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                        <title>The Express Tribune</title>
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                        <description>The Express Tribune keeps you up to date with all the latest happenings from Pakistan and across the world!</description>
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			<title>Song of the year – Tamasha</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1018889/song-of-the-year-tamasha</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1018889/song-of-the-year-tamasha#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Dec 15 16:35:26 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[news.desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[The best Pakistani music industry had to offer]]>
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				<![CDATA[The year 2015 was quite an eventful year for Pakistani music. Several albums were released; celebrated acts like Noori, Call and Mizmar made comebacks while Coke Studio completed another season. Upcoming acts like Khumariyaan, Malang Party also gained a foothold and most importantly, the dream of artists making a living out of their recorded music saw the light of the day with the emergence of online streaming platforms like Patari and Taazi. These 12 months were perhaps the busiest for the industry in hindsight.


Here is a list of the top 10 tracks that made it big this year, with Khumariyaan’s Tamasha topping The Express Tribune’s list. We ran a poll on our website and our readers declared Atif Aslam’s Tajdar-e-Haram from Coke Studio as the song of 2015.

Breath of fresh air: Enjoying the khumar of ‘Tamasha’

10. Mast Hua – Asrar



Asrar has rightfully cemented his identity as the most promising musician to come out of Pakistan in the recent past. Mast Hua is a refreshing track with extremely pleasant lyrics and melody. The video is filmed through a selfie stick while Asrar and his band mates are en route to a concert location.

9. Bewajah – Nabeel Shaukat Ali (Coke Studio)



An opus of Nabeel Shaukat Ali’s artistic prowess, Bewajah is one for the crowds to hum to. While Nabeel’s voice quality and Sajid’s soulful reciprocation on the flute warm the heart, the string section’s riffs provide the long overdue goosebumps. The music is not only reminiscent of String’s coming-of-age record Koi Aanay Wala Hai (2008), but also belts out nostalgia of popular Pakistan music in days of yore, when the playing was crisp, the Urdu was right and the product was honest.

8. Ghar Nari – Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad (Ho Mann Jahaan)



The product of Fareed Ayaz and Co is authentic and draws from the specifications of high art. It gives you little time to ease into the composition and plunges straight into the Khusruvian classic. Ghar Nari is brilliant and exceptionally uplifting. It is one song in the upcoming Ho Mann Jahaan’s soundtrack that will make many look for a working download link.

That time of year: Fans flock to Sufi music extravaganza

7. Rockstar – Ali Zafar (Coke Studio)



It is safe to say Ali Zafar saved Coke Studio 8 for Strings. With a plethora of covers and revisits already on the assembly line, Ali’s Axl Rose produced sheer magic with an original that leaves little room for scrutiny. It has been long since the last time we heard such cleverly-crafted lyrics coupled with an on-point arrangement that do justice to their hype.

6. Aik Tha Badshah – Noori



No one, us the least, expected the electronica-infused, dub-step sound of Aik Tha Badshah, which comes as a sonic surprise. It is a strange diversion from the live, earthy sound of their earlier records. However, the single’s Begum Gul Bakaoli Sarfarosh version is a little more Noori than the version released separately with a video that may be Noori’s most ambitious project yet. Replete with the clap-along-sing-along chorus break, the number found favour both live and in the car.

5. Tajdar e Haram – Atif Aslam (Coke Studio)



Atif opened Coke Studio 8’s first episode with the qawwali that went on to become the highlight of the season. While a comparison with the original and an evaluation based on the aesthetics of qawwali are both unfair and unyielding, the attempt certainly does not make the mighty Sabris turn in their graves.

Coke Studio: Pulling the strings tight

4. Talabgaar – Javed Bashir (Moor)



“There is one track that whenever I listen to I start crying. Although I have made the track myself, written it with Abba [Anwar Maqsood] and mixed it in the studio for almost a month, even now when I hear the song in the car I feel emotional. And that song is Talabgaar.” These were Bilal Maqsood’s words when he spoke about the song during Moor’s press launch.  And his self-praise is not an overstatement as Javed Bashir’s raw vocals mixed with a composition that gets more dynamic with time leave a lasting impact on the listener.

3. Kadi Aao Ni – Atif Aslam, Mai Dhai (Coke Studio)



In this one-of-the-most-well-thought-out products of Coke Studio 8, Atif seems at peace with rediscovering his older self that sang because his calling forced him to. Had it not been for Mai Dhai’s simplicity, Atif would not have been able to shun the commercial element in his works for the seven minutes.

2. Makki Madni – Chand Taara Orchestra



Makki Madni is neither a naat nor a qawwali – it is a magical spell which for a good six minutes keeps you enchanted and takes you on a ‘secret journey’, as Sting would put it. Sherry’s hard-hitting vocals and the simplicity of the arrangement together reflect on the turbulence this soil has witnessed in recent times. The song features Sherry, known for his stints on Aamir Liaquat’s shows, Babar Sheikh on bass, Omran Shafique (Momo) on guitars, Sikandar Mufti on the djembe and Rizwanullah Khan on slide guitar and banjo.

1. Tamasha – Khumariyaan



Now in their fifth year, Khumariyaan is a four-member band that stands strong with Sparlay Rawail on lead guitars, Aamer Shafiq on rhythm guitars, Farhan Bogra on rubab and Shiraz Khan on percussions. Tamasha features the mighty rubab reappear on the scene, this time clasped by long-haired, jeans-clad youth whose urban sensibilities help rebrand the traditional instrument for the newer audience.


Readers’ Choice


1. Tajdar e Haram by Atif Aslam (Coke Studio) with 36% votes

2. Rockstar by Ali Zafar (Coke Studio) with 22% votes

3. Tamasha by Khumariyaan with 20% votes

4. Bewajah by Nabeel Shaukat Ali (Coke Studio) with 8% votes

5. Kadi Aao Ni by Atif Aslam, Mai Dhai (Coke Studio) with 5% votes

6. Aik Tha Badshah by Noori with 3% votes

7. Talabgaar by Javed Bashir (Moor) with 2% votes

8. Mast Hua by Asrar with 2% votes

9. Makki Madni by Chand Taara Orchestra with 1% votes

10. Ghar Nari by Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad (Ho Mann Jahaan) with 1% votes

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2015.

Like Life &amp; Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.]]>
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			<title>Coke who? Rohail Hyatt to return with Sprite</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/959767/coke-who-rohail-hyatt-to-return-with-sprite</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/959767/coke-who-rohail-hyatt-to-return-with-sprite#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 15 11:07:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=959767</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Maestro’s next project expected to be a travelogue featuring natural sounds and international musicians]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Ever since he announced his departure from Coke Studio, Rohail Hyatt seems to have gone AWOL. Although he continued to make sporadic appearances at various speaker sessions and music festivals, those also diminished over time.

“He has achieved so much in the past few years, he could might as well be sunbathing on a personal yacht somewhere in Europe and thinking about the finer things in life,” his friend and work associate had summed up the reclusive artists’ rock star lifestyle when asked about his whereabouts.

Rohail definitely made waves with his stint on Coke Studio and with each passing episode of the new seasons, there seems to be a growing echo for the maestro’s return to the fold again. But it appears as if Rohail’s fans may have to wait longer for his Coke Studio comeback, as the music producer has another project at the top of his agenda.

Multiple sources confirmed it to The Express Tribune that Rohail will be producing a music show for Sprite. The project will be miles apart from Coke Studio. This time around, the maestro is expected to come out of the confined studio environment and is aiming to do something more organic and visually captivating.

Read: The showstoppers of Coke Studio 8

“The project is going to be filmed like a travelogue where the sounds of different parts of Pakistan are going to be captured and incorporated into a song,” says a source close to the producer.

The yet-to-be-titled project is expected to be filmed in an episodic format with each episode ending with a music video of an original soundtrack, created through the course of the show.  Some sources also revealed that the format may change overtime because the show is in its preliminary stages.

“The nature of the show is not yet decided and the format maybe tweaked over time,” says a musician, who is aware of the project. “Sprite is coming up with a very huge campaign and Rohail’s project is a part of that,” he said, while choosing to remain unnamed.

Some of the destinations that Rohail will be visiting along with his production crew include Hunza Lake, upper Punjab and Interior Sindh; whereas the team is also expected to make use of sounds created by objects in different soundscapes. They already started collecting easily available sounds like that of kids dodging a football, knives being sharpened and the juggling of maalish bottles. Even a few boxing rings were hired for this project.

Read: Coke Studio 8: Still haven't found what they're looking for

During his six seasons as the producer of Coke Studio, Rohail continued working with his own select group of musicians, such as  Gumby, Asad Ahmed , Omran Shafique , Mannu and Babar Khanna to name a few. However, the chances of Rohail reverting to his tried-and-tested house band members remain low, with his new project set to feature an all international set of musicians.

“The project only features international musicians,” confirmed a source associated with the project.  “It is unlikely that his [Rohail’s] latest [project] will see any mainstream or renowned musicians taking part,” says a veteran musician, who has worked very closely with Rohail.

“I think he might just continue working with international musicians from season 6 (of Coke Studio),” he added.

If the project sees the light of day, it would be the first time any Pakistani musician would be aiming for an all organic approach on a mainstream music show. Internationally, bands such as the Foo Fighters and others have produced successful albums based on ambient sounds and only time will tell if Rohail’s musical journey through Pakistan will have a huge impact.

At the same time, we can’t rule out Rohail’s return to Coke Studio as he already committed in an interview with the BBC that he would like to produce one more season of the show. Maybe Strings will be given a third chance next year so that Rohail can come back and wrap up Coke Studio once and for all in season 10?

Representatives of the Coca Cola company could not be reached for comment.]]>
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			<title>The showstoppers of Coke Studio 8</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/956472/the-showstoppers-of-coke-studio-8</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/956472/the-showstoppers-of-coke-studio-8#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 15 11:36:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Alveena Abid]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=956472</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Impeccably dressed, brimming with talent, these male singers defined fashion at Coke Studio 8]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Talent, good looks and a bold fashion sense -- these male singers were on point in the latest season of Coke Studio, and they're definitely en route to redefining the fashion landscape in Pakistan.

Impeccably dressed, Atif Aslam, Ali Zafar, Umair Jaswal, Ali Sethi and Ali Azmat outshone their female counterparts when they took the stage at Coke Studio 8.

Here is how these powerhouses are fast becoming fashion icons:

Atif Aslam

He has emerged as an all-rounder; great looks, amazing vocals, and a fantastic fashion sense. The Tajdar-e-Haram singer sported a clean look while performing a beautiful rendition of the iconic qawwali. His sleek hair, cream coloured embroidered shalwar kameez paired with a dark shawl add the perfect traditional touch. Retaining the spiritual element, Atif’s attire perfectly complimented modern-day qawwali.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: COKE STUDIO[/caption]

In Episode 3, he added an Urdu twist to Googoosh’s Persian song Man Amadeh Am. Donned in a straw hat and a floral print t-shirt, Atif looked splendid.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: COKE STUDIO[/caption]

Ali Zafar

As the title of his first Coke Studio 8 track suggests, Ali is a complete Rockstar. Designer Ali Xeeshan -- who is known to bring his regalia to the ramps — didn't fail to impress again. He dressed the singer in a gold embellished black jacket with dangling chains, the perfect fit for a Rockstar. The song itself took a dig at Ali’s lifestyle. No doubt he suggested Ghalib to follow his “fashion sense” and don “designer’s neela coat with gotay ka kaam and low neck banyan”. Adding a twist to his  Elvis look were his edgy ponytail and aviators.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: COKE STUDIO[/caption]

For his jazz number -- Ae Dil Kissi Ki Yaad Main -- Ali put his best foot forward. He looked dapper in a black suit and crisp white collared shirt. It seems that the rockstar’s ponytail is something we are going to see for a while now.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: COKE STUDIO[/caption]

Umair Jaswal

This powerhouse of talent is a living example of why our underground musicians should not be overlooked. Umair's career took a new turn when he emerged in mainstream media. This time around, the rock singer brought forward his A-game when he lent his vocals to Punjabi folk song, Sammi Meri Waar. Umair paired his ethnic-print waistcoat with a khaki slim-fit button-down shirt. Sporting a beard and signature rockstar wrist-bands, Umair definitely proves that he is the next big thing.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: COKE STUDIO[/caption]

Ali Sethi

Usually, you will see a singer trained in classical music dressed in traditional attire. But Ali effortlessly performed his song in an uber-chic look. Who knew Fawad Khan's floral blazer at PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week would catch on like fire? Ali proved that fashion-forward Pakistani men can make anything look good. Sporting a black and red floral jacket with a rugged look, the singer did justice to the classic Umran Langiyan and looked sharp while singing it.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: COKE STUDIO[/caption]

Ali Azmat

Ali Azmat's comeback Coke Studio song, Rangeela, was nothing short of a treat for his fans. The singer has been sporting the bald look for quite some time now and is continuing to give his colleagues a run for their money (excluding HSY). The singer looked up-to-date with the latest trends as he donned a black Nehru jacket paired with a white shirt. What caught our attention was the ethnic motive on the sleeves that added the ‘oomph’ factor.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: COKE STUDIO[/caption]

Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.]]>
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			<title>Showcase of diverse talent</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/941160/showcase-of-diverse-talent</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/941160/showcase-of-diverse-talent#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 15 20:58:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Tanuj Garg]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=941160</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[While India has boundless talent, there is no doubt that for certain kind of sound and melody, it has look to Pakistan]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Pakistani Coke Studio is way ahead of its Indian counterpart. I say this as an Indian. And now, season eight appears to be no exception. The incredibly accomplished Rohail Hyatt isn’t around but producers Faisal Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood of Strings have outdone themselves. Sohni Dharti Allah Rakhe was a fine showcase of diverse Pakistani talent (to be seen in this season) — ranging from Anwar Maqsood to Ali Zafar, soulfully uniting on the theme of nationalism.

I caught a couple of performances from the first episode. Atif Aslam affirmed his vocal mettle in the Sabri brothers qawwali, Tajdar-e-Haram — arguably the singer’s best rendition in a long time. I didn’t understand a word of Aankarli Pharookai but Karam Abbas’s fusion with the charismatic Manganiyar singer, Mai Dhai, compelled me to break into cartwheels. As for the Lahori songster Nabeel Shaukat Ali, who won the Indian music show “Sur Kshetra”, he executed an impeccable rendition of Bewajah, penned by the prolific Babar Shakeel Hashmi. Bengali vocalist Sharmistha Chatterjee hit it out of the park with an exceedingly difficult number, Sayon by the Mekaal Hasan Band.

While India has boundless music talent, there is no doubt that for a certain kind of sound and melody, it has to look up to Pakistan. 

