Meet Waqqas | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Waqqas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Waqqas, how do you think about risk?
I think risk is a part of life, and the biggest risk lies in not taking the risk; Progression is nearly unattainable without risk, and as the saying goes, “with greater risk comes greater reward”. That said, it doesn’t mean to just jump into anything, but it comes down more to taking calculated risks. One of the biggest risks I’ve taken as an upcoming artist includes playing shows to open for major artists including Young Thug, Mozzy, and Fat Joe. Most promoters require local talent to essentially “pay-to-play” when booking you for these shows, but you’re able to minimize the amount of money coming out of your pocket via ticket sales. So, the reward of performing for a new audience outweighs the risk of possibly having to pay to perform. However, this may not always be the case, and that’s where the calculations come in to decide whether it’ll be the right show for you, are you able to cover the fee in the case you don’t sell all the tickets, etc.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My name’s Waqqas and I’m the only Pakistani West Coast artist. I was born and raised in SoCal, but I never lost touch of my South Asian roots, and essentially the combination of nature & nurture made me who I am today. I grew up in Pomona/Upland, so there weren’t really any Desi people around me, and because I look Hispanic everyone thought I was Latino. so I did what anyone else would do, and had to get in where I could fit in; I never hid my background though, and actually embraced my roots, and I believe that’s what play a huge part in my unique sound today. I’m proud of the fact that I’ve stayed true to myself, which led me to find my Desi audience, and I’m excited to see where this new journey takes me. Nothing that’s worth it ever comes easy, so you just have to dodge all obstacles and jump all hurdles that come your way, and that showed me that I’m stronger than I thought. I would like the world to know that “Waqqas” means “warrior”, so it means to stand for what you believe in, and it means to keep on pushing. You might lose a battle or two, but it doesn’t mean you’ve lost the fight. So keep that smile on your face, keep your chin up, and take it one day at a time. We’re too Blessed to be stressed.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Maann I’m more of a homebody, so this one’s a bit tough. However, there are many places I like to go and would take my best friend that’s visiting. I think we’d take Monday a little light, let the jet lag settle down and get everything situated, but go down to the pool hall to make sure we get out for a bit. Tuesday, I’d say we can get up early and make way down to San Diego. After a nice brunch, probably rent some jet skis for a good hour or two and then walk around as the sun begins to set and people are starting to get off work. After that, it’s only right we celebrate Taco Tuesday the right way! Wednesday we can take it a little slow again to have a nice recovery day, probably hit Rodeo Dr or something so my friend can check out some iconic spots and get some shopping out the way, and then probably end the day getting some friends together and kicking it in the studio. Thursday would be a trip to Six Flags and make sure we get on all the roller coasters, then Friday afternoon, we’d hit Vegas! After staying there until Sunday morning, we’d make it back right in time for them to pack and catch their evening flight back home.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to all Loved ones around me, but for the sake of this response I’ll choose a few specific people. First and foremost, I want to give a huge shoutout to my brothers Shahbaz and Ibrar. My older brother Shahbaz has been a great role model all my life, and has always supported me in my ventures while making sure that I stay on the right path. My younger brother Ibrar is easily one of my best friends; he’s always there for me and constantly encourages me or gives me other ideas to make sure my brain is always working. In addition, it’s only right that I give a huge shoutout to the team – badgenre. To the manager of the team, Reno Ludwiga, a huge thank you for always looking out for us artists and making sure that our careers are continuously improving. My first ever live performance was thanks to Regi Levi, and he always lends his musical talents to assist when needed. iismaill is my fellow Desi artist and there’s just something beautiful there when one your boys that has the same background as you also has the same goals as you especially when it’s a taboo in your culture. DR3AD is our go-to DJ and the energy he brings with him is simply unmatched. Miic is the definition of quality > quantity and every time he’s creating, it’s like seeing a magician at work. J Custodio actually graduated from one of these music schools (I can’t remember which one) and watching him apply that knowledge to his natural talents is crazy, and he’s always there to share his teachings. Last but not least, HB is the man behind the scenes. He’s constantly absorbing new pieces of information like a sponge, and comes right back to help us improve and tells us things we might not know about, but can benefit us immensely; he’s also a super talented artist himself! That said, shoutout to these guys for allowing me to be part of one of the hottest studios in the IE – badgenre Studios!

Website: http://tapn.me/waqqas

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waqqasent/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/waqqas-516b1a18a/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/waqqasent

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/waqqasent

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv9sipnOqsV4uCfrdAtvHCw