Zameer Rizvi
Encyclopedia
Zameer Rizvi is a singer/songwriter
best known for his debut song 'Win or Defeat' that was licensed as a theme song by the 2010 Paralympic Games and performed at the 2010 Vancouver
Olympic Games
. He has performed along-side artists including Noori
, Junoon and John Mayer
. Zameer sings in multiple languages (English
, Urdu
, Hindi
, Punjabi
), and has been compared to composers like AR Rahman
. Zameer's debut album was produced by multiple Grammy Award winning producer
, Steve Thompson
.
, Pakistan
. He was raised in Libya
, Saudi Arabia
, Pakistan
, England
and finally Canada
. In 1995, Zameer and his family immigrated to Canada
and currently reside in Mississauga, Ontario
. Zameer is the youngest of 4 siblings, who later formed their own band. In 1998, Zameer and his two brothers, Ali and Hussain, released their first EP as the band Dead Shyre. Although it received moderate success, Zameer credits Dead Shyre for teaching him the basics of recording and production. They also have one sister, Tara Both of Zameer's parents are university professors. Zameer holds a bachelors degree in electrical engineering from the University of Western Ontario
.
in London
. His research paper, titled Auditory Scene Analysis of 20th Century Popular Music
was published by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Western Ontario
.
to pursue his music career. He formed a band and performed at local Toronto
open mics and bars including Lee's Palace
and the Horseshoe Tavern
. Over the next two years Zameer steadily moved up Toronto's live music food chain, performing at bigger and better venues including the Opera House
, Hershey Centre
, and ultimately the Skydome (Rogers Centre).
It was around this time that Zameer wrote and released his debut single 'Win or Defeat', and was nominated as 'Best Artist' at the Toronto Independent Music Awards
. He was also ranked amongst the top 10 live acts in Toronto
by the world's largest music festival, Emergenza
. Record labels and producers started paying attention, and Zameer was approached by multiple Grammy Award winning producer
, Steve Thompson
. Steve later went on to re-produce 'Win or Defeat', which Zameer debuted for 30,000 spectators during a sporting event at the Skydome in Toronto.
. The Paralympics paid to produce the video for 'Win or Defeat' which featured Canadian Paralympic Gold Medalists Bradley Bowden and Paul Rosen
. Soon after the video's release, 'Win or Defeat' was in rotation on MTV
, MuchMusic
and over 45 radio stations nationwide. Zameer went on to perform 'Win or Defeat' at the 2010 Vancouver Games
in Whistler, BC
during the Paralympics.
.Producer
credits for Zameer's debut album titled From Under The Bleachers include 5 time Grammy Award winner Steve Thompson
. Zameer has toured Norway
, Pakistan
, Canada
and USA to promote his debut release.
From Under the Bleachers has had 3 singles released so far: (1) 'Win or Defeat' (2) 'With you' and (3) 'Glory of Love'. The video for Win or Defeat (produced at Fatlabs
studio) stars Paralympic Sledge Hockey Gold Medalists Brad Bowden and Paul Rosen
. The music video for With You was shot in Havana
, Cuba
and portrays the true story of how he met his girlfriend (who plays herself in the video).
and Research in Motion
.
Zameer is also a multi-instrumentalist and plays the guitars, drums, and keyboards on most of the songs on From Under The Bleachers.
earthquake victims. In 2008, Zameer decided to donate partial profit from the sales of his song 'Win or Defeat' to the Canadian Paralympic Foundation
, an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of Canadian's with disabilities through sport. Between 2009 and 2010, Zameer participated in a series of performances for Hands Up Canada, a charitable initiative to support Paralympic Sports across 30 shopping malls in Canada.
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
best known for his debut song 'Win or Defeat' that was licensed as a theme song by the 2010 Paralympic Games and performed at the 2010 Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
. He has performed along-side artists including Noori
Noori
Noori is a rock band from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, formed in 1996. The band is directed by founder, lead guitarist and songwriter, Ali Noor, and his brother, Ali Hamza, who were soon joined by bassist Muhammad Ali Jafri and drummer Salman Albert...
, Junoon and John Mayer
John Mayer
John Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
. Zameer sings in multiple languages (English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
, Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
), and has been compared to composers like AR Rahman
A. R. Rahman
Allah Rakha Rahman is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and philanthropist. Described as the world's most prominent and prolific film composer by Time, his works are notable for integrating eastern classical music with electronic music sounds, world music genres and...
. Zameer's debut album was produced by multiple Grammy Award winning producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, Steve Thompson
Steve Thompson (musician)
-Biography:Steve Thompson is an American record producer, Having worked with Guns N Roses, Madonna, John Lennon, Wu Tang, Korn, Cutting Crew, Belouis Some,Public Enemy, Whitney Houston, Metallica and Red Hot Chili Peppers...
.
Early life and career beginnings
Zameer was born in LahoreLahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. He was raised in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and finally Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In 1995, Zameer and his family immigrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and currently reside in Mississauga, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Zameer is the youngest of 4 siblings, who later formed their own band. In 1998, Zameer and his two brothers, Ali and Hussain, released their first EP as the band Dead Shyre. Although it received moderate success, Zameer credits Dead Shyre for teaching him the basics of recording and production. They also have one sister, Tara Both of Zameer's parents are university professors. Zameer holds a bachelors degree in electrical engineering from the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
.