Tailpieces

1) The bane of living in an unforgiving digital era: you don’t get to hush up bloopers. There are scores of leaked videos featuring Pakistani newscasters caught off guard — biting their nails, summoning make-up artists, scratching a body part, unknowingly revealing a bra strap. The latest to join this not-so-esteemed brigade is a 20-something Mehreen Sibtain. After pronouncing ‘London’ as something which rhymes with a male reproductive organ, she saw her embarrassing boo-boo go viral. Her reaction was as priceless as her lame cover-up. I hope the young lady has taken a sabbatical. It will be a while before viewers take her seriously as a newscaster.

2) Few in India are mourning the passing away of the hardliner, father of the Taliban, Hamid Gul.

3) Oh Maa, India’s obsession with its largely farcical godlike figures has reached a new level. These days, Radhe Maa is our national preoccupation. A self-proclaimed (and unintentionally funny) god-woman, she roams around wearing ghostly make-up, blood-red lipstick and a blunt trishul, claiming that she is “pure and pies” (pious). On being quizzed about the leaked pictures of her skintight top and ultra-mini skirt, she said she wore them at the behest of her devotees. It’s time one of them gave her a bikini. Oh wait, let me close my eyes first!

4) I’ve known my gorgeous friend Twinkle Khanna for 15 years. A lot has changed in her life. She has briskly graduated from being an admittedly bad actress to a loyal star wife to a doting mother. She dabbles with home interiors occasionally but what remains intact is her arsenal of humour, sardonic wit and impeccable timing. In fact, all of these have gotten better with age, or so she discovered herself on turning columnist for two Indian publications. On Twitter, she doesn’t call herself Mrs Funnybones for nothing. Politically incorrect at times, her take on in vogue issues and people is laced with delicious cheekiness. Tina (as we fondly call her), recently, entered a new phase as an author. Her maiden book was launched in Mumbai on August 18 by mother Dimple Kapadia, husband Akshay Kumar and friends Karan Johar and Aamir Khan. A rather unusual guest at the launch was Tina’s gynecologist, Dr Sheriyar. Pat came Funnybones’ spiky retort, “He had to dilate issues!” Touche.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20th,  2015.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>India’s ‘Coke Studio’ raises the bar with new season</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/410973/india%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98coke-studio%e2%80%99-raises-the-bar-with-new-season</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/410973/india%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98coke-studio%e2%80%99-raises-the-bar-with-new-season#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jul 12 16:46:16 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=410973</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[First two episodes eclipse the entire fifth season of its Pakistani counterpart.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[While India’s “Coke Studio @ MTV” was the recipient of much criticism last year for its abominable music, this year’s Indian music producers have delivered a gem to silence the critics.


The spectacular comeback shows improvement in the quality of music produced, as well as the songs, setting a new standard of brilliance for this programme. As expected, producer Leslie Lewis is no longer on board. Instead of just one producer spearheading the project (like Rohail Hyatt does in Pakistan), there is a variety of 12 producers working on five songs each. The list of producers includes: Amit Trivedi, Karsh Kale, Clinton Cerejo, Nitin Sawhney, Shantanu Moitra, Hitesh Sonic, Ehsaan and Loy, Hari Sukhmani, Agam, Dhruv Sangari, Jalebee Cartel with Shilpa Rao and Papon.

Of the two episodes released, one has been produced by Cerejo and the other by Sonic — both proving their virtuosity in their individual manners. Before we pick and choose our favourites from the two episodes, we must extend a note of appreciation to the “Coke Studio @ MTV” team for bringing together an exciting mix of veterans and youngsters as producers and allowing them to truly experiment with musicians. One can humbly conclude that the first two episodes of the Indian counterpart have outperformed the entire fifth season of Pakistan’s “Coke Studio”. While India’s new format is a positive sign that music is being produced in the subcontinent as a whole, it also serves as a wakeup call for producers and musicians at home to experiment and add diversity to what has become a generic and typical sound.

Call for new Pakistani producers

“Coke Studio @ MTV” is a great example of how the sound of an entire season can drastically change. In the name of diversity, our “Coke Studio” should consider other probable producers to enrich the musical show further. Rohail Hyatt may be a musical genius who has pulled off five incredible seasons, but he is now running out of steam and the quality of the latest season reflects that. From Shahi Hasan of Vital Signs to the likes of Faisal Rafi, Mekaal Hasan, Immu, Faraz Anwar and Amir Zaki, Pakistan still has a good number of people who could be given a chance, if not with an entire episode then at least with a couple of songs in the upcoming seasons.

List of our favourites

Madari: Brilliant melody

Clinton Cerejo combines the vocals of the well-known Vishal Dadlani from the Vishal/Shekhar duo and the mesmerising Sonu Kakar to give us an incredible melody this season.  This song will make you sing and dance and also proves to be one of the most contemporary takes on the legendary Bulleh Shah.

Allah Hoo: Gives you goose bumps

The combination of Jyoti Nooran and Sultana Nooran gives us a deadly duo to look out for, accompanied by the musical genius of Hityesh Sonic. This song takes you on an unimaginable and unforgettable journey.

Husna: Post-partition love story

This soulful track sings the story of someone who’s beloved went to Pakistan after the 1947 partition, with Piyush Mishra’s voice adding the needed nostalgia and melancholy to the tale.

Chadd De: Vocal brilliance

Master Saleem, the singer of this beautifully penned song makes everything seem effortless yet brilliant.

Mauje Naina: Jazzing it up

This number is by far the most interesting fusion of the season so far, where Bianca Gomes and the Altamash brothers engage in a greatly convincing dialogue through music.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2012.]]>
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			<title>The winners of Coke Studio’s finale</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/405808/the-winners-of-coke-studio%e2%80%99s-finale</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/405808/the-winners-of-coke-studio%e2%80%99s-finale#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jul 12 16:04:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=405808</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rohail Hyatt saved the better numbers for the final episode of season five.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[As “Coke Studio’s” much awaited final episode of season five went on air this Sunday, it was evident that Rohail Hyatt definitely saved the better songs for the finale. While Overload, SYMT, Meesha Shafi and Chakwalis were expected to return in the final episode, there were two surprises. The first was an unexpected performance by musician Farhan Rais Khan and the second was the absence of rock band Qayaas. A heavy metal performance by Qayaas was really what the audience was looking forward to, but unfortunately, they were not given a solo of their own.


Shafi pulls off an Iqbal Bano classic 

As an artist, Meesha Shafi has surprised us with her various artistic capabilities in the past. But one didn’t expect her to excel to this extent in such a short period of time. She performed her interpretation of “Dasht-e-Tanhai”, an Iqbal Bano classic, and the reason she pulled it off so well is because she understands her shortcomings as a vocalist and doesn’t cross any lines to prove herself as something she isn’t – leaving no space for criticism. Rohail Hyatt kept the arrangement simple and sweet, allowing Shafi to lead the song with her mesmerising vocals which resulted in a well-balanced and listenable tribute to the legendary musician Bano and poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

Symt’s goes Punjabi

SYMT finally got their act together in a catchy Punjabi pop number called “Koi Labda”. Although the lyrics of this track aren’t impressive, what really captivated the audience was its catchy melody, which simply grows on you. “Koi Labda” was one of the most interesting duets produced this season and was definitely worth a wait. What really enhanced the song was the inclusion of Sanam Marvi, who made her entry in the second half of the song with brilliance. She successfully incorporated a little bit of folk into a simple pop song, taking it to the next level. The overall composition of this song was somewhat perfect and is one of those rare tracks this season that one would actually listen to again. With “Koi Labda”, not only does this season of “Coke Studio” produce another song which has the potential of going viral but it also opens new doors for SYMT as commendable song writers and Marvi, as a pop artist.

The sitar steals the night

With a father like the legendary Ustad Rais Khan, melodies run in Farhan Rais Khan’s blood for the strings of the sitar have been his childhood toys. Any amount of praise heaped this sitar virtuoso’s way is lacking; he is capable of doing so much at such a young age that he may surpass the standard of sitar playing set by his father, who is as talented as the legendary musician Pandit Ravi Shankar. In “Seher”, “Coke Studio” tried to enforce their typical studio sounds on Khan and despite the fact that it wasn’t gelling well, Khan still managed to steal the show. His instrumental takes you on a spiritual journey and had it not been for the needless presence of the backing vocalists, the piece could have been perfect. Khan’s best performance so far remains to be the one he did with Amir Zaki at the Sitar Festival organised last year — “Coke Studio” could have put this man’s talent to better use.

All in all, it was a night to remember, after Overload did a good job with “Mahi” and the Chakwalis made us smile with “Wah Wah Jhulara”.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10th, 2012. ]]>
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			<title>The best from ‘Coke Studio’ episode 4</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/398947/the-best-from-%e2%80%98coke-studio%e2%80%99-episode-4</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/398947/the-best-from-%e2%80%98coke-studio%e2%80%99-episode-4#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jun 12 14:37:12 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=398947</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The recent episode gives listener three tracks they are bound to remember.]]>
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				<![CDATA[In its fourth episode this season, the “Coke Studio” house band treated listeners to one of the most musically challenging compositions of the season. From the brilliant combination of the Chakwal Group and Bohemia to a larger than life rendition of Amir Khusro by Fareed Ayaz and Abu Mohammad, what emerged from the fourth episode was pure and honest music.


A stellar combo

The Chakwal Group managed to take it to the next level with their traditional song “Kandyaari” after the sensual “Ishq Aap Bhi Awalla”. “Kandyaari” is a love song written by Aziz Lohar, a contemporary singer from the Chakwalis who hails from a village named Shah Khushi in Chakwal. Credit must be given to Bohemia for lightening up the mature lyrical content of the poetry with his rap. Towards the end, the song turns into an interesting fusion of contrasting tragedies of love, one referring to spiritual inclinations and the other to materialism.

Pashto music with a twist

“Tora Bahraam Khaana” is a romantic song in which a woman is talking to her lover – Bahraam Khan – who does not fit society’s definition of a good looking man because of his dark complexion.

Just like “Larsha Pekhawar Ta”, this song also comprises of the traditional Tappas which have been neatly fused together into a musically-rich piece which has been  orchestrated well by “Coke Studio” musicians. Those who were disappointed with “Larsha Pekhwawar” should listen to this traditional and ethnic Pashto masterpiece. Hamayoon Khan proves his vocal prowess yet again and can be considered one of the few Pakistani musicians who have successfully fused traditional Pashto music with contemporary styles – not just for “Coke Studio” but in solo albums as well.

The duo that stole the limelight

Fareed Ayaz and Abu Mohammad are gifted musicians. Their version of “Rung” is considered closest to the original rendition by Amir Khusro. Both theirs and Hadiqa Kayani’s versions of the Qawali are unique in their own aspect.

Khusro was inspired to write this kalaam after he met his pir Nizamuddin Auliya. It is said that he returned home in a state of ecstasy and told his mother that the world now seemed to be filled with divine radiance as he had at last met the person he had been looking for all his life.

When “Rung” was initially released, it went on to become an important part of many different sufi orders such as Qadris and Chishtis. Ultimately, it became common practice to close any show or gathering with this song because of its impact on the audience.

“Coke Studio” officials say, “One reason why traditional music continues to survive today is because of its evolution in time. By featuring two different versions of Rung in one season, this point is highlighted and experimentation with traditional music is encouraged; provided the essence of the original is not sacrificed”.

With a spectacular end to its fourth episode, “Coke Studio” leaves the audience craving for more. All in all, this episode was one the audience will not forget.

The Twitter buzz

-Why does Atif Aslam have to wear different clothes for every song on “Coke Studio”?

-“Coke Studio” rocked again. Indian music depends on its film industry only while Pakistan’s music is a big sea

-Bohemia featuring Chakwal Group rocks “Coke Studio”

-Didn’t like it that much. Uzair Jaswal, Qawali duo and Atif aren’t bad. But “Coke Studio” music is becoming the same day by day.

-“Coke Studio” should discontinue the series and let people remember the first and the second season. Stop getting worse every year!

-Atif Aslam rocked in the ‘Coke Studio’… He was looking so hot, cool and dashing.”

-Why is “Coke Studio” turning out to be such a disappointment? Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad are singing the same tracks Hadiqa Kiyani sang in the last one.

-“Heard two songs from the new ‘Coke Studio’ episode. Both of them were pretty disappointing.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Coke Studio’s Indian mystery</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/391261/coke-studio%e2%80%99s-indian-mystery</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/391261/coke-studio%e2%80%99s-indian-mystery#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 09 Jun 12 15:54:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[aakar.patel]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=391261</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Indians choose use their talent to create purely popular music, because that is what they are paid big money for.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Why did Pakistan produce the lovely “Coke Studio” music series and not India? Why is Pakistan’s “Coke Studio” more popular with many Indians than the new Indian version? Is it because Pakistan’s musicians are better or more creative than India’s musicians? Let’s explore the question.

My introduction to this sort of music came before “Coke Studio” began. It happened many years ago when I was staying in Lahore with my friend Iftikhar, a retired colonel from General Pervez Musharraf’s batch in the Pakistan Military Academy.

One evening Iftikhar took me to the Waris Road residence of Masood Hasan, later to become a fellow columnist of mine at The News. We had a few glasses of the good stuff with some other guests (friend Ejaz Haider was also present) and then Hasan took us to a part of the property where his son Mekaal had built a studio and was playing with his band. This was when I first heard the music that is now so distinctively the sound of “Coke Studio”. I would define it as a folk song or raag-based melody, layered with western orchestration. This included a synthesiser’s wash, guitars, a drummer, a bass punctuating the chord changes and backing vocals and harmony. Essentially, it was traditional Hindustani music made palatable for ears accustomed to listening to more popular music.

Mekaal did this very well and his band’s first album, Sampooran, is as good as anything produced by Rohail Hyatt at “Coke Studio” later. Indeed, many of the musicians Mekaal worked with eventually ended up at “Coke Studio”. Gumby, the Karachi drummer on “Coke Studio’s” first four seasons, played on Sampooran. Zeb and Haniya, the stars of “Coke Studio 2”, were originally produced by Mekaal.

The first-rate Hindustani singer Javed Bashir, who adds depth to the singers that are not classically trained, used to be a lead singer with Mekaal’s band. The great Ghulam Ali was on a flight with me from Ahmedabad to Bombay once and I told him I was friends with Javed. “Mera hi bachcha hai,” he said with great pride. And Lahore’s Pappu, Pakistan’s best flautist, has played flute for Mekaal’s records. I know all these people well and most have stayed with me in Bombay over the years. I am very fond of all of them.

