(From left to right) Farhaan, Shazi and Gauhar pose for a photograph. Picture by Gautam Dey

Ranchi, Feb. 24: Members of the Pakistan band Jal might be walking on a bed of roses. But their feet are firmly rooted to the ground.

Flooded with a number of assignments in both India and Pakistan after their music achieved phenomenal success, newer horizons come calling for the band with each passing day. But the members ? Gauhar, Shazi and Farhaan ? remain focused as ever.

Speaking from Dhanbad, where the group will perform tonight at Srijan-2006, the cultural festival of the Indian School of Mines (ISM), organised in association with The Telegraph, the band?s lead guitarist, Gauhar Mumtaz, spoke about their plans.

?We are working on our next album right now. Negotiations are on for different projects in India as well and we would like to take them up soon. But first we would like to establish our band in the world of music,? said Mumtaz, adding that plans are afoot to collaborate with reputed Indian bands, artistes and singers for their future ventures.

Mumtaz, however, remained reticent about the projects that are on the anvil.

The journey for the band started in their college days with a festish for juggling with tunes.Gauhar along with Aatif, who later swung an entire nation to the notes of Woh Lamhe from Murder, recorded their maiden song Aadat and put it on the Internet. And the rest became history when it achieved a towering popularity and offers for shows and concerts came pouring in.

Jal cut their first music album in May 2004 and though Aatif no longer plays with them, the band still strikes the right chord with Gauhar on lead guitars, Farhaan Syed on lead vocals and Shazi on the base guitar.

But why Jal? ?Jal means water and no one can live without it,? pat came the reply.

Gauhar further said although they used western instruments, their style of music was autonomous of western cultural influences. ?Our songs are based on aalaaps and natural melodies with western instruments being used for instrumental support. Although we have performed sufi songs we are a bit different from the genre,? said Gauhar.

Any message for the Indians? ?Both India and Pakistan have a rich cultural heritage. Let us use that as a platform for our friendship. Besides, keep listening to our music and log on to our website www.jaltheband.com,? the trio signed off.