Salaam!
Hamza Robertson was born in Lancashire in the North-West of England. Since school through college, he involved himself in music and the performing arts. He was a part of the local theatre workshop, where he wrote music and acted in plays. He took part in a variety of bands beyond college, playing a variety of instruments and writing music. He still produces his own unique pieces.
Through his early academic career, Hamza played the keyboard and performed vocals and as such played in several bands, later becoming lead singer, keyboard player and guitarist in a band he formed with his friends. Hamza has undertaken a series of solo performances. He studied Performing Arts Popular Music for three years.
In working with Awakening, Hamza aims to take part in a new dynamics in calling to God, or ‘dawah’, in a new world, through producing songs with a positive message. He feels that too many people know too little about Islam and the beauty of its essential values, values which bring about harmony between people, as opposed to discord.
Hamza believes that music, being a powerful source of energy, can be employed to influence people toward either good or bad. He feels there is too much ‘negative music’ in the world giving people the wrong message, and bringing about within them the desire to do things which are against their inherently pure nature, i.e their ‘fitrah’.
Hamza is currently working on his first album ‘Something About Life’ - due for release in 2007.
Early Life Of Hamza Robertson
Hamza was just an ordinary boy known as Tom Robertson who grew up in Chadderton, Oldham. Oldham mainly consists of two large communities, Asian and white. Hamza was from the town’s white community and was brought up in a Christian family environment. During his years at his local town college which was heavily attended by a large mixture with students from many cultures, he made friends with a multi-cultural group of youth’s headed by a local cult leader, known as the notorious Prince Fi. Fi, Omar Abdullah, Sheikh Bilal (Sheikh Bilal also Muslim convert) introduced Hamza to Islam. Hamza’s fascination for Islam grew and eventually Hamza with Sheikh Bilal, decided to travel to the Middle East in search of further knowledge and enlightenment. Hamza then gained interest into Sufism. Finally he was discovered by the famous Yusuf Islam who on discovering a talented voice sponsored and signed Robertson up as his apprentice. Hamza Robertson has recently performed at the prestigious GPU (Global Peace & Unity) concert 2006, held in London near Canary Wharf.
http://www.thenasheedshop.com/artists/hamza-robertson.php
Here is a beautiful nasheed by Hamza Robertson about Prophet Muhammad(SAW).
**Naat / Nasheed / Song:** Your BeautyBrighter than the sun
Fairer than the moon
Your beauty is so dazzling
Bigger than the sea
Higher than the clouds
Your soul is so enlightening
What I’d give to see your face
Beaming with so much grace
Brighter than the sun
Fairer than the moon
Your beauty is so dazzling
Bigger than the sea
Higher than the clouds
Your soul is so enlightening (x2)
CHORUS:
Ya Mawlay, ya Mawlay Salli 'ala Taha (x2)
husnu Ahmadal Bashir
Akhjalal badral munir
Oh my Lord, Send your peace and blessings on Taha (one of the prophet’s names)
The beauty of Ahmad the portent
Ashamed the illuminative full moon
Will I be from those
You welcome with a smile
As you call your nation
Come to my side
Or will I see you frown
And then turn away
I did let you down
I forgot this Day
What I’d give to see your face
Beaming with so much grace
Brighter than the sun
Fairer than the moon
Your beauty is so dazzling
Bigger than the sea
Higher than the clouds
Your soul is so enlightening
CHORUS
Bridge:
Ya Habiba Allah
Ya Safiyya Allah
'Alayka Salatu Allah
Wa Salamu Allah
Oh you the one who Allah loves
Oh you the one who Allah chose
May Allah’s peace and blessing be upon you
Your smile is so bright
It lits up the dark night
Brought mercy and light
To my waiting heart
I know that I’m weak
Of my sins I can’t speak
Your mercy I seek
Though I’m not worthy
What I’d give to see your face
Beaming with so much grace
Brighter than the sun
Fairer than the moon
Your beauty is so dazzling
Bigger than the sea
Higher than the clouds
Your soul is so enlightening
CHORUS
some more
Mountain