Gumby and I went to a concert next to my house where guitarists Frank Gambale and Maurizio Colonna played. Gumby says Colonna’s playing brought tears to his eyes. Javed and I have drunk a few places dry and have been banned from one. Mekaal is, of course, a dear friend, as are Zeb and Haniya. I’m dropping these names so it is understood that I am familiar with the music and the musicians as few Pakistanis are. Now, to understand why India did not produce “Coke Studio” but Pakistan did.

The reason is linked to what I said earlier — that “Coke Studio” is a popular interpretation of India’s traditional music. India’s talented musicians and producers already have a commercial outlet: Bollywood. This is where money is made and this is where Pakistan’s singers who want commercial success must also come.

Their talent, however, is spent on making music that is purely popular, because that is what they are paid big money for. Indian musicians like Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Kailash Kher can make the sort of classical-popular mix of music that one hears on “Coke Studio” easily if they set aside a couple of months for it. But they choose not to because their working day is spent making music that makes them rich (Kailash, whom I’ve known since before he sang for Bollywood, today charges Rs20 lakh for a two-hour concert). In Pakistan, there is no commerce in music and even the most talented musicians must do something other than sing or play to get by. Mekaal rents out his studio.

The disadvantages of not having a commercial outlet for one’s talent are many. The only advantage of this is that musicians are free to make popular music that is still non-commercial. Fortunately, for all of us, whether Indian or Pakistani, Rohail Hyatt and his team have used this space to produce the music that we love so much. The reason why Coca Cola produces the show is that the Pakistani public will not directly pay for it, unlike Indians and Bollywood.

It is cruel to say this but it is true.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Coke Studio: Sweet songs of the soil</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/385315/coke-studio-sweet-songs-of-the-soil</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/385315/coke-studio-sweet-songs-of-the-soil#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 May 12 16:03:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=385315</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Episode 2 of ‘Coke Studio’ celebrates folk tunes.]]>
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				<![CDATA[From the days of Allan Faqeer’s “Teray Ishq Main” and Nazia Hassan’s “Pyar Diyan Gallan” to Saieen Zahoor and Noori’s “Ek Alif” and countless renditions of “Jugni”, folk melodies have always ruled the hearts of Pakistani audiences. The trend continues in full swing with the second episode of “Coke Studio” season five.


It is impossible not to enjoy and cherish the melodies that come right from our own soil; every harmony is a reservoir of history, every chorus is unique and every stanza a holy verse. Kudos to “Coke Studio” for exporting our epic folklores to other countries and making everyone realise the importance of this cultural treasure.

Raw ballads of Potohar Valley

One would be surprised to know that until the filing of this report the most trending song was Meesha Shafi and Chakwal group’s “Ishq Aap Bhi Awalla”. Chakwal group is a group of four men who stand and sing in chorus around a single dhol. In the villages and town centres of Potohar region, there are usually a group of 16 or more people who perform in the same manner in front of audiences that gather to watch them. Shafi’s voice, which now has a new dimension to a range of traditional and modern music, blends well to support the group’s very heavy vocals.

The Chakwal group’s expressions while singing tell you how much they love their work and the YouTube hits tell us how much people love them.

Bilal Khan: Maturing with time

The raw, unfinished and simple structure of “Larho Mujhey”, Khan’s latest song for “Coke Studio”, tells a lot about the musical journey that he’s currently on. However, at the same time, the strong lyrical content and Khan’s control on the progression of the song reflect how he has matured as an artist. “My earlier songs were very sad and I had explained why they were sad. Now, I am trying to explain why I am happy. Things have improved in my life. I have now reached my dream but what is the next step, how do I improve from here?” says Khan.

An ode to Amir Khusrau 

Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad radiated sheer confidence during their performance of Amir Khusrau’s kalaam “Khabram Raseeda”; a song about sheer honesty and love for the beloved. “We have not changed since the time of our ancestors. There were certain changes and effects but we have managed to preserve the original through all these years,” says Ayaz.  And the truth in his statement resonates in their soul stirring performance of this classic Sufi poetry of love and devotion.

Tahir Mithu makes you drown in love

“Even during half-time at school, I would sit in class and play beats on the tables,” says Tahir Mithu, who has been playing music since he was a child growing up in Kotri, Sindh. He later on went to perform at Bhit Shah for Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s urs and since then has been enthralling audiences with his soulful vocals. From the very first note of the timeless “Pere Pavandi Saan” (Bhittai’s Sindhi folk tale of Sassi Punno), you are taken on a voyage through the Indus river and its beautiful folk tales. Sindhi melodies needed such packaging and finally someone is doing justice to the folk tales that need to be heard by the world.

Atif Aslam gives his career best as a vocalist

From winning a million hearts through “Aadat” to being one of South Asia’s most sought after rock stars; Atif Aslam has really come of age. His latest performance in “Coke Studio” was yet another feather in his cap. The brilliance with which he performed an improvised version of his own song “Rabba Sacheya” proved why he’s one of the biggest superstars of the country.

Stating earlier that he likes to explore different dynamics and dimensions when it comes to music, Aslam lived up to that promise. In his latest performance, we saw a totally new Aslam; an Aslam who now has a great command over Punjabi diction and is more experimental in his approach.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Unlike Pakistan, Afghanistan supports artists: Hamayoon Khan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/382534/unlike-pakistan-afghanistan-supports-artists-hamayoon-khan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/382534/unlike-pakistan-afghanistan-supports-artists-hamayoon-khan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 May 12 15:31:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=382534</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Musician Hamayoon Khan discusses the state of the Pashto music industry.]]>
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				<![CDATA[He was invited as a state guest by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, given the best singer award in Pakistan and Afghanistan and recently won everyone’s hearts with his rendition of “Larsha Pekhawar Ta” in “Coke Studio”. Earlier, musician Hamayoon Khan worked with the corporate sector and even tried his skills as a programmer for channel ATV Khyber, but eventually gave in to his dream of writing, singing and producing music and turned towards the music industry. The Pashto musician talks to The Express Tribune and discusses the developments his recent venture has brought for him.


The ‘Coke Studio’ experience

Khan, who is extremely happy with the exposure he got through the refurbished version of an old, Pashto folk tune says, “This is the 2012 version of this folk melody.” He adds, “Whenever I listen to this version, I imagine Pakhtuns dressed up like cowboys and roaming around Peshawar.”

When asked what he thinks of the conservative lot who believe that “Coke Studio” tarnished the essence of the folk tune, the musician says, “I know people tend to take traditional folk melodies quite personally at times. What they need to understand is that it is a ‘Coke Studio’ version of the song and they should expect it to be different from the original.”

Discovering the roots of “Larsha Pekhawar Ta”

“Larsha Pekhawar Ta” is the one of the oldest folk tunes that according to Khan, dates back to hundreds of years in Pashto history. “No one knows about the exact time of its origin and the composer of this folk melody as this tune was passed from one generation to another without any background or history. And although the words did change with time, its message still revolves around love,” says Khan.

The musician says that the exact geographical location of its origin is also unknown and one can only assume things by what is available in the lyrics. “The song mentions Peshawar, which was known as Kanishka Pura in ancient times from which we can conclude that the original folk tune is not that ancient. As far as the region is concerned, along with Peshawar it also makes references to Nangarhar, which is a province in Afghanistan, with Jalalabad as its capital so it could have been written on either side of the Durand Line,” speculates Khan.

Like Khan, many artists have composed their own version of the song by modifying the lyrical content according to their preferences. “This is a song based on Tappas, which are a traditional lyric-writing format. We have myriad music books that contain thousands of Tappas from which any artist can pick and choose his or her favourite and use them in their renditions.

Competition from across the border 

Like many other musicians hailing from that region, Khan too believes that the Afghan music scene is way ahead of what is happening in Pakistani Pashto music. He salutes Afghan artists and authorities for their effort and says, “Afghan musicians were better than us and they are better than us because of the kind of support they get from their authorities,” says Khan. “They have the Tajik, Uzbek and Russian influences in their music and their artists keep evolving with time.”

Khan, however, complains that the state of the music industry is not as good in Peshawar. “Their government, unlike ours, actually believes that artists are contributors to the society hence they provide them with all the sponsorship, funding and production facilities that are required. We, on the other hand, don’t get any help as such from the government,” states Khan.

While recalling his experience of performing in Afghanistan, the musician says, “It is altogether a new experience whenever I’m performing in Afghanistan. You can see how much their audience has matured with time.” However, on a positive note he adds that Pashto musicians in Pakistan have also matured and they will soon be ready to compete or may be even surpass Afghani artists.

What the future holds

The “Coke Studio” session gave Khan an opportunity to cater to large audience and the musician plans to release his album soon which will comprise of tracks in Pashto, Urdu, English, Punjabi and Persian.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Ghalib is my favourite poet: Bohemia</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/381656/ghalib-is-my-favourite-poet-bohemia</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/381656/ghalib-is-my-favourite-poet-bohemia#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 20 May 12 15:27:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=381656</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rapper Bohemia talks about working in Pakistan.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Rap music is not something alien to Pakistani listeners; they were formally introduced to it by Fakhre Alam in his very memorable “Bhangra” in the early 90s and even now contemporary artists like Islamabad-based Adil Omar are making contributions to this genre. However, the most groundbreaking advancement in the rap scene so far is the recent collaboration of globally recognised rapper Bohemia and widely-viewed music programme “Coke Studio”.

“Paisay Da Nasha” is the outcome of this equation and has so far crossed more than 300,000 hits on YouTube, making it one of the fastest spreading and the second most popular track of “Coke Studio” season five episode one.

The artist, who channels out his internal conflict and rebellion against society by writing soul touching songs, was overwhelmed by the “Coke Studio” experience and shared his views after his recording sessions.“I am in awe of the effort the whole team puts in over here,” says Bohemia. “Their honesty is reflected in the final product that all these masterminds come up with.”

Bohemia jauntily terms Pakistan as a “dangerous place” but adds that a country with geniuses like Rohail Hyatt and Asad Ahmed is expected to take the global music scene by a storm and that’s a threat to other artists. “I have grown up listening to people like Sir Rohail and Sir Asad and it’s an honour for me to work with them,” says a very humble Bohemia. “They are legends in their own kind and if they call me again I will definitely show up.”

Being a Pakistani at heart who has grown up listening to Pakistani pop bands and solo artists like Sajjad Ali, Bohemia was deeply influenced by Urdu poetry and a conversation with the rapper shows one the kind of command he has on Urdu language and literature.

Putting his inspiration to good use, the rapper wrote a collection of poems when he was in 10th grade. Even his early poems have a sadness to them and most of his verses, like his lyrics, reflect his tumultuous life story. When asked about his inspirations, the Punjabi rapper says that he has very clear choices in poetry. “Mirza Ghalib is my favourite Urdu poet. There is no second favourite, he was and is the one and only,” says Bohemia.

While reading out a few lines of Ghalib; “Har aik baat pae kehte ho tum kay tu kiya hi, tumhi kaho kay yeh andaz e guftugu kia hai,” he elaborates on his fascination with Ghalib’s poetry. “Look at his thought-process and expression. I’m not comparing myself to anyone here but people connect to his poetry even today and I am trying to do the same as a rapper”.

Only the coming episodes of “Coke Studio” will unravel whether Bohemia has what made Ghalib an unforgettable and invincible force in the world of poetry and literature.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21st, 2012.]]>
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			<title>‘Coke Studio 5’: That didn’t impress us much</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/378649/%e2%80%98coke-studio-5%e2%80%99-that-didn%e2%80%99t-impress-us-much</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/378649/%e2%80%98coke-studio-5%e2%80%99-that-didn%e2%80%99t-impress-us-much#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 May 12 16:10:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=378649</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The show’s latest season opens on a low note.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The first episode of the much-awaited musical programme “Coke Studio” was released on Saturday night. This time around, the episode was released on the internet before it got aired on channels, which resulted in tracks like “Paisay Da Nasha” by Bohemia and “Charkha Nolakha” by Atif Aslam and Qayaas receiving over a 100,000 likes within a day.


The episode itself, however, didn’t live up to the high expectations and hype that surrounded this season and didn’t get the raging response “Coke Studio” episodes usually get through social media. It seems that the show has set the bar so high with phenomenal performances in the past that anything that is less than perfect disappoints fans and puts them off.

However, one thing that can easily be concluded after listening to the first episode is that “Coke Studio” may not get as popular this time around but will definitely be more experimental.

‘Charkha Nolakha’: Atif Aslam and Umair Jaswal a deadly duo

The first thing that comes to mind after listening to “Charkha” is that amazing vocalists like Atif Aslam and Umair Jaswal didn’t really need backing vocalists to make a Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan classic sound brilliant. Aslam proves his critics wrong once again by displaying the best of his vocal range and strength in this song. However, on the other hand, a hardcore Qayaas fan would have wished the band to perform their own song “Charkha” and bring forth their own signature style of music instead of working on renditions.

‘Kamlee’: Hadiqa Kiyani and Sufi rock

With “Kamlee” the iconic Hadiqa Kiyani demonstrated her love for Sufi poetry and attempted at doing something extraordinary with an already overdone song, which unfortunately doesn’t leave a lasting impression . The song stands out for its groove and the lyrical content but the overall make-up of the track is cliched and done to death.

‘Tum Kaho’: The filler performance

Symt has been creating quite a buzz in the music industry because of their hit songs like “Zamana” and “Pyar Di Ganderi”. Their latest track, however, “Tum Kaho”, despite being a sweet, mellow number wasn’t worthy of being featured in “Coke Studio”. Even though the song isn’t all that bad, it just could not match the unprecedented standards set by outstanding performances in previous seasons.

One word of advice is that bands like Symt should refrain from experimenting and mixing, as incorporating a short piece by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in their act didn’t do their average song any good. The only thing that stands out is the backing vocals by the Viccaji sisters, who outdid themselves in this song.

‘Paisay Da Nasha’: Rap gets a makeover

Bohemia’s performance could have been labelled as ‘just another rap song’ but “Coke Studio” manages to bring out an unexplored facet of rap fusion. Kudos to the team of the show for not replicating what is happening in rap music all around the world and in fact generating their own way of treating rap music with funk and pop influences. The song “Paisay Da Nasha” is a lyrical masterpiece that has received an ideal launch via “Coke Studio”. One shouldn’t be surprised if the song becomes the next youth anthem in Pakistan.

‘Larsha Pekhawar Ta’: Hamayoon Khan redefines Pashto pop

Hamayoon Khan is among the new breed of Pashto musicians from Peshawar and his love for modern music has gained him immense popularity in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Afghanistan. “Larsha Pekhawar Ta” is one of the many folk tunes that serve as the essence of Pashto music and what “Coke Studio” did with it is truly experimental in nature. However, where funky rendition of it amazed many new listeners, some traditional Pashto music fans are of the opinion that it lacks the soul original folk tune had.

