SAAMI'SBIOGRAPHY
At the heart of Voice of Saamis, is a family that carries centuries of South Asian classical music with devotion, mastery, and soul
Ustaad Naseeruddin Saami
Ustaad Naseeruddin Saami
Lead Khayal Expert &
Ustaad Naseeruddin Saami is one of the world’s most revered living masters of Khayal—the oldest form of South Asian classical singing, rooted in the Delhi Gharana founded by his ancestors. His lineage traces back to Mian Saamat bin Ibrahim, disciple of Hazrat Amir Khusro, with his family’s musical heritage closely tied to the spiritual court of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya for centuries.
In Karachi, from the age of 10, Ustaad Saami continued to train under the supervision of his paternal uncle Ustaad Munshi Raziuddin, until his spiritual and artistic mastery was fully realized. His Ustaad also facilitated his study with two senior Ustaads from his own family—Ustaad Sardar Khan and Ustaad Pyaray Khan (Yaqoob Ali Khan).
Ustaad Saami has dedicated his life to the rare 49-note microtonal Khayal tradition. As a strict practitioner of Sudh Bani (pure voice) style, he emphasizes clarity of sur (pitch), subtle emotional expression, and spiritual resonance. His performances, deeply meditative and serene, draw listeners into the heart of ragas and bandishes. Beyond Khayal, his repertoire includes Thumri, Dadra, Tarana, and Sadra.
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- In today’s hyper-produced musical landscape, Ustaad Saami’s artistry offers a rare antidote—music that invites stillness, reflection, and deep listening. Rooted in centuries of syncretic exchange among Arabic, Turkic, Persian, and South Asian traditions, his singing embodies both cultural history and timeless spirituality. His albums, produced by Grammy Award-winner Ian Brennan—God Is Not a Terrorist (2019), Pakistan Is for the Peaceful (2020), and East Pakistan Sky (2021)—have been praised by Mojo, Uncut, and Songlines as “mesmerizing,” “progressive,” and “spiritually electrifying.” Recipient of Pakistan’s Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and Pride of Performance, Ustaad Saami has performed on stages across the world, from WOMAD to Le Guess Who?, where audiences were brought to tears. Since 2024, he has toured extensively in the United States and Canada, performing sold-out concerts at Asia Society (NY), Flushing Town Hall, Wolf Trap, Seattle Town Hall, South Asia Institute, and Agha Khan Museum (Toronto). He also led a month-long Khayal residency in Brooklyn, mentoring American students in the art of Khayal and microtonal singing. Accompanied by his sons, the Saami Brothers, he continues to share what he calls “music as food for the soul.”
The Saami Brothers – Rauf, Urooj, Azeem, and Ahmed – are the sons and disciples of Ustaad Naseeruddin Saami and living torchbearers of the 800-year-old Qawwal Bachha Delhi Gharana tradition. Rooted in Riwayiti (traditional) Qawwali and Khayal, they perform with deep reverence, preserving classical forms while inviting modern audiences to experience their timeless beauty.
Guided by their family’s traditions and principles, The Saami Brothers nurture the purity of their voice and the precision of their pitch. Through their family’s knowledge of voice (ilm-e-awaz) or the 49-note microtonal system, they seek to carry forth a message steeped in spirituality, allowing every note to touch the hearts and souls of those who listen.
Fluent in Urdu, Sindhi, Punjabi, Persian, and other languages, their music reflects the pluralism, spiritual depth, and cultural diversity of South Asia. Every performance is a journey—an invitation to experience unity, and the shared human spirit, woven with threads of peace, love, and a profound connection to the Divine.
Since 2024, the Saami Brothers have toured across the U.S. and Canada, presenting critically acclaimed concerts, masterclasses, and residencies. Through their work, they foster cross-cultural musical exchange, education, and the meditative, transformative power of music, sharing the soul of a centuries-old tradition with every listener.
INDIVIDUAL
MEMBERS
BIOGRAPHY
- Rauf Saami | (Lead) & Khayal Practitioner
- Urooj Saami | Vocalist, Khayal Practitioner
- Azeem Saami | Vocalist & Percussionist
- Ahmed Saami | Vocalist