif also opened up about the fact that his struggles were not only creative. There came a point when he was earning well but started questioning whether money was really the purpose of his journey.
That question pushed him towards giving back and creating opportunities for other musicians. He spoke about his project, Borderless World, which focuses on collaborating with emerging musicians and putting them forward.
He hopes to launch his next season around the beginning or middle of next year, God willing.
His Fourth Album Takes Him Back To His Roots
Interestingly, Atif says his fourth album is also a result of this introspection. The project allowed him to reconnect with the version of himself who simply wanted to make music without worrying about numbers, expectations, or how it would perform.
For an artist whose journey has taken him from early uncertainty to major albums and Bollywood, perhaps that is the biggest full-circle moment: returning to music simply because he wants to create.
Cover Image Courtesy: Internal
FAQs
How does Atif Aslam deal with creative blocks?
He believes in being patient, staying thankful, sitting quietly when necessary and continuing to move forward instead of forcing creativity.
Did Atif Aslam ever consider quitting music?
No. Atif said he never thought about quitting, although he has experienced creative blocks and periods when he struggled to find inspiration.