Regardless, such a piece is definitely an achievement for the “Coke Studio” house band. Guitarist Asad Ahmed and keyboardist Mobi deserve a pat on the back for their contribution to this song.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Coke Studio 5 begins May 13</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/374015/coke-studio-season-5-begins-may-13</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/374015/coke-studio-season-5-begins-may-13#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 04 May 12 09:32:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=374015</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Atif Aslam, Bilal Khan and Meesha Shafi make a comeback. New artists include SYMT, Overload, Tahir Mithu.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The journey of musical discoveries continues on May 13, 2012, as Coke Studio returns this year with a new season, bringing back a fusion of traditional eastern, modern western and regionally-inspired music.

Coke Studio mastermind, Rohail Hyatt is back at the helm and this season will feature Atif Aslam, Bilal Khan, Bohemia, Chakwalis, Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad, Hadiqa Kiyani, Humayun Khan, Meesha Shafi, Tahir Mithu, Overload, Qayaas, SYMT and Uzair Jaswal.

The house band will include Asad Ahmed on guitar, Babar Ali Khanna on dholak, Javed Iqbal on violin, Kamran ‘Mannu’ Zafar on bass, Omran ‘Momo’ Shafique on guitar, Sikander Mufti on multi-percussions and Rachel Viccaji and Zoe Viccaji on backing vocals.

There will also be two new inductees in the house band - Farhad Humayun on drums and Mubashir Admani on keyboards.

The highlight of this season will be songs in regional languages. The young artists will discover their heritage by incorporating parts of Sufi poetry and philosophy in their music and writing.

Executive Producer Coke Studio, Rohail Hyatt said
Entering into our 5th season, we at Coke Studio believe our journey continues to explore the wealth of talent and cultural diversity that we as a nation are blessed with. Everyone has put in their best again because we believe in sharing and presenting ourselves to the best of our abilities. It is without doubt that the love and respect that our audience has showered us with, serves as our inspiration. I'd like to thank everyone who has supported our efforts. I hope you find something in your life that becomes your source of inspiration and allows you to better enjoy the beauty of life itself.
Coke Studio will be aired throughout the summer with a new episode every fortnight.

View a related slideshow here.]]>
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			<title>‘Coke Studio 4’: Who had the look?</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/226192/%e2%80%98coke-studio-4%e2%80%99-who-had-the-look</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/226192/%e2%80%98coke-studio-4%e2%80%99-who-had-the-look#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 07 Aug 11 16:10:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[hani.taha]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=226192</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The one performer that stood out for quiet sex appeal and sophisticated cool was Bilal Khan.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Throughout the history of popular culture, one sees a deep rooted association of music with fashion. Indeed, both have influenced each other and those individuals that have successfully managed to foray and charter both territories have become icons: Madonna’s conical bra, Michael Jackson’s red and black ensemble and his signature glove, Lady Gaga’s reinterpretation of the bizarre. 

“Coke Studio” provides the most consolidated platform for musicians in Pakistan and yet, when one takes a general sweep of the style statements that they make, one comes to an abysmal conclusion of none — save for Meesha Shafi who made a stunning style statement in a red and black ensemble with flattering gold jewellery and brought scarlet lips back with bang in the show’s third season.


Yet, apart from this singular example, musicians in Pakistan, for most part, suffer from the syndrome that looking frumpy means that you’re serious about your work. Sure, one sees the occasional artistically styled video by the Mekaal Hasan Band fashioned by Ammar Belal, and the recent Overload video that got fashion’s new eccentric talent Ali Xeeshan on board, but on the whole though, our rock stars need serious help with styling - “Coke Studio” being a glaring testimony to the fact.

The two dominant trends that one saw in season four were blazers and a generous use of ajrak. Veterans like Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi and Sajjad Ali looked dignified in their choice of jackets and shawls, but the relatively newer blood, like Jal, horrified audiences with their uber shiny burgundy racer-boy jackets. The band that did, however, manage to get the jacket look right was Mizraab. Even with their characteristic nonchalant rocker attitude and look, Faraz Anwar’s very 80s camel jacket thrown over a causal black tee along with his choppy layered hair, was the distraught agonised sensitive musician to perfection. Unlike Jal, whose look was contrived, Anwar felt comfortable and appeared original, as did the band Mole with their oversized sweaters. Danial Hyatt’s looking like a mini Rohail just added to the charm.

The one performer that stood out for quiet sex appeal and sophisticated cool was Bilal Khan. Whether in a form-fitting black velvet blazer or a loosely knotted bright red tie, he pulled both looks with perfection. There is a calm sincerity to his voice and persona and Khan candidly admits, “I’d be lying if I said that as ‘Coke Studio’ drew near I was only thinking about my vocals and performance. After all, entertainment is a public industry and by proxy, entertainers have to fit the bill in terms of meeting the demands of what the public recognises as fashion at the time.”

Here’s a boy who understands what it means to be in the business. “Fashion is one of those things which I think one should be very aware of but need not let others in on that fact,” he says, and chose home grown designer Ammar Belal for that versatile black blazer.

Of the ajrak, only The Sketches added a unique flavour by using this age old Sindhi staple as a cravat to denote their own musical heritage, while others like Sanam Marvi wore it as an accent to her traditional shalwar kameez and Akhtar Channal as part of his own indigenous garb.

The women sadly, made no statement whatsoever. One can detect fashion promise in Quratulain Balouch and Rachel Viccaji who let their hair do the talking. Both sport bobs: Balouch’s primed and rounded; while Viccaji prefers a choppier look. A little push in the right direction could turn both into youth style icons. Someone like Mohsin Ali or Ali Xeeshan should be roped in, and let’s see the fashion week stars dress the “Coke Studio” stars. Now that’s a heady concoction to look forward to in Season 5.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Coke Studio @ MTV: ‘Kangna’ vs ‘Hamein To Loot Liya”</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/222752/coke-studio-mtv-%e2%80%98kangna%e2%80%99-vs-%e2%80%98hamein-to-loot-liya%e2%80%9d</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/222752/coke-studio-mtv-%e2%80%98kangna%e2%80%99-vs-%e2%80%98hamein-to-loot-liya%e2%80%9d#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Aug 11 16:22:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=222752</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[How “Coke Studio @ MTV” ventures into qawwali, compared to Pakistan’s version.]]>
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				<![CDATA[While the fourth season of “Coke Studio” Pakistan has concluded, a similar venture across the border still has three more episodes before the end of its first season.


We have seen a lot of diversity in India’s “Coke Studio @ MTV”; from very traditional percussive instruments, to a mix and match of Bollywood songs and some phenomenal vocal talent reflected in the country’s folk music. With the seventh episode of “Coke Studio @ MTV”, the show’s producer Leslie Lewis and his studio members ventured into the genre of qawwali with the Sabri Brothers’ rendition of “Hamein To Loot Liya”.

Qawwali takes its roots from Persia and Middle East and the genre has deeply penetrated into the subcontinent’s music. However, it has merged differently in different parts of the subcontinent — something which can be clearly seen in the two qawwalis presented at “Coke Studio @ MTV” and “Coke Studio”.

Producer Rohail Hyatt introduced two qawwals Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad in “Coke Studio 4”. The duo’s version of Amir Khusro’s kalam “Kangna” introduced a whole new genre to the show. On the other side of the border, Leslie Lewis brought the Sabri brothers (without their frontman Amjad Sabri). Though the artists initially appeared in the first episode, their formal debut as qawwals came with their recent performance “Hamein To Loot Liya”.

There’s a huge difference as to how the two shows featured qawwalis. While “Coke Studio” matched the vocal brilliance of the singers with the support of the house band, “Coke Studio @ MTV” ended up changing the qawwali into a more commercial, catchy, but an uninteresting rendition of Ismail Azad’s song from the 1958-film Al Hilal.

The vocals in a typical qawwali are so powerful that any fusion act needs to ensure the music follows the singer’s lead. Gumby, along with the other members of the house band, did a brilliant job by following the vocals of Abu Mohammad and Fareed Ayaz, even when the qawwals were improvising. In an interview before the show, both the qawwals expressed their concern for not changing the structure of something as holy as a qawwali.

However, in the case of “Coke Studio @ MTV”, the vocals were too weak to maintain a qawwali feel. Despite using a popular track, the performance did not leave a great impact because of the musical arrangement. The banjo solo at the beginning of the performance established a premise for an item number. The three backing vocalists entered the song with claps, but they couldn’t make a positive impact on the song.

“Coke Studio @ MTV” has presented some remarkable performances in the last few weeks, but the recent episode turned out to be a disappointment.

From the quality of the qawwali performed at “Coke Studio @ MTV”, it was clear that a textbook formula of changing a song to a catchy number does not always work, particularly with a form of music like qawwali which holds a spiritual attachment for many singers and listeners.

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3rd, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Fuzon bashes ‘Coke Studio @ MTV’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/222010/fuzon-bashes-%e2%80%98coke-studio-mtv%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/222010/fuzon-bashes-%e2%80%98coke-studio-mtv%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Aug 11 16:20:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=222010</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[India’s version of ‘Akhian’ disappoints the song’s original composers — Fuzon’s Emu and Shallum Xavier.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Think of Pakistan’s pop music scene and bands like Fuzon will automatically come to mind. Fuzon’s tracks like “Ankhon Ke Saagar”, “Tere Bina”, “Akhian” and “Khamaj” took the South Asian music scene by storm. However, after Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan left the band to pursue his solo career, Fuzon could not live up to the standard set by their debut album Saagar but fans still remember the unique sound of “Ankhian”, which revolutionised Pakistani music.


After being played on music channels in Pakistan for a decade, the song was recently redone in India’s “Coke Studio @ MTV”, sung by Khan — the original vocalist of the song.

The video has been uploaded on YouTube, and comments seem to reflect the association listeners had with the original version. Fuzon fans have been bashing the producer of “Coke Studio @ MTV”, Leslie Lewis for taking away the originality of the song. These opinions are seconded by the composers of the song, Shallum Xavier and Emu, who think the song was “torture” to listen to.

“I am speechless. In fact, I cannot utter the words that I would actually like to because they have simply ripped apart the whole song. I don’t know what the producer was thinking when he decided to turn a pure rock song into a reggae song, and that to a bad one,” says Emu while talking to The Express Tribune.

Adding to this, Emu explains that a song like “Akhian” cannot be changed into reggae, unlike tracks like “Khamaj” and “Tere Bina”, which can remain similar to their original versions even when given a reggae feel.

Shallum Xavier says: “In any case, I didn’t have high expectations from ‘Coke Studio @ MTV’, but this was just a horrible version of ‘Akhian’.”

While both agree that the song was a huge disappointment, they disagree on who is to blame. Xavier says that it is the fault of both the artist and producer, but Emu believes that it is the producer who is to be blamed. The artist is appreciative of his former bandmate, saying: “I think Shafqat did a good job with the vocals and added a few alaaps to make the song sound different, but the producer’s arrangement was not up to the mark. This [rendition] was not expected to come from Leslie Lewis who has produced decent music when in the Colonial Cousins”

Reflecting on the choice of a song like “Akhian”, Emu wonders why it was picked up when Khan has recorded a number of solo tracks, including the hit track “Mitwa”. The artist believes that “Akhian” did not need to be redone, since it is already close to contemporary music. “Songs from the album Saagar are evergreen melodies and even if you listen to them today after so many years they sound fresh, unlike many run-of-the-mill songs,” says Emu.

The artist believes that the “Coke Studio @ MTV” version of “Akhian” will have a negative impact on Fuzon’s standing. “The Pakistani pop music industry is already dying and if a venture like ‘Coke Studio @MTV’  has the capability of converting great melodies into half-hearted fusion attempts, then at the end of the day it’s a Fuzon’s track that is suffering and it’s our  fans who are disliking it,” says Emu.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2011.]]>
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			<title>10 things I hate about Coke Studio</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/218554/10-things-i-hate-about-coke-studio-31-7-2011</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/218554/10-things-i-hate-about-coke-studio-31-7-2011#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 31 Jul 11 09:04:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Jahanzaib Haque]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=218554</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[I hate that Coke Studio is so awesome, I find myself feeling unutterably guilty as I sip on Pepsi while writing this.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[1.   I hate how every season and every episode of Coke Studio sets my hopes for the next season and next episode yet another few notches above any reasonable expectation from a pop show. Currently the bar is set to “like when Jimi Hendrix set his guitar on fire”. It’s completely irrational, but after “Kangna” that’s where it stays.

2.   Why do our musicians never just totally lose it, run across stage and smash something? Why? Why don’t they do more than just groove within a one foot radius of where they’ve been placed? Can we get a healthy dose of showmanship to match the music quality already? One more episode of canned wry, sidelong smiles and gentle nods will be the death of me.

3.   Nothing annoys a musician more than to be staring at footage of the house band members playing a nifty riff/doodle/drum fill which has been edited out/muted by Rohail Hyatt in the final mix! Take pity on us and don’t add in enticing footage of stuff we can’t hear.

4.   Ever tried discussing Coke Studio captions with someone who doesn’t understand the language at all? “Yes you see, right here this guy is REALLY upset about the bracelet his dandy lover refuses to return … trust me, it’s really deep. Really, really deep...”

5.    Coke Studio’s popularity. All the people I loathe are digging the same songs I am.

6.    Obsessing over that one Coke Studio song that starts haunting you in your sleep. And pity the man or woman who happens to get one of the over-10-minute-long songs stuck in their heads.

7.    Komal Rizvi’s mysterious conversion of “Dana PAH Dana” to “Danay PEH Danay”.

8.   Rohail is playing it too safe and too pop in his production. Can Coke Studio please release an app which allows us access to the original tracks to each song so we can spend countless hours mixing them to our own tastes? I will be ever-peeved till I can add a massive distorted guitar riff and some double bass patterns into – yes, you guessed it – Kangna.

9.    The YouTube videos of people mock-jamming through Coke Studio tracks using forks as drumsticks, mops as guitars and Barbie Dolls as mikes. You watch one, and it’s cute. You watch two and it’s pretty damn funny. Three hours of viewing later, you hate yourself. And Coke Studio.

10.   I hate that Coke Studio is so awesome, I find myself feeling unutterably guilty as I sip on Pepsi while writing this.

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, July 31st,  2011.]]>
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			<title>‘Coke Studio 4’ concludes</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/212340/%e2%80%98coke-studio-4%e2%80%99-concludes</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/212340/%e2%80%98coke-studio-4%e2%80%99-concludes#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 11 17:17:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=212340</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Featured artists share their inspirations, perspectives and experiences.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The fourth season of  “Coke Studio” ended with its fifth episode featuring breathtaking performances by Asif Hussain Samraat and Fareed Ayaz, and Abu Mohammad. The voice of Asif Hussain accompanied by the house band on a fast-paced track was a treat for listeners, whereas the qawaali duo made magic once again. This time “Coke Studio” comprised only 22 tracks, but it is said that there will be more releases after Ramazan.


