Thank you for agreeing to this interview, Ms. Azam Ali.
 
How did you get your start into making music?

I started studying music seriously when I was nineteen years old. I really wanted to learn to play an instrument, so I decided on the Persian Hammered Dulcimer called the Santour. That eventually lead me to take up singing more seriously, which I had loved to do sort of unconsciously since I was a child.

Your musical group with musical collaborator Greg Ellis is called Vas, which is Latin for vessel. How was Vas formed?

When Greg and I met, neither of us had any intention of joining or creating a band. I was busy performing as a solo artist at little clubs in Los angeles, and Greg was busy scoring commercials and independant films. I had played him some music which I had recorded and he really loved it. The chemistry we had musically was undeniable so we decided to just write and record a piece together. That one piece led to an entire albums worth of material which we just put on tapes and handed out to friends of ours. We were so surprised at the incredible response we got that it made us consider giving the project a name. Thus Vas was formed. Eight months after we met we were signed to Narada World and the raw material we had recorded was released as our first album, "Sunyata".

In finding Vas and your solo musical samples online, it's difficult to categorize your sound ...

This is the eternal problem for us, because our music is not culturally or geographically specific and I do not sing in an existing language. We always describe our music as

"alternative world."

There seem to be an abundance of influences and styles. When working on a new project (solo or with Vas), do you previously decide which styles you wish emulated?

Aside from my solo album which had a very specific purpose and vision, Greg and I never think about what we want to do. We just begin laying down ideas and allow themusic to dictate to us the direction in which it wants to go. After all the music really takes on a life of its own. As far as influences and styles go, I believe that is in ones blood. Everything I do is in response to something I have absorbed either when I was a child or as an adult.
 

Azam, I've read that you sometimes choose to sing words with respect to phonetics.

Aside from my solo album which are all traditional pieces, almost everything I have done with Vas is in my own language, a language of the imagination. I use my voice more as an instrument to express emotion rather than as a medium for expressing words. I find it to be very liberating as as a singer, and also for the listener because it allows you to find your own meaning in the music as opposed to me telling you what the song is about.

For those unaccustomed to this, please explain why. Have you actually created your own musical language and how was this helpful for you with the Children of Dune track, Inama Nushif, a song written in Fremen, a language that doesn't exist?

When brian asked me to sing Inama Nushif it was like second nature to me because of the kind of singing I do. I just took the words and made them my own.
 
 

Fans of the soundtrack, Children of Dune, have been beside themselves wanting to know  the vocalist for Inama Nushif. Your voice has made a wonderful impression. How were you approached to be a part of the Children of Dune soundtrack?

Chris Bleth, who is a fantastic Duduk player and is also featured on the soundtrack gave Brian my phone number because Brian was looking for a singer for the soundtrack. When we met we hit it off right away. I love his work. He is so talented and I always look forward to a session with him.

Have you viewed the Children of Dune miniseries or listened to the soundtrack? Your thoughts?

Unfortunately I was traveling when the miniseries aired. I look forward to the DVD. The soundtrack has been rotating in my cd player since Brian sent it to me.
 

Were you previously familiar with Frank Herbert's Dune chronicles or the previous Dune film productions?

I am familiar with the chronicles but have never seen any other film productions.

On the Children of Dune soundtrack, there is no credit given to you (or the other musicians), I must ask, why not?

I think that is a question I would leave for Brian to answer. I have no answer for that. Sorry.

[I've since discovered that Azam Ali is indeed credited on the soundtrack, though she is not given credit as the Inama Nushif vocalist. I regret my error.]
 

Were you the only vocalist on the Inama Nushif track?

Yes.
 

So, what's next for Azam Ali? Will we be hearing more from Vas?

Greg and I are in the process of recording our fourth Vas album which will hopefully be released in 2004. We have also started a side project called Roseland in which I sing in english. We will hopefully start performing the material live sometime this year.
 

Anything you'd like to say to your new fans on the Landsraad Dune site and throughout cyberspace who have only recently discovered your work thanks in part to the Children of Dune soundtrack?

There is nothing more fulfilling and rewarding for an artist than having people appreciate and respond positively to something you have poured your heart into. I am touched and honored always when this happens. I see it as a beautiful exchange of gifts. I hope I am fortunate enough to do this for a long time.

Thank you very much for agreeing to this interview Ms. Azam Ali. I've had a lot of fun listening to your music while researching for this interview.