2002-2004: Auditory Scene Analysis Research
During 2002-2004, Zameer studied the mathematical ingredients of some of this era's hit music while attending the University of Western OntarioUniversity of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
in London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. His research paper, titled Auditory Scene Analysis of 20th Century Popular Music
Auditory scene analysis
In psychophysics, auditory scene analysis is the process by which the human auditory system organizes sound into perceptually meaningful elements. The term was coined by psychologist Albert Bregman...
was published by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
.
2005-2007: Win or Defeat
In 2005 Zameer moved back to TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
to pursue his music career. He formed a band and performed at local Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
open mics and bars including Lee's Palace
Lee's Palace
Lee's Palace is a concert hall located on the south side of Bloor Street West east of Lippincott Avenue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The facility consists of a converted motion picture theatre and can accommodate several hundred guests.- Founding :...
and the Horseshoe Tavern
Horseshoe Tavern
The Horseshoe Tavern is a concert venue located at 370 Queen Street West in downtown Toronto, and has been in operation since 1947. Owned by "JC", Ken Sprackman, Craig Laskey and Naomi Montpetit, the venue is a significant part of Canadian musical lore...
. Over the next two years Zameer steadily moved up Toronto's live music food chain, performing at bigger and better venues including the Opera House
The Opera House (Toronto)
The Opera House is a music venue in Toronto, Canada. It is one of the city's most historic performing venues, opening in 1909. It has also been a cinema and a live theatre venue. It is located at 735 Queen Street East, east of downtown in the Riverdale neighbourhood.-History:It opened in 1909 as a...
, Hershey Centre
Hershey Centre
The Hershey Centre is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment complex located in Mississauga, Ontario, across the street from Iceland Mississauga.-History:...
, and ultimately the Skydome (Rogers Centre).
It was around this time that Zameer wrote and released his debut single 'Win or Defeat', and was nominated as 'Best Artist' at the Toronto Independent Music Awards
Toronto Independent Music Awards
- About the Toronto Independent Music Awards: :Toronto Independent Music Awards, otherwise known as the TIMAs, is an independent awards ceremony, showcase series and seminar founded in 2004 by Daniela Oliva. The concept evolved out of a desire to support independent musicians and bring together the...
. He was also ranked amongst the top 10 live acts in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
by the world's largest music festival, Emergenza
Emergenza
is an international music festival for up-and-coming bands, with concerts in more than 150 cities around the world.- History :The first Emergenza Festival was the result of an idea of a group of musician friends in 1991. In 1992, the first ever Emergenza Festival in Rome was held to 245 people....
. Record labels and producers started paying attention, and Zameer was approached by multiple Grammy Award winning producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, Steve Thompson
Steve Thompson (musician)
-Biography:Steve Thompson is an American record producer, Having worked with Guns N Roses, Madonna, John Lennon, Wu Tang, Korn, Cutting Crew, Belouis Some,Public Enemy, Whitney Houston, Metallica and Red Hot Chili Peppers...
. Steve later went on to re-produce 'Win or Defeat', which Zameer debuted for 30,000 spectators during a sporting event at the Skydome in Toronto.
2008-2010: Partnering with the 2010 Vancouver Games
'Win or Defeat's' powerful message is to overcome all obstacles to pursue a dream, which resonated with the Canadian Paralympic Committee. The Paralympics subsequently licensed 'Win or Defeat' to use as a song promoting athletes with disabilitiesDisabled sports
Disabled sports are sports played by persons with a disability, including physical and intellectual disabilities. As many of these based on existing sports modified to meet the needs of persons with a disability, they are sometimes referred to as adapted sports...
. The Paralympics paid to produce the video for 'Win or Defeat' which featured Canadian Paralympic Gold Medalists Bradley Bowden and Paul Rosen
Paul Rosen
Paul Rosen is a Canadian sledge hockey goalie and motivational speaker from Thornhill, Ontario. Rosen suffered a leg injury during a hockey game as a youth, and the resulting damage, infections and pain to his leg plagued him for years until his lower leg was amputated at age 39...
. Soon after the video's release, 'Win or Defeat' was in rotation on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
and over 45 radio stations nationwide. Zameer went on to perform 'Win or Defeat' at the 2010 Vancouver Games
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in Whistler, BC
Whistler, British Columbia
Whistler is a Canadian resort town in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in the province of British Columbia, Canada, approximately north of Vancouver...
during the Paralympics.
2010: From Under the Bleachers
Zameer released his debut album titled From Under the Bleachers. According to Zameer, the title of the album originated from his experiences while sitting under the water tank on his roof in PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.Producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
credits for Zameer's debut album titled From Under The Bleachers include 5 time Grammy Award winner Steve Thompson
Steve Thompson (musician)
-Biography:Steve Thompson is an American record producer, Having worked with Guns N Roses, Madonna, John Lennon, Wu Tang, Korn, Cutting Crew, Belouis Some,Public Enemy, Whitney Houston, Metallica and Red Hot Chili Peppers...