Akhtar Chanal Zahri

Where I come from, the only two things a child knows right from his birth are how to sing and cry. Music is a part of us from the very beginning.

Komal Rizvi

The germs [for music] were there from the very beginning and my relationship with music has always been personally rewarding.

Bilal Khan

I don’t see failure the way I used to. Now, if I fail, my response will be to write a song about it.

Jal

We got a positive response with the new line-up with Farhan on our very first performance and the rest is history.

Faraz Anwar, Mizraab

I would listen to bands like America, Rush and Kansas from a very early age and people would be amazed at  how a child could understand music like that.

Fareed Ayaz and Abu Mohammad Qawaal

A good musician learns and unlearns throughout his life.

Asif Hussain, Samraat

I am in love with these tunes. They are like my beloved.

Ustaad Naseeruddin Saami

We all feel the effects of music. But in going a step further, in understanding the effect that music has, is the key to a greater truth – one that can enable us to bring about tranquillity in our heart, body, mind and soul.

Sketches

What we eventually created was a little different. Our individuality is the developed taste of Sufi and pop, a merger of East and West.

Mole

We are influenced by friends, family, children and childhood to the comfortably introspective feelings, peace, love, God, the universe and seamlessly on to art, anime, video games, space travel, fantasy and supernatural existences. And, of course, lots of music.

Quratulain Baloch

I’d quote Frederick Peris: ‘I do my thing and you do yours. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations and you are not in this world to live up to mine.’

Attaullah Khan Eesakhelvi

I tried to describe to my parents what happens inside of me when I sing… I begged them. Maybe they would have brought themselves to bear it. After all, they were my parents. But the system, the rules and traditions of where I come from would never have allowed it.

Sanam Marvi

It was at the dargahs of Sachal Sarmast, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and Shahbaz Qalandar, amidst hordes of people and fakirs that I learned how to sing. I still go there and sing for them, and give my haazri, because, of course, the Lord has given me more than I deserve.

Rohail Hyatt, producer ‘Coke Studio’

At the start of every season, I am as unsure as anyone else when it comes to predicting what lies ahead. The process of recognising a potential discovery is so instinctive that it is only once the “Coke Studio” experience has been lived, discoveries shared with the world and a response shared in return that we are able to evaluate what has passed. We do know that the love that we send out to our audiences and the love that each passing season elicits in response are closely balanced, and there can be no greater reward. For this we are grateful.

Kaavish

Jaffer Zaidi and Maaz Kaavish emerged on the Pakistani music scene in 2004 with a remarkably mature and articulate band called Kaavish. The blend of sweet nostalgic melodies, richly mellow musical arrangements and subtly perceptive lyrics, has since become the band’s trademark sound.

Sajjad Ali

Sajjad Ali started singing when he was seven and released his first album Master Sajjad Sings Memorable Classics in 1979 when he was just thirteen years old. Propelled by the momentum of his success, Ali wasted no time in recording and releasing an album. Titled Babia ‘93, the album contained three hit singles – “Babia”, “Bolo Bolo” and “Kuch Larkiyaan” – and made Ali into a household name.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Sajjad Ali: Saving pop music</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/211090/sajjad-ali-saving-pop-music</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/211090/sajjad-ali-saving-pop-music#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 16 Jul 11 16:37:24 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=211090</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Pakistani artists will slowly fade away from the country’s pop music scene, says Sajjad Ali.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The king of Pakistani pop music, who changed the dynamics of music in Pakistan with his album Babia 93, made quite a comeback with “Coke Studio 4”. His foot-tapping “Kir Kir” and the freshly-baked “Rung Laga” were definitely a welcome change for his fans. However, the singer himself is not willing to release more music.


“So far I have received a great response to my ‘Coke Studio’ songs. One more song is yet to come in the final episode but I will not release any further music until the craze of these songs ends,” Ali told The Express Tribune.

Despite the overwhelming response, the singer is not optimistic about the pop music scene in Pakistan. He is sceptical about releasing new songs and music videos.

“What pop music are you talking about? I only know of one song presently representing our pop music scene and that is ‘Bum Phata’ and its singer Ali Azmat is not from the new age of musicians,” says Ali.

Concerned about the decline of arts and entertainment in the country, Ali has held back many tracks.

“You are asking about an album, I have 70 songs ready to be released in the market and this is the number that I can recall right now. In fact, there are more than that. Why would I release these songs when there are no concerts happening? It’s pointless to invest in something which has no return and above all, no respect,” revealed the singer.

Reflecting on the same issues, Ali added: “It’s not because I’m sitting in Dubai that I have faded away from the music scene, go and talk to Fariha  Pervez, Faakhir, Haroon, Jawad Ahmed and any other artists and tell me how busy have they been in the present pop music industry.”

Ali believes that the artists will move to other countries if the Pakistani music scene fails to get better. “We are artists and the whole world, and not just India, is open for a versatile musician. It’s all about making the right choices and choosing the best industry for your kind of music,” says Ali.

Addressing the notion of people going to Bollywood, Ali smiled and answered: “The artist is going there for his personal good. He is not to be blamed, but the listener who calls that artist a sell-out is the one who needs to change his perspective.”

To hear such disenchanted words from one of the pioneers of pop music in Pakistan is more than just thought-provoking for an upcoming musician, and one wonders if there is a roadmap that newcomers should follow?

“Not really. In this time of technological advancement, there is not straight formula for success. You can only gauge the result of your effort by actually putting in some and waiting for the people to respond,” says Ali.

When asked to clarify the rumours about singing “Bolo Bolo” in the next episode of “Coke Studio”, he replied: “It is not ‘Bolo Bolo’ and I can’t disclose anything else because I have a gentleman’s agreement with Coke. However, it will be something fresh and catchy.”

The Pakistani music industry is undoubtedly in a bad shape but the fans of Sajjad Ali are anxiously waiting for his new songs. However, given the current state of music industry, what’s the future of his 70 tracks? “People will not get to hear them,” says Ali.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>‘Coke Studio @ MTV’ moves away from Bollywood music</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/208096/%e2%80%98coke-studio-mtv%e2%80%99-moves-away-from-bollywood-music</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/208096/%e2%80%98coke-studio-mtv%e2%80%99-moves-away-from-bollywood-music#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 11 17:07:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=208096</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The show still struggles to amass an Indian audience.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Despite mounting allegations that “Coke Studio @ MTV” is heavily influenced by Bollywood music, producer Leslie Lewis and his band of musicians managed to produce some tracks with a distinct Indian sound in the latest episodes. 

Since most Indians have accepted and developed a taste for Bollywood music, the slightly different arrangements and unique performances in the recent episodes were not widely appreciated in the country. So far, the response from the Indian audience has not been positive and the show’s Pakistani counterpart is still followed more. However, having said that, it will take a couple of seasons to make the Indian audience accustomed to more sophisticated forms of Indian music.


Keeping in mind the way “Coke Studio @ MTV” has evolved in terms of quality instrumentation, it would not be an overstatement to say that in couple of seasons, the show will become the centre of world music fusion. If the team remains unaffected, despite the lack of support from the Indian public, this platform has the potential of bringing a revolution into the long stagnant state of Indian pop and film music.

Chinna Ponnu and Sanjeev Thomas: “Indian Jadoo”

Originally composed as a lively song by Sanjeev Thomas — the lead guitarist for AR Rahman in his studio recordings and live concerts — with the Rainbow Bridge band, “Indian Jadoo” uses lyrics from the classical Bollywood song “Ankhiyan Milaon Kabhi Ankhiyan Churaaon”. Popular folk singer Chinna Ponnu laces the song with Tamilan street folk, giving it a new flavour. This was a smart choice in which Lewis, along with his house band and featured performers repackaged a well known Bollywood dance number in a unique way. The video of the original song comprises Madhuri Dixit dancing around Sanjay Kapoor in a garage, “Coke Studio @ MTV” on the other hand, has dissected the whole song to make it more sophisticated and soothing to listen to.

Kailasa: “Dilruba”

Originally from Kailash Kher’s debut album Kailasa, the song talks about the madness one experiences when he or she falls in love. It reflects the amount of influence legendary singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan has on Kher’s music. The use of harmonium and tabla, supported by a catchy bass guitar playing, makes the song unique and powerful. The song, due to its similarity with classical-pop arrangements used in Pakistan, is especially appealing to listeners here.

Papon: “Bihu Naam (Pak Pak)”

A medley of romantic Bihu songs sung usually during the onset of the Assamese New Year and the beginning of a new season, “Bihu Naam (Pak Pak)” takes one on a voyage into seasonal celebrations. Such an elaborately traditional song — famous in the northern parts of Assam — can only come from a place as culturally and musically rich as India. Due to brilliant work on the bass guitar, drums and percussions, the song came out as a successful ensemble piece. Various traditional instruments were used to create the sounds of birds chirping with all the members of the band chanting in order to give it celebratory feel. More of these sort of songs can give “Coke Studio @MTV” the identity that the team is looking for.

Sunidhi Chauhan, Mousam Gogoi and Divya Lewis: “Jhakki Dil”

An original composition by Lewis, “Jhakki Dil” was revisited in “Coke Studio @ MTV” by musicians and featured artists. Although the average Pakistani audience might classify it as a typical Bollywood number, the song is still a commendable effort due to its musical arrangement.

The melody of the song is foot-tapping with a funky groove and the way Lewis has utilised the instruments, especially the percussions, gives the song a very upbeat and contemporary feel — a rarity in Indian music. Although, the melody failed to offer anything new, the use of live instruments strengthened the song.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Coke Studio: Musical voyage through various languages</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/202232/coke-studio-musical-voyage-through-various-languages</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/202232/coke-studio-musical-voyage-through-various-languages#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 04 Jul 11 15:35:08 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[naveed.masood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category><category><![CDATA[Film]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=202232</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The latest episode of ‘Coke Studio 4’ showcased an assortment of folk and contemporary music.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The second-last episode of “Coke Studio 4” took its viewers through a musical excursion across Pakistani culture. The latest session featured songs in six different languages including Bhraj, Sindhi, Balochi, Brahvi, Siraiki and Punjabi, other than Urdu. Displaying the cultural significance of music to different ethnicities of the country, the episode was definitely the most musically-rich one of this season, with house band dominating the studio in all songs.


Sajjad Ali and Sanam Marvi: “Rung Laaga”

“Rung Laaga”, an original soundtrack by maestro Sajjad Ali, was restructured for this performance in a collaborative effort by Ali and Sanam Marvi. The song, which was sung in Braj and Punjabi, centres on the symbolic significance of colour in different cultural contexts. The new composition of “Rung Laaga”, which was a very difficult job, was an excellent effort by the house band as they introduced their own classic rock sound to it. The song got trippier towards the end, due to backing vocalists, which made it one of the finest departures in the history of “Coke Studio”.  (10/10)

The Sketches: “Mandh Waai”

Although The Sketches have been around for quite some time, this was essentially their first proper introduction to music listeners worldwide. Under the guidance of the house band, The Sketches proved to be the melodious mascots of Sindhi folk and Sufi poetry as they took one on a musical voyage. The band comprises Saif Samejo and Naeem Shah as the lead vocalist and guitarist respectively. With Samejo’s soothing vocals and the brilliant songwriting by the band, The Sketches are a noteworthy introduction to the mainstream music scene. (9/10)

Akhtar Chanal Zahri: “Nar Bait”

After stunning everyone with his outstanding performance of “Danah Pa Danah” in the first episode, Akhtar Chanaal Zahri returned with vibrant rhythms of Balochistan in the form of “Nar Bait” — a traditional Balochi and Brahvi folk song. The song’s ancient native style of music employed vocal accents in conjunction with percussive elements to enhance the rhythmic pattern of the groove. “Nar Bait” featured catchy rhythms, eventually taking a very funky turn and entering into a pop-rock realm. House band played a crucial role to enhance the sound of Brahvi tune, turning it into a super hit number and making the centuries-old traditional music a part of Pakistani pop culture. (10/10)

Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi: “Pyaar Naal”

Whatever is said or written about the living legend Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi, is insufficient as his contribution to Pakistani music in general and now in “Coke Studio” is incomparable. What else would one like to hear than a heart touching romantic song in Esakhelvi’s engaging voice? And when it combines with contemporary music under the supervision of Rohail Hyatt, the end product is bound to be truly magical. With Esakhelvi’s “Pyaar Naal”, “Coke Studio” epitomised the beauty of Siraiki language by perfectly arranging the soft and catchy melody. The house band set the right mood by enhancing the song with instruments like the accordion (played by Jaffer Zaidi) and the mandolin (played by guest musician Amir Azhar). The overall feel of the song seemed to have put Esakhelvi at ease as he delivered to his fullest without putting much effort on the harmonium and tabla. (10/10)

Komal Rizvi: “Lambi Judai”

Like it or hate it, Komal Rizvi did steal the show this time around by covering legendary Reshma’s cult hit, “Lambi Judaai”. Compared to this episode’s other songs, the singer received the highest number of likes on the Facebook page of “Coke Studio”. With over 14,000 YouTube hits within a single day, these numbers speak volumes about her stellar performance. There will always be comparisons made between the original version by Reshma and this one. Komal actually did a splendid job. Her high-pitched vocals breathed life into the song. What added more flavour to the performance was the music by house band’s keyboard player Jaffer Zaidi. (7/10)

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>‘Coke Studio @ MTV’ reverts to Bollywood music</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/197478/%e2%80%98coke-studio-mtv%e2%80%99-reverts-to-bollywood-music</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/197478/%e2%80%98coke-studio-mtv%e2%80%99-reverts-to-bollywood-music#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Jun 11 20:23:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=197478</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The show’s second episode offers nothing new to audiences.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[After making an unexpectedly good debut, “Coke Studio @ MTV” plummeted in its second episode since it departed from its hitherto traditional melodies, with the performers ultimately creating typical Bollywood music. Despite the incorporation of some traditional instruments, the overall arrangement by the producer   remained ordinary and unimpressive.


One could see that the instrument players tried to imitate their counterparts in the Pakistani “Coke Studio”. The guitarist, who seemed overly inspired by Asad Ahmed - founding member of the rock band Karavan - failed to do justice to the instrument.

To add to the disappointment, their backing vocalists, who are supposed to provide vocal harmony to the lead vocalist’s voice, had no noticeable contribution to the music. The only highlight of the show was when Leslie Lewis came in front of the camera to play the acoustic guitar.

