The well known Attre family has a member of their third generation enter the music scene, meet Jimmy Attre, a young singer who has embarked on the same journey as his famous grandfather and uncle. With strong encouragement and support from his family, Attre has come out with his latest single “Zamana Nazuk Hai.” Read on to learn more about his latest projects and also a bit about the interesting background of this talented young man.

Tell us a bit about your background, education, family and where you grew up etc.

I have a rich family background in terms of music, my grandfather was a famous music director, the Late Rasheed Attre. I was born in Lahore, but soon after, my family moved to Jeddah where I spent the early years of my life. We moved back to Lahore when I was about thirteen years old. I completed my metric, intermediate bachelors and masters in Lahore. I was also trained to become an artist in Lahore.

At what age did you become interested in music and what was your first song?

I was about 3 or 4 when I started showing my interest in music, my parents tell me I would sing for their friends. They told me the first song I sang was "Banwary Chakori Karay Duniya Se Choree Choree Chanda Se Pyar.” This famous song was originally sung by Madam Noor Jahan and composed by my grandfather Rasheed Attre. I composed my first song on my guitar when I was in the 8th grade, called “Ankhon Main Teri.” I also added it to my first album.

How did your family react to your interest in music? Being a third generation of the Attre family, was there any pressure to live up to certain expectations?

My family really felt the effects of popularity because of my grandfather Rasheed Attre and Uncle Wajahat Attre. For this reason, my family has been really supportive and has reacted positively towards my music.

Are you currently working on new projects? When can we expect a new song or an album from you?

Yes, I'm working on my new album and some new songs. I can't tell you the exact time, but they will appear soon. It’s easy to say when your next album will be released, but it's a lot more difficult to actually produce a good album. It took me 4-5 years to compile my first album "Zamana Nazuk Hai.” I’m new to this business, so there are many factors involved to make it challenging, overall I would say it’s a tough job!

Many of our musicians go across the border and seem to gain overnight success, what is your opinion of such artists?

I personally don't have any bad opinion about such artists. Music and the arts have no limits; you can display it anywhere you want. You see, we have talent that appears on a big scale only because of the proper marketing structure across the border. If we we’re to develop a good marketing setup in Pakistan and give artists the popularity they deserve, they wouldn’t go across the border.

What do you think of the current music scene in Pakistan and what changes do you predict for its future?

I think we’ve wasted a lot of our Pakistani talent in the past, as only a few artists could ever get the chance of coming on screen. However, after 2001, the scenario has totally changed. The audience now has variety and options to choose which artists they like, something that lacked in the past. There's no doubt that Pakistani music is getting popular all over the world, it's definitely growing and improving and I see a very good future for it.

Besides work, what keeps you busy? What are your hobbies and interests?

I like to travel, which I get to do when I’m on tour. I love the northern area of Pakistan and I like to visit it often. In my spare time, I like to watch TV, chat on msn, hangout with friends and do some reading.

Have you performed concerts internationally? Do you have any plans to come to the U.S. to perform?

I have performed in the U.S., Dubai and Kuwait. Last year I went to the U.S. twice for concerts and I’m planning to perform there again this year.

Lastly, what message would you like to give to the readers of The Saturday Post?

Spread peace and love…