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Vancouver Singer Faiyaz Khan released "We Are One" in honour of Canada's 150th birthday,
6-28-2017
Both infectious and inspiring, “We Are One” is a collective project by Vancouver?s Arabel Music, headed up by singer/songwriter and pop composer Faiyaz Khan. The single was released June 30 in honour of Canada?s 150th birthday, with an EP to follow.
“This is a gift from me to Canada,” says the Fiji native. “Canada is so diverse with people from all over the world, and they’ve been accepted as one. That’s what I want to say, with all the stuff happening in the world. This is the country we love, and are grateful to be in.”
Despite suffering from a dislocated jaw, Khan enjoyed success in the mid-Nineties when his singles “I’m The One”, and “Unlock My Heart” reached high rotation on Vancouver’s Z95.3 FM and were included in its year-end compilations for 1995 and 1996, respectively.
He built up a catalogue of 40 songs by 2000, when a serious car accident necessitated surgery for a broken jaw -- spurring on a move into the corporate world.
He only resumed song writing in the summer of 2015, when Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama came to visit Vancouver.
“I was honoured to host the Prime Minister’s first and last night in Vancouver, and I asked myself, “What can I do that would be special?” he relates. “I wrote the song, “You Make Things Right”, then I thought, why don’t I do one about Canada, as well?”
“We Are One” was produced b Carlos Arias, it features Indigenous singer Fara Palmer, rapper Kana Bliss, Kirti Arneja, Lamar Alviar, James Manzano and the YVR Choir. The video, that features the Twofourseven Dancers, his daughter Arabella (17), and sons Aliyaz (6), Shayaz (5), and Zaiyaz (2), is already spreading good vibrations on Facebook, and other social media sites.
Faiyaz’s vision is to create unity through diversity. He is looking to create a multicultural pop act, and invites young artists to work with the Arabel team or to create their own version of the song.
Featuring in the Video among many locals is Satnam Singh- First Indian NBA Basketball Player.
On June 26, Hon Minister of Canadian Heritage Melanie Joly visited the local artist during Eid celebrations at Faiyaz Khan’s residence where she watched a private screening of the video for “We Are One.”
“We Are One” made it’s live public debut performances in Vancouver at Canada Place – on Tuesday, June 27 (Multiculturalism Day) - UNITE! A celebration of Canadian multiculturalism
The Next scheduled performance is on Saturday July 1 - Canada Day presented by the Port of Vancouver, which is the largest Canada Day celebration outside our nation’s capital.
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