Khagen Gogoi: “Path Kai Paare Hui” 

“Path Kai Paare Hui” is an ancient song sung in praise of king Chau Lung Skhapa, who crossed the Chinese border to enter Assam. The song, which centres on Skhapa’s journey, starts with a very grand instrumental melody full of Shehnais and trumpets. Apart from some good traditional Indian instrumental, there is nothing unique in the overall structure of the song. Although Khagen Gogoi came as a surprise package in the first episode, he failed to leave his mark with this song. (5/10)

Megha Sriram Dalton: “Dheere Dheere”

Essentially a medley of four indigenous songs from Jharkhand and Bihar, “Dheere Dheere” describes the different experiences that a woman goes through in her life. The high notes of the talented vocalist were certainly memorable. However, after an impressive beginning, the medley turned into a typical item number when the electric guitar was forced into the song giving it a rather clumsy rock beat. Despite the presence of great vocal talent and several instrument players, Lewis succeeded in turning a folk tune into merely another Bollywood song. (6/10)

Akriti Kakar and Shankar Mahadevan: “Mehrmaa”

Originally composed by Shankar Mahadevan, “Mehr-maa”, meaning beloved, is a sufi song in which a girl compares her love for her man to the love of God. The song started with a nice acoustic sound and as soon as Akriti Kakar began singing, she took the number to the next level. Kakar’s vocal prowess is unmatchable and if given the due projection, she could be the next Shreya Ghoshal (leading Indian playback singer) of Bollywood. Mahadevan, who joined in the second half, balanced out the duet with his typical alaaps, making it a memorable performance, even though the song itself didn’t offer anything unique musically. (7/10)

Megha Dalton, Khagen Gogoi and Megha Dalton, Lewis and Mahadevan: “Jiya Laage Na”

“Jiya Laage Na”, an original composition by Lewis, is a very typical melody fused with other languages. Although, Dalton, Gogoi and Mahadevan also contribute to add diversity and uniqueness, unfortunately the final performance turned out to be a very run-of-the-mill effort, robbed of the exclusivity that Lewis had hoped for. The typical alaaps by Mahadevan remind one of Colonial Cousins - a band formed by Indian duo Hariharan and Lewis - whose mainstream presence has faded away with time. (5/10)

Mahadevan: “Allah Hi Reham”

“Allah Hi Reham” is a sufi composition by Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa which was originally sung by Rashid Khan for the film My Name is Khan. The song starts with the mellow sound of Sarangi complimenting the heavy vocals of Mahadevan but subsequently the song was not very different from the film’s version.  Although, it was expected that the studio would utilise the talent and natural ability of Mahadevan effectively, it ended up sounding monotonous. In fact it does even deserve a second listen. (5/10)

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>‘Coke @ MTV’: A good first attempt</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/193445/%e2%80%98coke-mtv%e2%80%99-a-good-first-attempt</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/193445/%e2%80%98coke-mtv%e2%80%99-a-good-first-attempt#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 11 16:23:50 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=193445</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[First episode of the Indian show incorporated diverse musical instruments and sounds.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[After “Coke Studio’s” phenomenal success in Pakistan, India has decided to have its very own version of the show. The much-awaited “Coke Studio @ MTV” made its debut on June 17, and, surprisingly, it was much better than expected. The sound that producer Leslie Lewis has created is similar to what his Pakistani counterpart across the border, Rohail Hyatt, has been producing since 2008. Yet “Coke Studio” in India takes the cake because of the use of indigenous instruments and well-synchronised melodies. The Indian show featured many of the country’s talented folk artists. However, the musicians sent a clear message with the first episode: Bollywood is their music and they do not want to move beyond it.


KK and Sabri brothers: ‘Chadta Suraj’

Sabri brothers and the talented KK performed a rendition of the famous qawaali originally sung by Pakistani Qawwal Aziz Nazan. The song can potentially sound like a Pakistani song, but it has a very original feel due to the absence of vocal tuners. The number featured interesting work on the bass guitar, followed by a unique mix of qawaali and rock music. 8/10

Tochi Raina and Mathangi Rajshekhar: ‘Yaar Basainda’

“Yaar Basainda”, a collaboration of Punjabi sufi folk and Carnatic music, which originates from the southern part of India, was sung by Tochi Raina and Mathangi Rajshekhar. The elements of rock incorporated in the number gave it a very progressive sound. Even though Raina has the tendency to sing slightly off tune, he is a welcome change in Indian commercial music and in fact he can be an ideal rock music vocalist. Mathangi also did a fabulous job with some of her lower notes. Pakistani listeners will especially be enthralled by Carnatic music in the song. 9/10

Musam Gogoi and Shankar Mahadevan: ‘Tip Top’ and ‘Me Dolkar’

“Tip Top” is an Assamese Bihu folk song about a man expressing  love for a woman and “Me Dolkar” is another Koli folk tune, commonly sung by the fishermen in Mahrashtra.  These two folk numbers, originating from different regions, are sung by Shankar Mahadevan and Mausam Gogoi. The Assamese melody has a very catchy tune and the transitions within the song featured excellent flute playing. However, the song would have been even better had Mahadevan been utilised more. (7/10)

Saurav Moni and Shaan: ‘O Majhi Re’

This ancient boatman tune originates from Bengal. It inspired the song “O Majhie Re” composed by SD Burman for the film Khushboo. The song has a very tropical feel to it and the flutes used, remind one of Shafqat Amanat Ali’s “Ye Hosla”. The flutes and percussions were amazing but redundant repetition made the song a bit of a drag. (7/10)

Harshdeep Kaur: ‘Hoo’

A 400-year-old kalam originally composed by Sultan Bahu, a Sufi saint who belonged to the Awan tribe, has been sung by his followers across Pakistan for centuries. Harshdeep Kaur displays her vocal brilliance, but the overall song sounds like a number performed at a singing competition or at karaoke. The sound of this tune is mundane and for Pakistani music listeners the alaaps are bound to become annoying after some time. (6/10)

Sunidhi Chauhan and Bondo: ‘Bichua’

Originally an Assamese folk tune, this famous song was composed by Salil Chaudary for the 1958 hit movie Madhumati and was sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Manna De. Sunidhi Chouhan and Bondo collaborated to give the song a new flavour. Even though folk music is incorporated in the song, it cannot overpower the Bollywood melody. However, the brilliant work on the traditional percussive instruments saves this piece. (7/10)

Chinna Ponnu and Kailash Kher: ‘Vethalai’

This song featured a collaboration of famous North Indian singer Kailash Kher and South Indian singer Chinna Ponnu. The Tamil lyrics of the song have been sung by street singers in Tamil Nadu while Kailash Kher wrote the Hindi part of the song.

The number has a brilliant melody and has been sung in a very refreshing way. Yet all the effort goes in vain because of the poor use of instruments; even Kher’s powerful vocals can’t save it. (6/10)

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2011.]]>
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			<title>‘Coke Studio’ Season 4 Episode 3: Great discoveries and wasted talent</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/192742/%e2%80%98coke-studio%e2%80%99-season-4-episode-3-great-discoveries-and-wasted-talent</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/192742/%e2%80%98coke-studio%e2%80%99-season-4-episode-3-great-discoveries-and-wasted-talent#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 11 17:06:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=192742</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The latest episode showcases diverse performances.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[After taking the audience by storm with Sajjad Ali’s “Kir Kir” and the epic “Kangna” in episode 2, “Coke Studio” returns with a more experimental approach towards music. This episode features some really amazing talent in the form of Mole’s instrumental and yet another young female vocalist, Quratulain Baloch, who is definitely a great addition to Pakistani music.


The house band also enters the classical realm with Ustad Saami in the line-up, but Bilal Khan, who has done a much better job this time around deserves special appreciation. Sanam Marvi had something different to offer but Jal, and especially Goher Mumtaz, proved that they are simply not “Coke Studio” material. Episode 3 of season 4 turned out to be a little boring, but the young talent managed to maintain a fresh sound.

Mole: ‘Baageshri’

Mole is a new addition to “Coke Studio”. Amman Mushtaq, Abdullah Tariq Khan, Bilal Nasir Khan and Faizan Riedinger, along with the two founding members, Ziyad Habib and Danial Hyatt (Rohail’s son), are the members of this band. “Baageshri” is an experimental fusion track where the band has utilised modern tools of technology, alongside eastern and western instruments, to achieve a unique sound. As a whole, the band sounded great and with the support of the house band, they took their music to the next level. The band has a clear understanding of eastern and western music and by experimenting with modern music tools, the group managed to bring a refreshing sound to “Coke Studio”. 10/10

Sanam Marvi: ‘Ith Nahin’

Embracing the deeply spiritual poetry of Sachal Sarmast, Sanam projected the force of the powerful verses through her expression, diction and delivery, crafted in the manner of a soundscape, in us “Ith Nahin”. Despite her vocal brilliance, Marvi had started to sound monotonous in her earlier performance, but managed to bring a great deal of depth and variation with this one. Her song is definitely worth listening to; one should pay attention to the song’s lower notes and amazing vocal variations. Some great work on the bass guitar was accompanied by interesting improvisations in the end, and is definitely worth a listen. However it is doubtful that you will become addicted to “Ith Nahin”. Additionally, The house band should stop relying totally on her vocals and try to give her folk melodies a total rendition. 7/10

Bilal Khan: ‘Lamha’

The young musician who received mixed responses with his earlier performance of “Tau Kia Hua”, has improved a lot this time around. Kudos to the house band for actually revamping his melody and not just serving the purpose of an orchestra — like they did in the first episode. The ticking of the clock at the beginning of the song, sets the mood for “Lamha”, a sad song which becomes more upbeat as you enter the second track with a higher tempo. The dholak adds great deal to the song which is another good piece of song writing by the youngster. 8/10

Jal and Quratulain Baloch: ‘Panchi/Tere Ishq Mae’

In this episode, Jal sung their hit song “Panchi”,  which had a lot of room for improvisation, but unfortunately Goher Mumtaz’s vocals did not do justice. Quratulain Baloch came in with her rendition of the Mohammad Ali Sheikhi and Allan Fakir’s mega hit “Tere Ishq Mae Jo Bhi Doob Gaya” and she was excellent. Had Baloch been given more time to sing and Farhan Saeed taken up the vocals, this performance had the potential of being one of the most memorable fusion acts of “Coke Studio”. Instead, Saeed was sitting on the side like a decoration piece and this was the first time that a fusion piece by Jal came across sounding naive. 7/10

Ustaad Naseeruddin Saami: ‘Mundari’

“Mundari” is a classical piece in the raag. Adana — a raag that is known to have the effect of holding a listener captive by its beauty and for the bittersweet emotion that it can invoke. “Coke Studio” combines eastern classical music with a western melody, but that didn’t make much of a difference for the audience as the song seemed to drag, despite the presence of a legend. Classical songs such as this, should either be totally revamped by the house band for younger listeners, or “Coke Studio” shouldn’t move into the classical realm which cannot be experimented with. 6/10

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2011.

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			<title>A trip through ‘Daanah Pah Daanah’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/190149/a-trip-through-%e2%80%98daanah-pah-daanah%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/190149/a-trip-through-%e2%80%98daanah-pah-daanah%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jun 11 16:44:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=190149</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The song featured in ‘Coke Studio 4’ is more than just a catchy tune.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[It’s an anthem for some, a symbolic representation of culture for others and an appealing melody for many more.


The Brahvi folk song is considered to be one of the finest and most celebrated pieces of poetry and song writing in the history of Pakistani folk music, penetrating pop culture after it was performed by Pride of Performance winner Akhtar Chanal Zahri — the maestro behind the song at the “Coke Studio”.

“It was not a song but a revelation that came to me while I was sitting in Kalat, a city which once held the throne of Balochistan,” Zahri told The Express Tribune. It was at a tailor shop in Quetta that the writer first heard a faqeer chanting the phrase “Daanah Pah Daanah” on a cassette player.

“As soon as I held my pen, I knew this song will be about peace, love, brotherhood and above all, the love for our Balochistan,” said Zahri. Sharing more details about “Daanah Pah Daanah”, Zahri said the song was written in Brahvi — a language spoken by Brahvi people who are ancestral shepherds. In “Daanah Pah Daanah” too, a shepherd introduces Balochistan to his sons and the sounds he makes while singing, are meant to create a visual of a flock of sheep that he is walking with.

“All the Balochi melodies are derived from the stroll of a camel and hence they are based on a beat of six. That is what makes the melody of “Daanah Pah Daanah” very different as compared to Sindhi or Punjabi melodies which are based on the gallop of a horse with a beat of four,” said Zahri.

The song became an instant hit as soon as it was released in 1990. “The song talks about the Balochistan that existed in the 1700s and 1800s. Hence, it has references to Kalat being the capital of Balochistan and to mountains’ peaks like Chiltan, Shahshan and rivers like Harboi and Marjaan. This all reflects the narrator’s love for the land,” told Zahri.

Zahri believes that some people, with no understanding of poetry, attach political connotations to the song which he finds totally incorrect: “It does not talk about separation, it does not talk anything negative and it is an anthem of peace and brotherhood, nothing more than that.”

Zahri has come a long way marking his 50 years in music but the artist admits he was upset when Shazia Khusk released her own version of “Danaah Pah Daanah”. The two first met at Sachal Sarmast mela, where Khushk showed her interest in singing the song but Zahri believed Brahvi was a difficult language to sing. Zahri claims that he offered to discuss the project details with Khusk at a later date when he had to visit Hyderabad.

However, he saw Khusk’s new album in the market featuring the same song. Before he could do this, he hired a lawyer to file a case against Khushk. However, Zahri was pacified after the involvement of a government representative.

“Shazia and I never performed together and she has nothing to do with ‘Danaah Pa Daanah’ and that is why Rohail Hyatt called me instead of many other folk artists who have copied the soundtrack,” said the singer.

No matter how long and hard his journey has been, Akhtar Chanal Zahri gave us a melody that will remain as an integral part of Pakistan’s folk music.

The lyrics of ‘Daanah Pah Daanah’ 

Among the multitude of grains (in the world), mine is this grain (you)

(Now that) you and I have grown to be friends

We have no need of anything

O live, live, my darling breath

Sehkumb and Marap are my places

O my gentle, petite lady

Come aside with me to talk in privacy

O, my good sir, Soomro (the prince who came between two lovers)

Desist, sir, for God is powerful (in retribution)

(Among the) multitude of grains, this grain has

This lovely pearl has stolen my heart

May you live long, live long!

You have stolen my fragile heart

May you live long!

Kalat is our Khan’s country

This is the capital of Balochistan

Come and see the water of the Dudran spring

Naseer Khan Noori is our Khan

We devote our lives to our country

Kachhi and Khurasan — oh excellent!

