Rohail Hyatt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rohail Hyatt
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| روحیل حیات | |
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Rohail Hyatt
4 December 1964 |
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| Years active | 1983–present |
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Notable work
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Coke Sudio, Vital Signs, Re-recording of National Anthem of Pakistan. |
| Spouse(s) | Umber Hyatt (divorced 2012) Alina Hyatt (2021 till present) |
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Rohail Hyatt (Urdu: روحیل حیات) is a famous Pakistani record producer, keyboard player, and composer. Many people believe Hyatt helped create Pakistani pop rock music. He did this by mixing Western rock and pop styles into local music.
In 1986, Hyatt started the band Vital Signs. Their first album, Vital Signs 1, was a huge success. It included the hit song "Dil Dil Pakistan" and "Tum Mil Gaye," both composed by Hyatt. This album greatly influenced Pakistan's rock music scene. In 1991, Hyatt produced their second album, Vital Signs 2. He continued to gain recognition for his music production in the mid-1990s.
In 1998, Vital Signs broke up, and Hyatt decided to focus on his own music career. He then started Pyramid Productions, which became a leading music company in Pakistan. He even produced a ghazal album with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. In 2007, he created the music for the successful film Khuda Kay Liye. In 2008, Hyatt launched Coke Studio, a platform that showcases both famous and new Pakistani artists.
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Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Rohail Hyatt grew up in Rawalpindi, Punjab province, Pakistan. He is the great-grandson of Sir Liaqat Hayat Khan, an important leader during the time of British rule. Hyatt went to St. Mary's Academy. He became interested in music at a young age, and his parents encouraged him to listen to Western music.
His parents listened to artists like Nat King Cole and Engelbert Humperdinck. When they bought him his first keyboard, he started composing traditional Pakistani and Sufi music. His mother played a big role in his musical journey, arranging keyboard lessons for him. He remembers listening to local pop music on the radio as a child. However, his real interest in Western music began in 1980 when his aunt bought Pink Floyd's The Wall album. He listened to it for hours, saying it "opened up a whole new direction of soundscapes and influences."
During his youth, Hyatt was a talented cricketer and even played for the Pakistan national under-19 cricket team. But his path changed when he met Rizwan-ul-Haq, a guitarist. At the Peshawar University, he also met guitarist Shahzad Hasan (Shahi). They decided to form a band. In the 1980s, he was part of two underground bands called Progressions and Crude X. Bassist Nusrat Hussain was in Progressions and greatly influenced Hyatt's musical outlook. Hyatt later left university and briefly worked at the British embassy before deciding to pursue music full-time.
His son, Danial Hyatt, is also a musician. Danial's band, Mole, appeared on Coke Studio season four. He also composed music for the 2019 movie Laal Kabootar.
Vital Signs: A Pop Rock Journey
In the mid-1980s, Rohail Hyatt teamed up with Shahzad Hasan (Shahi) to create rock and pop music. Together, they formed Vital Signs in 1986. Hyatt had met Junaid Jamshed in 1983, who impressed him with his singing. Hyatt wanted Jamshed to be the lead singer for his new band. With help from Hyatt and Nusrat Hussain, Jamshed joined Vital Signs. They signed a record deal with producer Shoaib Mansoor at PTV Music Studio.
For many years, Hyatt was the leader of Vital Signs. He managed the band's creative work and finances. Vital Signs released five albums and had a contract with Pepsi Cola from 1991 to 1997. Rohail played many roles in the band, including producer, songwriter, guitarist, and keyboardist. Their first big hit, "Dil Dil Pakistan", became incredibly popular. It was even voted the third most popular song globally in a poll by BBC World.
Coke Studio: A Platform for Music Fusion
In 2008, Rohail Hyatt launched Coke Studio Pakistan, supported by The Coca-Cola Company. Hyatt's goal for the show was to experiment with fusion music. He wanted to highlight Pakistan's rich traditional music by blending it with electronic sounds. He believed the show should "promote Pakistan's folk, classical and indigenous music by marrying it to more popular or mainstream music."
Initially, some people were unsure about his ideas for Coke Studio. He was only allowed to produce a few songs for the first season. However, these songs became instantly popular, allowing him to explore more creative ideas in later seasons. Hyatt produced Seasons 1-6, as well as Seasons 12 and 13 of Coke Studio Pakistan.
Hyatt believes Coke Studio should be welcoming to all artists. He stated that "everybody is welcomed with equal warmth and there is no division of spotlight." He also emphasized giving musicians the respect they deserve for their talent. As a producer, Hyatt is praised for bringing energy and creativity to Coke Studio. His work has influenced music trends in South Asia. He is known for reinventing traditional sounds and redefining music production in Pakistan. He also helps new talent by creating collaborations between modern Western artists and traditional folk or classical musicians. The News on Sunday newspaper noted that "under Rohail Hyatt’s days as producer, Coke Studio became something of a phenomenon."
Hyatt now works as a music consultant for Coca-Cola, helping other countries start their own Coke Studio shows.
Re-recording Pakistan's National Anthem
In April 2022, the Government of Pakistan asked for a new recording of the original national anthem of Pakistan. This was to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Pakistan's independence. The new recording aimed to include many different voices and reflect the country's diversity, while keeping the original music special.
A committee brought together 140 singers from various regions, religions, and ethnic backgrounds across Pakistan. Rohail Hyatt was part of the audio team and produced the anthem with Arshad Mehmood. Hyatt explained that the goal was to represent "all people who called Pakistan their homeland." He wanted to make sure that minority groups were included alongside the majority.
Work in Velo Sound Station
After Bilal Maqsood left Velo Sound Station, Rohail Hyatt took over as executive producer for its second season in 2023.
Awards and Recognition
- 2008 Lux Style Awards, Best Original Soundtrack album for Khuda Kay Liye
- Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence) Award for Art (Music Composition) by the President of Pakistan in 2022
See also
- Vital Signs
- Khuda Kay Liye
- Music of Pakistan
- Coke Studio (Pakistani TV program)
- List of Pakistani musicians