. Zameer has toured Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and USA to promote his debut release.
From Under the Bleachers has had 3 singles released so far: (1) 'Win or Defeat' (2) 'With you' and (3) 'Glory of Love'. The video for Win or Defeat (produced at Fatlabs
Fatlabs
FatLabs, is a Canadian home recording studio in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 2003 by Vikas Kohli. The studio is known for its ability to work with an assortment of genres.- Mission Istaanbul :...
studio) stars Paralympic Sledge Hockey Gold Medalists Brad Bowden and Paul Rosen
Paul Rosen
Paul Rosen is a Canadian sledge hockey goalie and motivational speaker from Thornhill, Ontario. Rosen suffered a leg injury during a hockey game as a youth, and the resulting damage, infections and pain to his leg plagued him for years until his lower leg was amputated at age 39...
. The music video for With You was shot in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and portrays the true story of how he met his girlfriend (who plays herself in the video).
Albums
- From Under the BleachersFrom Under the BleachersFrom Under the Bleachers is the debut album from singer/songwriter Zameer.-Track listing:-Singles:-Music videos:Zameer has released 4 music videos for From Under The Bleachers:...
(2010) - SaathSaath-Track listing:-Music Videos:Zameer has released 2 music videos for Saath:...
(2010) - Live in Los AngelesLive in Los Angeles (Zameer album)-Track listing:...
(2010)
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 (CAN) Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... |
Billboard Artists (CAN) Billboard charts The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine... |
|||
| 2011 | "Glory of Love" | 73 | 5 | From Under The Bleachers |
Music videos
Zameer has released six music videos to date:| Year | Single | Director | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 'Win or Defeat' | Marc André Debruyne | From Under the Bleachers |
| 2009 | 'With You' | Nelson Navarro Navarro | From Under the Bleachers |
| 2010 | 'Teri Yaad' | Isaac Elliott-Fisher, Awais Jaffery | Saath |
| 2010 | 'My Hometown' | Mark Araujo | From Under the Bleachers |
| 2010 | 'Classical Jind Mahi' | Isaac Elliott-Fisher | Saath |
| 2011 | 'Mind Over Murder' | Randall Lobb | From Under the Bleachers |
Other work
In 2006, Zameer founded his own imprint called Rizvi Records through which he releases his music. He also founded ZRG, a provider of communications and technology consulting services to a client roster which includes Bell CanadaBell Canada
Bell Canada is a major Canadian telecommunications company. Including its subsidiaries such as Bell Aliant, Northwestel, Télébec, and NorthernTel, it is the incumbent local exchange carrier for telephone and DSL Internet services in most of Canada east of Manitoba and in the northern territories,...
and Research in Motion
Research In Motion
Research In Motion Limited or RIM is a Canadian multinational telecommunications company headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada that designs, manufactures and markets wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market...
.
Zameer is also a multi-instrumentalist and plays the guitars, drums, and keyboards on most of the songs on From Under The Bleachers.
Charity work
Zameer has founded several charitable initiatives for various causes. In 2007, Zameer partnered with MuchMoreMusic to spearhead Sing For South Asia, a charity concert to raise funds for KashmirKashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
earthquake victims. In 2008, Zameer decided to donate partial profit from the sales of his song 'Win or Defeat' to the Canadian Paralympic Foundation
Canadian Paralympic Committee
The Canadian Paralympic Committee - CPC is the private, non-profit organization representing Canadian Paralympic athletes in the International Paralympic Committee and the Parapan American Games...
, an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of Canadian's with disabilities through sport. Between 2009 and 2010, Zameer participated in a series of performances for Hands Up Canada, a charitable initiative to support Paralympic Sports across 30 shopping malls in Canada.
Collaborations and awards
- Zameer came into FatlabsFatlabsFatLabs, is a Canadian home recording studio in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 2003 by Vikas Kohli. The studio is known for its ability to work with an assortment of genres.- Mission Istaanbul :...
Studios to work with Canadian producer Vikas KohliVikas KohliVikas Kohli is an Indian musician and producer best known for founding Fatlabs.-Fatlabs:Fatlabs is home recording studio in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, founded in 2003. Kohli is best known for his ability to work with multiple genres. Vikas has produced punk, jazz, hip-hop, soul, country, pop,...
on a number of tracks for his debut album "From Under the bleachers," such as Mind over Murder, Final conversation and Win or defeat.
- Zameer was the recipient of the 2008 Anokhi Sexy and Successful Music Award. Other winners and attendees included Slumdog Millionaire'sSlumdog MillionaireSlumdog Millionaire is a 2008 British epic romantic drama adventure film directed by Danny Boyle, written by Simon Beaufoy, and co-directed in India by Loveleen Tandan. It is an adaptation of the novel Q & A by Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup...
Freida PintoFreida PintoFreida Pinto is an Indian actress and model best known for her portrayal of Latika in the 2008 Academy Award winning film Slumdog Millionaire, for which she won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture...
. Zameer also performed at the Gala.