Lyrics courtesy “Coke Studio”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>What happens when we run out of coke?</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/185531/what-happens-when-we-run-out-of-coke</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/185531/what-happens-when-we-run-out-of-coke#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 12 Jun 11 09:23:00 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[omar.bilal.akhtar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Music]]></category><category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=185531</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[In the wake of Coke Studio’s tremendous success, the rest of Pakistani music industry has become a barren wasteland.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Coke Studio is the single most-watched musical event in the history of Pakistan. This year it shows no signs of slowing down, with the first episode from the latest season already receiving a record number of views online and on television. Coke Studio has become more than just a music show — it has captured our imagination and has come to define Pakistan.

However, in the wake of Coke Studio’s tremendous success, the rest of the Pakistani music industry has become a barren wasteland. You can count the number of new album releases on both your hands; there are no other record deals; new music videos and singles have ground to a screeching halt; and the big name artists seem to be focusing on anything but new music.

You would think that Coke Studio would have galvanised the rest of the industry. You would think Pepsi or other corporations would rush to create competing shows. You would think musicians would take their cue from the stunning collaborations and innovations they displayed while on the show and go out to do more of the same. People should have been riding the wave of the Pakistani pop rebirth and taking advantage of the public’s desire for well produced original music. But the opposite seems to have happened.

Could it be, that inadvertently, Coke Studio has killed off the rest of the industry because no one can compete with it?

It isn’t so much a matter of competition as it is of shifting perception. Artists and the public are regarding Coke Studio not as a launching pad but the endgame, the pinnacle of success. For any artist, getting on to Coke Studio is the ultimate achievement, at the risk of forsaking other goals.

There is a perception that once you’re on Coke Studio, you’ve made it. Of course this is true in many ways: there is great prestige in being on the show, to be regarded as an equal amongst legends, to receive the kind of worldwide exposure that you wouldn’t get anywhere else and to be given the opportunity to showcase your best to the public. But that’s exactly what it is, an opportunity, and sadly most musicians aren’t making the most of it.

Young upcoming bands, emboldened by the appearance of less-than-well-known acts like Aunty Disco Project and Bilal Khan on the show are now making a Coke Studio appearance their number one priority. There’s nothing wrong with this, but they’re going about it the wrong way. Bands will always gain popularity the slow old-fashioned way: by writing good songs, playing live and growing an audience over a long period of time. But increasingly, Coke Studio is being seen as a quick fix. Bands and new artists are too focused on becoming overnight sensations and are looking to the show as their ticket to fame and mass popularity. Rather than focusing on creating music and keeping their audiences happy, their efforts are going into lobbying for a place on the show.

This isn’t helped by the public’s sometimes overzealous reaction to Coke Studio. It seems like the only songs they can remember from anybody are the ones that came out in the summer when they were all tuning into the show. It makes artists who aren’t on Coke Studio feel understandably irrelevant.

What this does is put an unholy amount of pressure on the show. From being a place of experimentation and collaboration, it is now seen as the nation’s sole provider of quality commercial music and if it can’t provide that for even a single song, it is vilified beyond reason. If this continues, artists on the show will no longer allow themselves the creative freedom and risks that allowed them to make such monster hits as “Aik Alif”, “Jal Pari” and “Alif Allah”. Subsequently, we’ll see musicians trying to safely replicate the massive success of those earlier hits with the same formula and not doing what they’re supposed to do which is to innovate and create.

Think about your favourite artists from Coke Studio and what they’ve done since their appearance on the show. Ali Zafar is focusing more on movies. So is Atif Aslam. Noori pops up here and there with rumours of their new songs but we’re still waiting on them. No one’s ringing Saeein Zahoor’s number. Meesha Shafi has left her band and who knows what happened to Arif Lohar.

Of course, the decline in the music industry can be attributed to many factors in Pakistan, the state of the country, drying up finances, waning audience interest etc. But it isn’t going to get any better if Coke Studio becomes the only source of music in the land. What are we going to do when it ends?

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, June 12th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>India takes a slice of the ‘Coke Studio’ pie</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/187004/india-takes-a-slice-of-the-%e2%80%98coke-studio%e2%80%99-pie</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/187004/india-takes-a-slice-of-the-%e2%80%98coke-studio%e2%80%99-pie#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 11 Jun 11 18:35:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=187004</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[A breakdown of the artists that are going to feature on the show.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Indian rendition of “Coke Studio”, known as “Coke Studio at MTV”, is set to be aired within a week. With the lineup of some remarkable Bollywood singers and unknown folk acts, the season may have a lot to offer and seems promising.


Colonial Cousin’s Leslie Lewis is the music director for the show. Along with taking charge of the control room, he will also take part as an artist and play some of his famous melodies on the set.

Lewis has repeatedly been talking about the cultural discovery that took place via “Coke studio” and how the fusion of different popular artists with not-so-famous maestros has made it a treat to hear.

Each episode will comprise of six session recordings with the first episode set to go on air on June 17 at 7pm on MTV.

Folk musicians from all over India will be experimenting on such a big platform for the first time. Only time will tell whether the experiment will break the Bollywood music stereotype or not.

 

Colonial Cousins 

Formed in 1996, the band comprised the Mumbai-based composer and singer Lewis and renowned vocalist Hariharan. Colonial Cousins, the first Indian band to be featured on MTV Unplugged, has won numerous awards for their music; the most famous being the MTV Asia Viewers’ Choice Award, 1996, and the US Billboard’s Viewers’ Award, 1996.

Shankar Mahdevan

Shankar Mahadevan was born and brought up in Chembur, a suburb of Mumbai. He learnt Hindustani classical music and Carnatic music in his childhood, and started playing the veena at the age of five. He studied under Srinivas Khale, a well known Marathi music composer. He gained recognition upon the release of his first music album, Breathless, in 1998.

Kailash Kher

Kailash Kher has a uniquely soulful and raw voice which was brought to the fore in 2002. His song “Allah Ke Bande”, from the relatively obscure movie Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II, made him a household name. Since then he has sung a number of songs in Bollywood, most of which have gone on to become very popular. He is also the founding member of the band Kailasa, which fuses Sufi and Hindustani classical music with rock and contemporary music.

KK

Krishnakumar Kunnath – or KK, as he is better known – first found fame with his album Pal in the year 1999. Prior to this, he had lent his voice to ad jingles. In a span of four years, he had sung an astonishing 3,500 jingles in 11 Indian languages. KK got his Bollywood break with “Tadap Tadap Ke Is Dil” from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in 1999. However, he also sung a small portion of the song “Chod aaye hum” from Gulzar’s Maachis.

The Sabri Brothers

The Sabri Brothers, Aftab Sabri and Hashim Sabri, are a qawwali party from Pakistan. They belong to a prestigious qawwal gharana. They were taught music under the age of 10 years by their father and Ustad Ghulam Ali Khan, the famous classical vocalist of India. They believe that lyrics and mood are the most important for qawwali.

Shaan  

Shantanu Mukherjee is a renowned Indian playback singer. He is not only an accomplished playback singer, but also has released very successful solo albums. Shaan has been wooing the audiences ever since he stepped into the Indian music industry and has been the voice of all of Bollywood’s leading men. He has also collaborated with a number of international artists, including Blue, Mel C and Michael Learns to Rock.

Shafqat Amanat Ali

Part of the seventh generation of the Patiala gharana, Shafqat was born in Lahore to Ustad Amanat Ali Khan in 1965. With the band Fuzon, his songs “More Saiyan” and “Tere Bina” became massive hits. Fondly nicknamed Rock Star Ustad, he sang “Mitwa” composed by Shankar Ehsaan Loy for the movie Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, and the rest is history

Shruti Pathak

Having sung in Bollywood films, Pathak is a Filmfare Award-nominated playback singer and lyricist. Her career came alive with the song “Mar Jaawa” from Fashion. Adding Dev D to her resume, Pathak’s career graph is moving upward slowly and steadily.

Tochi Rainaa

Raina was born on September 2, 1965 in Darbhanga, Bihar. Raina’s family originally hails from Kohat but they moved to Patiala during the Indo-Pak partition. Raina comes from an eminent musical family - his grandmother played sitar and Uncle Ratan Singh Ji was a violin player for the Mumbai music industry. He belongs to the musical gharaana of Patiala, and his first guru - for 10 years - was Pt Vinod Kumar Ji, a disciple of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan.

Sunidhi Chauhan

Chauhan began singing at the age of four and was discovered by a local TV anchor. Chauhan also loves western music and cites Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson as her inspirations. She has said that one of her ambitions is to achieve global fame like they did. Sunidhi Chauhan is credited with having sung over 2,000 songs.

Some renowned artists that will feature in ‘Coke Studio at MTV’

List of other artists

Advaita

Akiri kakkar

Bombay Jayashri

Bondo

Chinna Ponnu

Divya Lewis

Harshdeep Kaur

Kailasa

Kavita Seth

Khagan Gogoi

Mathangi

Megha Dalton

Mausam Gogoi

Pankhi Dutta

Papon

Parthiv Ghoyel

Praful Dave

Raghu Dixit

Ramya Iyer

Rashvid Khan

Richa Sharma

Roop Johrie

Sanjiv Tv

Sourav

Suzanne D Mello

Wadali Brothers 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>The second episode: A musical splendour</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/183541/the-second-episode-a-musical-splendour</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/183541/the-second-episode-a-musical-splendour#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jun 11 17:40:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category><category><![CDATA[Film]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=183541</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The fusions in ‘Coke Studio 4’ were an ultimate treat for fans.]]>
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				<![CDATA[When Attaullah Eesakhelvi, Sajjad Ali and Fareed Ayaz with Abu Mohammad Qawal  perform in one studio session, the result is a truly awesome musical treat for listeners. 

The second episode of “Coke Studio’s” (CS) current season, which featured the above mentioned music stalwarts along with other important contemporary musicians, was undisputedly the best episode in the history of CS. In fact the quality of fusion music produced during this episode takes  Pakistani music to the next level. CS’s in-house band deserves special kudos for playing the finest folk tunes of Pakistan with utmost perfection.


Sajjad Ali’s ‘Kir Kir’ is definitely a reason to smile

Be it the very catchy “Chief Sahab” or the  heart-warming “Paniyion Mae”, every song by Sajjad Ali has made an important contribution to Pakistan’s pop music. With CS, he brings us yet another masterpiece. “Kir Kir” is an up-tempo and lively modern track, with  light-hearted lyrics, featuring a  unique  jhol on the dholak. The composition might remind you of our old folk tunes like “Bandar road sae keemari chale ye meri  ghora ghari”. The lyrics of this song describe  Ali’s musical journey; they describe how Sajjad was a naive child who wanted to be a great singer. This particular song must have been very difficult song for the house band members to perform since it is challenging to play such an upbeat and style of country music. During the four minutes of this magical song, all instruments are played in a truly synchronised manner, particularly the dhol and violin. The backing vocalists also did a decent job in the number. Kudos to Sajjad Ali for giving us such a light-hearted yet memorable track.

The melodious ‘Senraan Ra Baairya’

The proof of a strong tune is that one falls in love with it without even understanding a single vocal sung. The powerful melody of “Senraan Re Baairya”, a traditional Rajasthani song sung in the Marwari dialect, corroborates the fact that music is indeed a universal language. This song combines the delicate subtlety of the classical style of thumri, with the contemporary touch of Zoe Viccaji’s vocals, adding a quirky dimension to the traditional composition. Since the start of the song, the listener embarks on a musical journey, traversing through different musical expressions, for instance the touching violin notes. This song proves that Asif Hussain has a great future in music.

Attaullah lights up the studio

Attaullah Eesakhelvi, the man whose poignant voice is the sole companion of many lonely truck drivers navigating the highway, finally makes a debut in “Coke Studio” by offering traditional folk tale of “Sassi Punnoo” blended with the modern performance of the house band members. “Ni Oothan Wal” a great piece of poetry by Bari Nizami, delivered meticulously in Attaullah’s expressive voice, truly makes one empathize with the dilemma of Sassi’s life. Asad Ahmed executes some really cool riffs with  the guitar as the song shifts between different phases of the great folk melody. Folk music fans might think that the modern beat did not do justice to Attaullah’s style of singing, but Rohail Hyatt has managed to rebrand a legendary singer for the youth. In fact, since its release, the track has become a raging hit.

‘Nindiya Re’ soothes listeners

Kaavish displayed their song-writing prowess in there album Gunkali. This time they gave another treat to their music fans. “Nindiya Re” is a very mellow and soothing lullaby, with Jaafer Zaidi doing a good job with vocals. Even though there were so many other fantastic acts in this episode, Asad Ahmed’s guitar solo ended up making Kaavish’s performance memorable too.

Revisiting Ameer Khusro

Fusing Qawwali with contemporary instruments is nothing new in the musical world. In fact the superbly brilliant Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was renowned for doing exactly this. “Kangna” was a classical Qawwali delivered in Raag Malkauns. With powerful vocals of Fareed Ayaz and Abu Mohammad, this number was once again a daunting task for the house band members but they managed superbly. With every instrument, ranging from the keyboard to the drums, contributing to an epic musical fusion, this 10-minute musical piece was the most perfect production in “Coke Studio’s” history.

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Bilal Khan: The coming of age</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/178808/bilal-khan-the-coming-of-age</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/178808/bilal-khan-the-coming-of-age#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 May 11 16:46:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[sher.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=178808</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The Express Tribune explores the inspiration behind Bilal Khan’s music and songwriting.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Bilal Khan’s rise in the music industry has provided a refreshing boost to the music scene in Pakistan. Last week, his song “To Kia Hua” was one of the few original compositions showcased on “Coke Studio” and with the upcoming release of his album Umeed this summer, Khan will continue to make waves.


“For Pakistan, nothing is bigger in the music industry than to be on “Coke Studio”. It’s like winning the Grammys in the US,” beamed Khan speaking about his recent debut on the TV show. “For any aspiring musician in Pakistan, being on CS provides several benefits in terms of promotion.”

Giving an insight into the experience, he said that the opportunity was amazing. On his first day in the studio, Khan spent six hours jamming and recording his own songs.

At first glance, Khan seems to be a complex figure. He has developed the reputation of a cult-poet whose exploration of the human heart has struck a direct chord with young people. His popularity has continued to increase and his Facebook page has over 80,000 fans. His new album, which is expected to have around nine songs, has been produced by Sarmad Ghafoor of the S and M productions.

In some ways, Khan has quickly turned into Pakistan’s own John Mayer with his bluesy acoustic guitaring and his emphasis on songwriting. He uses his daily experiences and observations to carefully construct songs, which many can relate to.

“I have faced criticism in the past that my songs are sad but I like to say they are hopeful,” said Khan. “Generally it’s about not getting something - that could be a girl or a dream. It’s really not specific to me but you see your friends going through that. It’s universal.”

