Out of the Shadows

Singer Shariq Mustafa talks to Kartikeya Shankar about making a towering family legacy his own

- Kartikeya Shankar

Shariq Mustafa, a sixth-generation tabla player and singer, was destined to carry his family’s musical legacy from birth.

“He will sing one day,” declared his maternal grandfather, Ustad Sabri Khan, a noted sarangi player of his time, as he cradled the wailing newborn.

However, Mustafa’s father, Ustad Rashid Mustafa “Thirakwa,” had different aspirations for him.

“He wanted me to play the tabla. I think it was planned by the almighty that I would do both and prove my nana’s prophecy correct,” said Mustafa, whose soulful performance left the audience spellbound at the Outlook Traveller Hospitality Awards 2023.

Mustafa was recently invited by the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) and Santa Cruz (UCSC) to deliver a lecture and showcase Indian music. His latest album, “Lullaby,” has been released by Carnegie Hall.

Tell us about your journey.

I began training in tabla when I was around four, but initially, I wasn’t very interested in it. However, as I received more recognition and praise for my musical abilities in school, I gradually developed a genuine interest in music.