ARSH KHAIRA
عرش خیرا
ਅਰਸ਼ ਖੈਰਾ
SHELTER FOR THE NIGHT
The latest video from Arsh Khaira, directed by Patrick Strevens
WARNING: This video contains graphic scenes of self-harm and substance abuse. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, help is available. In Canada, you can call Talk Suicide Canada on 1-833-456-4566 to get help. Lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Si vous ou quelqu’un que vous connaissez êtes en difficulté, de l’aide est disponible pour parler du suicide. Au Canada, vous pouvez appeler Parlons suicide Canada au 1-833-456-4566, 24 heures sur 24, sept jours sur sept, pour obtenir de l’aide.
Directed by Patrick Strevens Starring: Faizel Janmohamed Jenn Repp Barret Coates Ehjae Chan Cinematography: Sam Reid Gabriel Lima Special Effects Makeup: Courtney Raham Grips: Austin De Leon Matt Altstadt Production Assistant: Trevor Wiebe Stunt Coordinator Barret Coates Special Thanks To: Devan Bailey Will Cardinal-Mawer Additional Camera and Timelapses: Patrick Strevens Edited by: Patrick Strevens
Words and Music by Arsh Khaira
Mixed and Mastered by Ari Mastoras
We All Hear Forgiveness
A timless indie-folk album by Arsh Khaira. Recently re-released on all major platforms. To listen click here.
NOW AVAILABLE
Based on an extension of the traditional Jewish theological interpretations of the texts of Daniel 7 and Isaiah 53 we can develop the perceptual lens that Jesus’ role was to singularly personify the collective nation of Israel and to not only relive their history, but to carry out their ultimate destiny in a microcosm. The Jewish prophets spoke of a death and resurrection experience that Israel would have to undergo, and these took place in both the bondage and slavery in Egypt (death), the subsequent restoration to the Promised Land (resurrection), and a second time in the exile to Babylon (death), and then restoration to the Holy Land and re-consecration of the temple by the Persians (resurrection). But this death and resurrection experience was actualized and finalized by Jesus Himself who singularly represented and personified His people, Israel. This act became the literal fulfillment of the prophetic scriptures of the Old Testament and conclusively restored the House of Israel to their promised place based on the original covenant as extended to Abraham and his descendants.
THE COMMUNITY OF THE FAITHFUL
Jesus as a Personification of Servant Israel
“While himself coming from outside of the Christian tradition, Khaira embarks on a challenging scholarly journey through the deep waters of Messianic interpretation based on the key narratives of the prophetic writings in the Tanak in relation to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The reader follows Khaira in his analysis via various theological approaches, from redaction criticism to Jewish/Christian typology. A worthwhile study that has sprung from a very creative mind.”
Gerald S. Krispin, President and Vice-Chancellor Emeritus, Concordia University of Edmonton
“Here we see a fresh and insightful treatment of the Son of Man and Suffering Servant motifs in the New Testament. Khaira has a sensitive and appreciative awareness of how the Jewish foundations of these key concepts informed the actions and teachings of Jesus. Recommended.”
Steven Muir, Professor of Religious Studies, Concordia University of Edmonton
“Khaira has rightly emphasized the corporate nature of the ‘Servant of Yahweh’ concept in Isaiah 40-66, which is later carried on in the term ‘Son of Man’ as the faithful in Daniel 7. In the Gospels, the relationship between the individual and the community of the faithful intensifies but, as Khaira shows, the corporate nature of these terms is not to be forgotten.”
Adrian M. Leske, Professor of Religious Studies Emeritus, Concordia University of Edmonton
Arsh discusses his new book as well as his music and research
In this interview with Patrick Strevens, Arsh talks about his work in Biblical Studies as well as his music and approach to songwriting.
IN THE NEWS
ARSH KHAIRA SHARES HIS STORY FOR FOLIO MAGAZINE
ARSH KHAIRA INTERVIEWED BY THE EDMONTON JOURNAL ABOUT BLOOD DIAMONDS
ARSH KHAIRA INTERVIEWED BY ADRIENNE PAN ON CBC RADIO ONE
"SMOKE" IN THE EDMONTON JOURNAL
ARSH KHAIRA SHARES HIS STORY FOR VOICEONLINE.COM
ARSH KHAIRA INTERVIEWED BY NAZ SOHNI UPPAL FOR OMNI TV
ARSH KHAIRA INTERVIEWD BY JARNAIL BASOTA FOR PARWAAZ TV
ARSH KHAIRA INTERVIEWED ON RADIO SOUTH ASIA
BEHIND THE SCENES WITH DR. ARSH KHAIRA
Music is the Journey
Music has the power to transport us to another time and place. Arsh Khaira loves to harness that power with a broad audience of music lovers and passionate musicians alike. Ever since a young age, Arsh Khaira has found great joy and satisfaction by being involved in the creative music process. A graduate of the PhD program in Music from the University of Alberta, Arsh also holds a MBA (U of A), and a M.A. in Biblical and Christian Studies. Use the menu at the top of the page to explore and take a look around the site to get to know more about Dr. Arsh Khaira.
