Ali Haider is back to the basics with his new album Tera Naam Liya'.
Here's an exclusive tete-a-tete with singer on all things musical and much more.

Does your latest album center on someone special?
Every album of mine is special to me because it has been made to relate to something; a sensation or a phase. It took about four years to come up with this album, a big gap after my last album Jadoo was released in 2000. It's all about love, caring and sharing, very pure and romantic, the way I am feeling these days.

Is this the revival of the old Ali Haider?
The old Ali Haider was never gone. I was only experimenting with a lot of different types of music, following international trends. I've seen that people here get worried very soon and don't let one experiment.

All my previous albums were kind of experiments. I believe I am one of the few artists in Pakistan who likes to explore new avenues. If we continue doing the same thing, people will get bored kuch na kuch naya karna hai.'

Do you think the trend of re?mixes is over?
During the 14 years of my musical journey I have only re?mixed two songs `Zalim nazroon se' and `Sayoni mera mahi'. Both re?mixes were not only hits, but also major hits.

I wouldn't mind doing more, though at the moment I am concentrating on original music. I don't think there is any harm in re?mixing if you do it once in a while, if you want to pay tribute or show respect like I did for Madam Noor Jehan, but a whole album shouldn't be a remix version.

What is the feedback that you have received so far about your album?
Mash Allah the response is amazing after so many years! Sales a?re great plus people are in love with the image that has come across in the video also. People have told me that the picturisation of songs is very different and much more appealing than normal love stories shown these days.

This is a great album for me personally too because as I am growing as a person; the maturity is showing in my work too.

How many more videos will you be making?
At the moment I have made just two videos. My second video has launched `Hum se juda na hona' which Humayun Saeed has also taken for his serial with the same title.

Do you plan to use a different director for each video?
At the moment I am working with Sohail Javed but I would like to work with Asim Raza, Ahsan Rahim and a few new directors also. I think you can't keep on using same director for all your videos. Change and variety is needed.

Is your input counted in the making of the video or is it left to the director?
I just give my basic thought to the director as I compose the music myself. Then it's his business. When you are hiring a director to make your video, interfering is not ethical.

As an artist you have been performing in India for quite a long time. What is your say on the present scene of musical collaboration?
It is very, very positive because art and culture arc two things that shouldn't have boundaries. Even the general public thinks on the same lines. People listen to Indian songs or watch their movies and the same is the case in India where our music and television is quite popular.

So there are many die?hard fans of our pop music in India. I think that this is the first time that the government is not creating hindrances and artists are going from here as well as coming from across the border;

take the case in point Urmila, Pooja and Mahesh Bhatt. These visits will help in releasing the tension. Collaboration and all this will develop a spirit of healthy competition as well as goodwill to each other.

What is your outlook for the future?
I am going next year to India; then I have struck an excellent deal in the UK where Movie Box will be releasing this album. Subsequently, it will be released in Australia, Canada and America in February.

Then I am making two videos together. Actually that is the reason why I took such a long gap, so that the comeback could be strong and have a lasting; impact. Let's see how it goes in the near future.

I am the only artist in Pakistan who has done thirteen albums so far; none of the: artists have done so many. I feel that's a great achievement. I want to go up to the mark of creating a silver jubilee of original albums.