Urvah Khan: Scrap rock, self-belief and success across borders
Words by Zee Ahmed
@zeelikeacookie
Artwork by Ami Patel
Zee Ahmed interviews Canadian-Pakistani musician and festival organiser Urvah Khan about being a Pakistani kid growing up with the music scene in Toronto, reconciling Muslim tradition with Western culture, and what inspired her to start ScrapFest. This interview is part of WEIRDO’s ‘We Are The Weirdos, Aunty-ji’ series.
I had the pleasure of speaking with “scrappy” brown girl Urvah Khan, who is helping push punk culture from Toronto to Pakistan. In a candid conversation we had in November 2023, I was in awe of Urvah – an absolute trailblazing force. Urvah’s story transcends borders, defies conventions and amplifies the voices of those often unheard. We talked about her identity, the evolution of her distinctive musical genre, the challenges she faces as an advocate and the resilience that propels her forward.
Born in Karachi, Pakistan and immigrating to Canada at the age of 12, Urvah's musical journey began against the backdrop of diverse cultural influences. Now in her early 30s, Urvah has come full circle, returning to her birthplace to make a significant mark on the local music scene. "I believed rock is dead, especially in the West and it's because we have our freedom. We can do whatever we want to do. So there's not much to say here. I wanted to create the next wave of rock that belonged to, like, brown kids, Middle Eastern kids, kids who come from where I come from." This sentiment underpins her mission to foster a new wave of rock that surpasses cultural boundaries.
Urvah's musical journey is a testament to the do-it-yourself ethos. With no formal training, she started from scratch, immersing herself in the world of open mics. Her early days were marked by learning and dedication, creating a foundation for what would become a distinctive sound, “I legit started from scratch,” she recalls. “I remember I used to do open mics like three, four days a week and just post pictures and people would think they were my shows… I just kept hitting those open mics week after week after week. And that's how I think I've kind of perfected my live performance.”
Though Urvah says she loves being Canadian and Pakistani, she has worked on reconciling the two cultural experiences – simultaneously belonging and feeling like an outsider in both worlds. “That's the beauty of coming from two different cultures,” she says. “I feel like stuff like that is what gave me ammo to like, in the future, write about, rap about, and as far as the music industry is concerned. It's been a tough journey for me because I started my career as a rapper and very quickly, I got really into rock music.” Her eclectic musical palette draws from Indian musical genius A.R. Rahman to The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Black Sabbath. She loves Tony Iommi, the guitarist from Black Sabbath, “I worship the ground he walks on. He's like the best.”
“My dream failed. Everybody thought I was crazy. Everybody's like, your venue's going to be set on fire. And then everybody just backed off."
In the process of merging her Eastern and Western identities, Urvah has forged a unique sound, dubbed “scrap” formed from the “scraps of rock.” Being a brown woman in a white male-dominated industry, Urvah has used rock and rap to reflect her identity, life experiences and according to her, “not try and fit in” but rather “create my own sound and truly make music for myself and people who were like me.”
Her dedication to music and scrap rock is also the inspiration behind a grassroots project she launched in Pakistan. Urvah has been actively working on ScrapFest - her vision for a female-fronted, LGBTQ-friendly grassroots festival celebrating rock music in Pakistan as a means to confront gender and cultural expectations in the country and reshape narratives. The Scrap Army, the band she founded, serves as a symbol of her commitment to carving out a space for diverse voices in the punk scene. This has not come to life without its challenges, though. She told me about the first time she tried to launch ScrapFest in 2017 and the resistance with which it was met: “My dream failed. Everybody thought I was crazy. Everybody's like, your venue's going to be set on fire. And then everybody just backed off." Urvah did not give up though, and launched ScrapFest in Canada instead, before returning to Pakistan in 2021 to try again. "And this time, I did two events, successfully underground." However, she is still battling bans that stem from state resistance and ingrained transphobia.
Despite facing temporary restrictions and opposition, ScrapFest has been a crucible for discussions on trans rights, pushing the boundaries of societal norms in Pakistan. Reflecting on these experiences, Urvah emphasises the importance of highlighting marginalised voices: "We have to prioritise people who haven't been treated right. They have to be put on the top of the ladder." The conversation expanded to Urvah's broader advocacy, with her event Muslim Pride, aimed at showcasing queer and trans-Muslim artists. Urvah still stands by her commitment to the musical aspect of the journey though; “My goal isn't to be political. My goal is to share my story. And I want to, as an organiser, as a musician, I want to create a scene where people are treated the way I want to be treated as an artist.”
“Don't be afraid to put out something and suck.”
As we uncovered the multifaceted nature of Urvah's creative process in our conversation, she spoke about her recent transition to a new band and her sixth album, ‘YYZ to KHI’, released in April 2023. Reflecting on her experiences with her previous guitarist, Urvah highlighted the emotional challenges of parting ways with those she began her creative journey with and the impact of toxic relationships within the music industry.
Towards the end of our conversation, I asked Urvah if she has any advice for the brown kid next door who is looking to make their mark in the punk scene. Urvah stressed the importance of resilience, self-belief and embracing failure as essential elements for success in the music industry. She encouraged aspiring musicians, particularly those from minority backgrounds, to fearlessly pursue their creative endeavours, “My advice would be don't be afraid to put out something and suck.”
In 2022, Urvah was more than honoured to open for Canadian artist Bif Naked after watching her for years on the telly, with Bif Naked describing Urvah as “fearless.” I agree - Urvah is bold and independent, and carries herself with confidence – she is a musician, her own manager, publicist and agent. Her journey portrays a sonic tapestry of resilience, creativity and advocacy. Urvah is not just redefining punk; she's crafting a narrative that crosses borders, and as a cultural catalyst, is challenging norms and leaving an indelible mark on the global punk scene. From Toronto to Karachi, she stands as a testament to the transformative power of punk.
Listen to Zee’s interview with Urvah Khan on our podcast We Are The Weirdos, Aunty-ji.
About Zee
Zee Ahmed is a drummer who enjoys exploring the underground music scene and particularly loves all things punk and electronic. She currently lives in Toronto, Canada where they work as a research consultant. Zee is passionate about diversity and inclusion in all spheres and is learning to play bass guitar.