SMOKE
In a desperate plea for peace in the Middle-East, Arsh Khaira releases powerful new single “Smoke”
I have recently had the opportunity to collaborate with producer Ari Mastoras, international artists Amo and More J from Kenya, as well as musician and producer Matt Love from the United States, along with Dr. Michael Frishkopf on a song I have written about issues deeply affecting our world right now. The song titled “Smoke” is a powerful anti-war anthem that is a direct plea for peace towards the conflict in Israel-Palestine. Along with bringing to light the disastrous effects of war and conflict, the lyrics also touch on other issues related to these struggles including the distribution of humanitarian aid and medicines (hinting also at the current Covid pandemic).
This project was completed with the support of Dr. Michael Frishkopf and his collaborative project the Trance-Cultural Orchestra.
Some information about the song:
Engineered and Mastered by Ari Mastoras.
Smoke (Written by Arsh Khaira)
Featuring:
Dr. Arsh Khaira – Vocals/Guitar
Dr. Michael Frishkopf – Keyboards/Bass
AMO (Kenya) – Backing Vocals
More J (Kenya) – Backing Vocals
Matt Love – Drums
Lyrics:
How many are the ways to be protected?
Do you see one?
How many are the ways to be infected?
That’s the worst one.
Take what they give and then steal their country,
With an A-bomb.
Send all your needles and all of your medicine,
With your big guns drawn.
One day you’ll wake up,
See the sky lit up.
But there is no sun,
Only smoke and Guns.
Bombs.
Guns.
How many are the ways to get to Freedom Town?
To be let down?
Get there with your backs to the walls,
And your eyes to the skies,
We’re all occupied.
One day you’ll wake up,
See the sky lit up.
But there is no sun,
Only smoke and Guns.
Bombs.
Guns.
Arsh Khaira - "SMOKE" - Anti-War Anthem - A Desperate Plea for Peace in the Middle East
Words and Music by Arsh Khaira
All Instruments by Arsh Khaira
Produced by Terry Tran
Recorded at The Audio Department, Edmonton, AB.
Mastered by Howie Weinberg
BLOOD DIAMONDS
Edmonton Journal Interview about Blood Diamonds (Click Here)
Live Performance for the Edmonton Journal (Click Here)
Available on Spotify (Click Here)
I wrote this song to show how the inequality and racism that exists today in society, and that we see manifesting itself in violence, both through aggression and retaliation, has a deep rooted historical connection to colonialism and imperialism. I trace back to when colonists "quit" their assets, creating new nation-states based on artificially constructed concepts of ethnicity and nationhood, which led to people-groups vilifying other communities with which they had been historically connected and mutually interdependent with for centuries prior to unwanted colonial intervention. Further, subsequent generations of communities impacted by colonization have inherited pain and trauma, which often manifests itself through anger, drug-abuse and violence. If we can get to the root of these wounds, and try to recreate mutually interdependent relationships between communities that were forcibly divided, and now vilify each other, but who were historically interconnected, thriving through shared cultural and co-operative reciprocity, perhaps we can mitigate the escalation of future violent conflict. We need to bring the generations that have inherited the trauma of colonization, and perhaps don't know where the source of their pain comes from, together - and help them see that the "enemies" that the detrimental effects of colonization have created for us, are really our brothers and sisters.
Arsh Khaira Interviewed About "Blood Diamonds" for the Edmonton Journal
Arsh Khaira Performs Blood Diamonds Live from His Studio for the Edmonton Journal
KASHMIR
This song reveals the tragedy of the Kashmir conflict that has cost thousands of lives of civilians and military personnel.
Directed by Sandeep Sharma and composed and sung gorgeously by Arsh Khaira, this song will allow you to experience this beautiful but conflicted region of the world personally. The senseless atrocities that have taken place in the Kashmir valley since Partition continue to turn this beautiful paradise on earth into a destitute war zone. This video will allow the viewer to travel to the "gulistan" (garden) of Kashmir and experience the pain of all those affected by this conflict - offering a glimmer of hope for the people of the valley.
This is an important initiative to honour the victims of Kashmir violence.
