Usman began playing music at the tender age of six when his grandmother, an enthusiastic and talented musician, recognized his musical potential when he was playing her harmonium. This progressed into further musical instruments and brilliance. His grandmother, along with Usman’s parents, convinced him to take up the piano. It was here that his love for classical music developed. Usman’s teacher was a well-learned and experienced classical pianist himself who nurtured his musical enthusiasm and greatly influenced his musical taste.

Usman comes from a family full of creative and talented people. Grandnephew of Zia Mohyeddin, Usman's great grandfather was an Eastern music scholar who wrote many books on music theory.

Usman has released “Flashes and Sparks,” which contain three of his musical compositions. One of them is an orchestral piece that was played in London by James Vaughan's Strings Orchestra. The instrumental guitar piece, “Fire Fly,” has gotten a lot of exposure on YouTube and television due to the “film piece” (music video) that Usman, Bilal Khan and Shayan Agha worked on.

With the travesty in political endeavors in Pakistan, this young wonder confers an aura of positivity to his country, which they should valiantly deem valuable. Arab News spoke to 20-year-old Usman who says it best in his own musical words of wisdom.
 

When I was younger, I had the choice between learning the piano or learning the violin. I am still glad I picked the piano when I was six because it opened up my mind musically. The piano is the most beautiful instrument I have ever played. It allows you to do everything. You can replicate the sound of an orchestra on the piano. You can't do that with the violin. Still, I would love to play Paganini on the Violin.
 

I have no idea myself. Zia Mohyeddin’s second wife, Naheed Siddiqui, had a WONDERFUL saying about the fusion music in Pakistan. She would say: "This isn't fusion but CONfusion."

Although I do not make fusion music at all, I would love for that to be the name of my genre of music.

I write everything that you hear. I make it a point to CONSTANTLY emphasize that. The melodies, variations, instruments and MISTAKES are all mine. I am not being arrogant or selfish. I want people to know that I take great pride in doing this myself. However, I also have the benefit of being surrounded by some very talented people who guide me through this journey and tell me what works and what doesn't. So, that always helps.
 

“Fire Fly” has been very well received. The video was my brainchild. I knew what I wanted to do with it, and it was just a matter of finding the right people who shared my vision and who would be excited about it because no one has really attempted something like that here. That’s what made it so exciting.

“Fire Fly” is a percussive guitar piece I wrote when I was 17 years old. It incorporates percussive beats and guitar picking and tapping into one musical composition and at the time I wrote it I was very excited about it. I'll never forget the first time I made the musicians in school hear the rough recording I made: they all told me it was too empty and idiotic of me to think of doing a solo piece. I didn't understand why because all the people I looked up to were solo performers and composers. Yet, I believed I was on to something, and whenever I would perform it, people would appreciate it.

Once I had recorded the final one in the studio, I was prepared to shoot the “film piece” that I had been thinking about for the song. I wanted it to have a linear narrative, to focus on the music, and at the same time, to have a small story to it. I wanted it to look like a Caravaggio painting and have a lot of contrast between light and shadow. Lastly, I wanted it to be in an abandoned theater. Zeeshan Chaudry, Bilal Khan and Shayan Agha were kind enough to help me bring that vision to life.
 

I believe Junoon did the most justice to sufi music. They made it appealing to the masses while maintaining their traditional influences and honoring tradition with the structure and melody of their songs.
 

It felt amazing. It really motivated me even more to know that these established musicians felt I was good enough to be featured on their album. The fact that they trusted me and gave me complete freedom to interpret their music any way I wanted was a real treat. I had a lot of fun turning their song “Saeen” into this grand Middle Eastern orchestral piece. I am also grateful the hardcore Junoon fans are enjoying it, because they could have really ripped me to shreds.
 

I love people like Mozart, Chopin and Liszt. Both Liszt and Chopin were heavily influenced by another favorite of mine: The violin virtuoso Nicolo Paganini. My piano teacher had a very, very big impact on my musical taste. I remember he would make me listen to all these people and others like Bach and Wagner when I was around six years old, and he would talk about them with so much love in his eyes. It really influenced my musical preference. Other than my classical influences, I absolutely love the music of Steve Vai who I believe is a modern day musical genius. Then, of course, the only rock band I truly listened to and admired is Led Zeppelin.
 

Music is a big influence on today’s generation. The kinds of things pop stars from the US sing about are the things that affect the young children of today. They really take it to heart; I’ve seen it myself. I think that is a big responsibility that most of the musicians don't really care about.

The nerd in me can't help but think: “With great power, comes great responsibility.” It’s time those artists took their role model status a bit more seriously. However, obviously, they won't.

I have yet to produce it.
 

God. It’s because of him that I can do even the small things I have done right now. I know that He can take it away tomorrow if he wants. I try to never forget that. I try to thank Him all the time. My cousins make a lot of fun of me for it, but I can't help it.

Aside from that, my guiding light has always been my grandmother. My grandmother had the biggest impact on my creative endeavors. Her work ethic when it came to her classical music always fascinated me and later on inspired me. I used to get up every morning and go to her room when I was young and she would be awake practicing her singing into a small metal glass to trap the sound. She was the one who first exposed me to the piano. I was 6 at the time and I fell in love with the instrument.
 

Had you asked me two years ago if I saw myself doing this, I would have said “no.” I don't look at or plan the future. I tend to just focus on the present and let things happen. I don't plan on changing anything. I want my music to develop and mature at its own pace, naturally.
 

I haven't really felt anything. I don't really go out much; I stay in my room and work. I can't live without working; I feel incomplete. My best friend calls me obsessed sometimes haha. You have to be; I absolutely love practicing.
 

I love art. I have been drawing and painting as long as I have been playing music.

These are a few of my random doodles. The first one is a poem, which I wrote titled “The Death Of Ted.” The second one is a piece called “Shall We?” and the third is a drawing I made called “The Mouth Of Truth.”
 

A lot of things are in store. I am very excited about, as it will be very different. You will be able to get hold of it by the end of this year or in early 2012 inshaAllah.
 
Usman concluded by saying: “I am very grateful to God and my parents (who are extremely supportive) for letting me pursue my dreams and for giving me the desire to keep at it.” We are grateful for the same.