Hi! My name is Sultan Zafar, and I’m a musician, songwriter, and music producer based in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan. Music is in my blood and has always been a part of my life in some shape or form.
When I was 6 years old, I came across a Casio VL- Tone lying around the house and started playing nursery rhymes and children’s songs on it that I’d hear the music teacher play at our school. My folks realized that I had a talent, which is when my dad bought me my first keyboard with 43 keys. I’d practice daily to get familiar with it in an attempt to enhance my understanding of music. However, with time my instrument and I started to drift apart as I had to move to the USA for high school.
One day I stepped into a tech store called “Best Buy,” not knowing that my life would never be the same again. I came across a Strat-style electric guitar with the words “Rock Axe” on the headstock. The instrument was on sale for just $100. I knew nothing about playing the guitar, but I knew I had to own this one no matter what. After some groveling, I succeeded in convincing my parents to buy it for me. And the rest, as they say…is history. I still have that old axe with me after 24 years.
This was a time when there was no YouTube, so I’d spend hours every day learning to read tabs and practice chord switching. With time I got better and better, and when I returned to Pakistan, my friends and I formed an alternative rock band called “Kaffas.” The concerts started to roll in, and life became a whole lot more musical and a whole lot of fun!
As time went by, we gained popularity in Islamabad and got offers for gigs all over Pakistan. As a lead guitarist, my music was all about punchy distorted rhythms, long feel oriented solos, and melodic guitar harmonies. While the focus was on making original songs with my own band, I also played sessions for some popular underground bands like Araiz, Visaal, and Azal. My band Kaffas was invited to play at “Battle of the Bands,” which featured musicians from all over the country. After winning the contest, the cash prize helped us shoot our first video and push out a few singles. The songs were very well received, thanks to some creative guitar work.
Gradually with all the band members finding work or leaving the country, the band was no more, but the music didn’t stop. Currently, I’m more into producing music and collaborating with fellow musicians. I have a small studio setup where my trustee laptop, the ever-dependable Focusrite Scarlett interface, and I join hands to create guitar instrumentals and cover songs.
I’m always on the lookout for new gear and have perfected my guitar rig over the years. Five of my preferred axes include a Fender Stratocaster, an Ibanez RG470 AHMZ, an LTD MH-100QM, an Epiphone Les Paul Pro, and my first-ever guitar, the Rock Axe Strat.
My current pedalboard includes a Joyo AC Tone, Joyo Darkflame, an Xtomp Mini, a Mooer Leveline Volume Pedal, a Boss NS-2, a Mooer Phaser, and ADA Cab Simulator and, of course, the Cry Baby thanks to all those years listening to Metallica’s Kirk Hammett.
I feel like spending all these years playing music has educated me somewhat in that I can transfer my wisdom to people and help fellow musicians in some way. This is why I have been associated with Integraudio for almost a year now and hope to continue long-term so that people can benefit from my writing.
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