Director: Sandeep Sharma
Writer: Ladi Soosawala
Music: Arsh Khaira
Vocals: Arsh Khaira
Kashmiri Poetry and Rubab: Yaqoob Shah
Production: Kaameshwari Productions
DOP: Honey Cam
Editor: Ram Parvesh Bhardwaj
SHAMA PAIYAN
Arsh Khaira's video "Shama Paiyan" directed by the well known Afghan film-maker Saleem (Azaad) Sayed. Watch for a cameo by Hasib Sayed - the husband of the most famous Afghani singer Aryana Saeed!!
The video was centred around the story of myself, as the lead male protagonist, being coerced into malicious activities (for example: dealing drugs) by a group of individuals involved in such undertakings. I sing the song from the perspective of the female lover who patiently waits for my character, proclaiming: “night has come, and you are still nowhere to be found.” The main lyrical line “shama paiyan, tu na ayo dholna,” is a symbolic homage to another song by the same name performed by Nusrat Fateh Aly Khan during the 1980’s. My version recontextualizes the lyrics to a contemporary societal milieu that the current generation of Panjabis can relate to. The video is similar in some ways to a full-length feature film made titled “Mirza: The Untold Story” in which the actor Gippy Grewal portrays the violent and brooding Mirza in a contemporary remake of the historical ballad, or to Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo and Juliet,” which was a cult classic released in the 1990’s. The video has been very well received in both East and West Panjab as it features a well-known model from the Pakistani community Naomi Zaman. It was directed by a popular Afghan film-maker, Saleem Saeed, who has worked with many well known artists from Afghanistan. A point I must mention is that it is well established that the “Sanjh” of Panjab extends westward into places like the Khyber Pass as well as Kabul which are areas highly influenced by Panjabi culture and language, just as the “Sanjh” extends into Kashmir (see my music video "Kashmir" directed by Sandeep Sharma).
SONG: Shama Paiyan
ARTIST: Arsh Khaira
MUSIC: Pavneet Birgi
LYRICS: Manpreet Shergill
VIDEO: FXUmedia
Arsh Khaira - "Shama Paiyan" Directed by Afghani Director Saleem Sayed
PYAR
Arsh Khaira's PUNJABI MUSIC VIDEO - "PYAR"
In this music video directed by the world renown Sandeep Sharma (Satinder Sirtaj, Waddali Brothers, etc.) the story of two lovers who come from different religious and cultural backgrounds is depicted in the beautiful setting of the North-Easterm Himalayan range.
I play a character that is definitively Sikh, with a long flowing beard and a turban indicative of the Amritsari style. The woman who I am in love with is from the mountains of North-Eastern India, and throughout the video the story is told of how the two characters meet years after being torn apart due to social, tribal and religious differences.
The video begins as I ride my motorcycle through the mountains and come across a woman who has just fallen from a tree from which she was collecting firewood. As I help to lift her to her feet, we both recall that we were once lovers. After this a dream sequence begins in which we both reminiscence how years ago we had fallen in love in these same mountains, but that her family had forced her to move away, as the lead-male protagonist who I play is a Sikh from Panjab, and does not belong to the same ethnic or religious extraction as her. Thie video depicts the reality of Panjab, where many different cultural and tribal groups exhibit very high levels of pride when it comes to their own lineages. When it comes to marrying outside of one’s own community however there is often strong resentment and push-back from one’s own family, and often from society as well. In this part of the world the value of a woman’s izaat, or “honor,” is highly contingent to her family and her own bloodlines.
Music by Arsh Khaira
Directed by Sandeep Sharma
Lyrics by Ladi Soosanwala
Arsh Khaira "Pyar" Directed by Sandeep Sharma
ALLAH HOO
A powerful Sufi rendition of the classic song by Saeen Zahoor. Directed by the well known director Sandeep Sharma, featuring music from BRG.
Arsh Khaira "Allah Hoo," Directed by Sandeep Sharma
Hoshekh / Choshekh is my minimalist apocalyptic grunge project, please check it out! Darker, moodier and very esoteric. Please click the link above to head over.
ARSH KHAIRA'S BOOK SECURES PUBLICATION CONTRACT -
THE COMMUNITY OF THE FAITHFUL: JESUS AS A PERSONIFICATION OF SERVANT ISRAEL
TO BE RELEASED BY WIPF AND STOCK PUBLISHERS
ARSH KHAIRA'S "BLOOD DIAMONDS" FEATURED IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA
ARSH INTERVIEWED BY CBC RADIO ONE
"SMOKE" FEATURED IN EDMONTON JOURNAL
زبان فارسی
DANS LA LANGUE ANGLAISE
"In The English Language"