His manager and close friend Ahmed Husnain explains that Khan has a uniquely deep sense of thinking because he is able to touch upon very close and relevant issues. People can easily relate to the experiences that Khan mentions in songs like “Lamha”.

“Everybody wants to be ‘cool’ but only a few people can be ‘cool’,” he says. “The youth is troubled by the things that they must have. Whether its girlfriends or clothes, there is this constant pressure to have something.”

Khan started playing guitar at the age of 16, but first came into the public spotlight when he recorded the song “Bachana” at home and then circulated it among his batch mates at university. It was during his performances on campus that his videos started being released on YouTube. His videos and songs spread like wild fire.

“Lums had a good music scene but I avoided it because I really just wanted to play my own songs not covers,” he says. “It was only in my last year that I started doing concerts and stuff with them.”

Khan, himself is pretty sure about his calling in music. He said that he had been influenced by both Indian and Pakistani music. The singer attributed his parents for introducing him to Indian music. As a teenager he was into Junoon and Noori. The Pakistani music improved his rhyme schemes for his songwriting.

“I am pretty certain about what type of music I am trying to do. I want to touch as many people as I can.”

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2011.]]>
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			<title>What to expect from ‘Coke Studio’ in India</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/177739/what-to-expect-from-%e2%80%98coke-studio%e2%80%99-in-india</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/177739/what-to-expect-from-%e2%80%98coke-studio%e2%80%99-in-india#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 28 May 11 18:23:01 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=177739</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Will the Indian counterpart of the hit music show make the cut?]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[This summer is ablaze with “Coke Studio” craze — from the controversies to artists, everything is part of the daily debate now. “Coke Studio” India is the next big thing that music loving masses would be looking forward to, as it kicks off on MTV India on June 17.


The show will be produced by Leslie Lewis, and the list of artists revealed so far includes some big names like Shaan, Shankar Mahadevan, KK and of course, Shafqat Amanat Ali.

Before we go into the details of the Indian installment of the show, and what can be expected from the front man of Colonial Cousins, let’s hear it from the man who brought “Coke Studio” to Pakistan and was initially asked to produce it in India as well.

“They approached me to produce ‘Coke Studio’ over there but it was not physically possible for me. “We had a lot of discussions, and I was even asked to come there to see how it is, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t even do the consultancy because it wasn’t physically possible for me. The offer was an honour for me, they were very sweet about it,” Rohail Hyatt, the producer of “Coke Studio” in Pakistan told The Express Tribune.

Rohail had his preferences and chose not to be a part of it, but the bigger question was: who fills in for him? Ventures like “Coke Studio” are as good as the men behind them, and Leslie Lewis isn’t the best of choices, and that too in a place as musically rich as India.

If we flip through the pages of history to the initial days of cable television in Pakistan, Colonial Cousins may ring a bell. You may remember the band comprising of two middle-aged men dressed up in beads and sherwanis, sounding pathetic musically. The man behind the music of that band was Leslie Lewis, and the vocals (which were the only worthwhile part about their music) were done by the legendary Hariharan.

Lewis was known for creating fusion music back then, and his version of fusion meant combining two different languages and fusing the eastern and western melodies. He eventually ended up making jingles, and to one’s surprise, is now all set to produce “Coke Studio” in India. But the question is, why not someone like Shankar Mahadevan or to think even more wishfully the Oscar winning AR Rahman?

Visually, “Coke Studio” in India will probably be much better looking, and will be made on a larger scale, as it is being co-produced by MTV and Red Chillies Entertainment (owned by Shah Rukh Khan and Ghauri Khan). But at the same time, it could end up being treated like a ‘geet mala’, with a number of similar sounding duets and pointless fancy camera moves. On top of it, the kind of stock Indians put into dancing, who knows you might even see a group of dancers, or perhaps the singers may attempt to dance. I sure hope Shafqat doesn’t.

The quality of music may be average, and may not parallel the quality of sound that came out of the initial seasons in Pakistan. First of all, let’s not forget that unlike Pakistan, the pop music industry in India is surviving because it has a film industry to back it. Hence, the overall mindset of the musicians and the vocalists in India is very Bollywood-centric. The list of the artists released so far includes Shankar Mahadevan, Shafqat Amanat Ali, Kailash Kher, KK and Sunidhi Chauhan amongst the mainstream acts. The point being, “Coke Studio” was all about diversity, so where is it?

Although there are many qawwals like the Sabri brothers, and a number of folk artists are a part of the show, only time can tell whether they’ll be any different from the fusion acts of “Coke Studio” in Pakistan.

Apart from that there are expected to be a lot of duets, and the songs will largely be governed by lengthy raags. There might be some interesting instruments from the largely unknown parts of India, but they will only sound good when used aptly.

Worst of all would be the fusion of languages and not melodies. Keeping in mind that this will be the brain child of Lewis, please don’t be surprised if you find any major playback singers singing in English and sounding weird.

Some behind-the-scenes footage has been released, and you can find a folk artist dressed up like a malang standing alongside a known vocalist that looks and sounds so much like “Ek Alif” that one figures it has become a text book success format.

However, all cynicism aside, Lewis might have learnt something over time, and it is after all Red Chilies Entertainment who are looking after the production. Rumour has it that Shah Rukh Khan has approached the production team of “Live from Abbey Road” from where the concept seem to have originated.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Coke Studio to rock India</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/176618/coke-studio-to-rock-india</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/176618/coke-studio-to-rock-india#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 26 May 11 16:56:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[ians]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=176618</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[After great success in Pakistan, the popular music show is traversing borders.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[After wooing music lovers in Pakistan, “Coke Studio” is now going to India where it will bring together 45 musicians from different parts of the country who are experts in various genres such as folk, classical and qawwali.


The Indian version is called “Coke Studio@MTV” and will air on MTV next month.

“We have such a rich musical heritage. It’s surprising that we don’t have a platform to bring this heritage out and show it to the common man. Film music has taken over completely,” Aditya Swamy, who heads MTV India, told IANS.

“The show aims to bring to gather various cultures of the country on one stage, and mix three very potent elements. On one hand, it will have well-known classically-trained singers. On the other hand, we will have folk legends of the country, whether it’s a Bihu singer or a qawwal. The third one will bring young and new talent. We will be mixing all three ingredients together to get something very explosive out of it,” he added.

The show, which first began in Brazil in 2007, will have 10 episodes. There won’t be any judges or voting system. Every episode will feature one established musician, one upcoming artist and one folk legend.

Composer-singer Leslie Lewis will be the mentor and technical director of “Coke Studio@MTV”.

“We have artists from Punjab, Gujarat, Rajasthan, the northeast, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, so we have broadly covered the main regions of the country to get the flavour of Indian music,” said Swamy.

“We have touched only the tip of the iceberg with the 45 musicians who are a part of this season. But when we do multiple seasons, we will be able to go deeper and bring more interesting and talented people to the platform. This is an opportunity to bring this kind of music to the common man,” he added.

KK, Shaan, Shafqat Aamant Ali, Shankar Mahadevan and Sunidhi Chauhan will also participate.

The show has been produced by MTV India in partnership with Red Chillies Entertainment.

Talking about ratings, Swamy explained: “I don’t think Television Rating Points (TRP) are the only scale to measure success. I’m not doing this show to see whether it will do better than ‘Indian Idol’ or a ‘Sa Re GA Ma’. The objective is to celebrate the music of India and build a community of people who want to listen to alternative music.”

“Having said that, I feel if you hunt for TRPs you never get them. You create something world class, and the TRPs will come,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Coke Studio Episode 1:  Maestros and mishaps</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/174353/coke-studio-episode-1-maestros-and-mishaps</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/174353/coke-studio-episode-1-maestros-and-mishaps#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 23 May 11 16:29:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=174353</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Mizraab, Akhtar Chanal and Bilal Khan were the highlights of the episode.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Despite all the chaos that engulfed Karachi on Sunday night, Coke Studio’s season 4 was unveiled to the music-loving masses. With musical acts like Mizraab, Jal, Akhtar Chanal, Sanam Marvi and Bilal Khan featuring in Pakistan’s most popular musical act , the expectations were very high but only a few of musicians lived up to them. 

Coke Studio has now come of age and with musicians like Asad Ahmed and Omran Shafique in the house band, much more could have been done with the songs. The quality of backing vocals has tremendously improved with the sisters Zoe and Rachel Viccaji.


Coke Studio has managed to create a sound of its own which can be identified by listening to even a single guitar riff, but this time around the excessive use of vocal tuners for all the vocalists apart from Marvi and Chanal gave the songs a very synthetic feel.  Here’s a closer look at each act in the first episode of the season:

Bilal Khan — ‘Tau Kia Hua’

Hailing from Lahore, the talented artist scored the major chunk of his fan following through Facebook and YouTube, even before his video was officially released. His acoustic style of playing and the simple, yet catchy song writing was what came through in Coke Studio, but it seems there was a very little input from the house band. The backing vocalists were placed at the right places in the song, but all the other instrument players seemed to fulfil the purpose of a proper orchestra, and nothing more than that. His raw sounding acoustic music was given a more ensemble feel, but the rest was his own singing and song writing abilities.  (7/10)

Mizraab — ‘Kuch Hai’

Although all the Mizraab and Faraz Anwar fans will hate the performance because the band is capable of doing much better, this was the best performance of the first episode. “Kuch Hai” is one of the most musically appealing songs from their album Maazi Haal Mustaqbil, and the brilliant arrangement of the song and vocals by the featuring artist Manan gave it a very wicked feel. The song grows on you as it progresses into different phases with vocals shifting from Anwar to Manan, and some great transitions through the violin. The song has a Middle Eastern feel to it, and the overall make up of the song is very progressive. It seems that the house band worked the hardest on this on. Great guitar playing, but too restricted for someone like Anwar, who is a much better performer at live gigs. (9/10)

Akhtar Chanal and Komal Rizvi — ‘Daanah Pa Daanah’

What could have been the successors to a successful duo like Arif Lohar and Meesha Shafi will end up being the waste of one of the finest folk tunes of all times, “Daane Pa Daanah”. Rizvi not only ripped the song and melody apart, but even made the song sound irritating as soon as she entered with her vocals. Having grown up listening to this Brahvi song, one feels that the house band did injustice to the song by wasting the legendary Akhtar Chanal , who is one of the most respected musicians of Balochistan. Rizvi may have tried her best, but perhaps the problem may lie in the fact that she is not used to the Coke Studio live recording environment, and thus ended up sounding like an untrained singer. Then comes the diction: Brahvi is not like Sindhi or Punjabi which one can easily adapt to. Perhaps someone like Fariha Pervez or Hadiqa Kiyani would have been a better choice to replace the vocals of Shazia Khushk, who is known for this song. Secondly Coke Studio needs to realise that “Laal Meri Pat” is by far the most overdone piece of poetry, so why going for it? All in all, it was waste of a great folk melody. (6/10)

Jal — ‘Ek Arzu’

Known for their distinct blend of pop music in Pakistan, the band attempted an experimental version of a new unreleased track “Ek Arzu”, and later on converted the performance into a medley. Basically Jal didn’t sound very different, which is quite pleasing for any music listener, but it did not sound like Coke Studio. Sometimes it sounded like a Bollywood number, at some points, Vital Signs, but on the whole like just another song by Jal.

Farhan has improved his singing, but the overuse of vocal filters killed his originality. From “Ek Arzu”, the song moves into a classical phase with “Teray Ishq Nachaya Kar Thaiyaa” and finally enters the more rock and upbeat part where “Dum Mast Qalandar” is performed. Farhan does a good job, the melody is worth humming, but the overall song isn’t extraordinary. (7/10)

Sanam Marvi — ‘Sighra Aaween Saanwal Yaar’

This was the best vocal performance of the whole episode, and in fact the only performance in which the music seemed to be designed for vocals, instead of the other way around. Marvi renders the poetry of Sachal Sarmast and Sultan Bahu with utmost brilliance and the music allows her to display her vocal prowess by reaching different highs and lows. She is a great singer, but her song “Pritam” in the previous season was far more musically appealing than this one. A singer of calibre deserved a far better comeback. (8/10)

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Rabbi Shergill out of Coke Studio 4</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/174323/rabbi-shergill-out-of-coke-studio-4</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/174323/rabbi-shergill-out-of-coke-studio-4#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 23 May 11 14:09:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gossip]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=174323</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Due to a visa delay, Shergill's rushed recording fails to make it to Coke Studio.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Among all the Indian artists to be featured in Coke Studio's Season 4 this year, Rabbi Shergill topped the high-profile list with his popular rendition of “Bullah Ki Jaana” in 2005. However, an official statement revealed that his visa had been endlessly delayed, and he barely made it to the studio to record, thus not being able to feature in this season.

“We invited the talented Rabbi Shergill to the Coke Studio platform but his visa got delayed," said Rohail Hayatt, the producer of Coke Studio.

"Although he managed to make it at the very last minute, we were not able to do justice to his music and the platform, given the timelines. It's just not the way we would like to welcome any outside talent to CS. So, I've decided to not use the music.”

With this statement, it seems that no other Indian artist will be featuring in the current season of Coke Studio. However, senior artists from the sub continent, like Shankar Mahadevan and Shafqat Amanat Ali will feature in Coke Studio India which kicks off next month.

Even if we don’t have any Indian artists this time, the likes of Attaullah Eesakhelvi and Sajjad Ali are there to treat the audiences in the second episode of Coke Studio Pakistan that airs on June 5.]]>
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			<title>Coke-troversy</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/170481/coke-troversy</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/170481/coke-troversy#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 17 May 11 16:40:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[What really happened between Amir Zaki and Coke Studio?]]>
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				<![CDATA[Coke Studio has been around for three successful seasons now, and the promo of the first episode of the fourth season does have a hook in it. Coke Studio sessions have the strength to revitalise even the greats, like Saaen Zahoor and Arif Lohar, and present them in a fresh light.


This time around it seems that the team conducted a rather thorough filtering process before getting artists onboard: Rumour has it, that the legendary Amir Zaki was rejected after Coke Studio auditions.

The producer of Coke Studio, Rohail Hayat, denies any rumours of Amir Zaki being rejected from Coke Studio,

“Not true. We were about to experiment with a new concept and I approached him (Zaki) for that. Unfortunately, the idea didn’t materialise due to the shortage of time. We don’t go around ‘rejecting’ talent, and that too, of the caliber of Amir. I’m sure we will work together on the same concept sometime in future,” Rohail told The Express Tribune in an exclusive interview.

On the contrary, when Zaki was contacted by The Express Tribune, he remained a man of few words: “No one from Coke Studio contacted me. I really wanted to be a part of the venture, but no one asked me.”

Zaki and Rohail, who once played together for a brief time with the Vital Signs, have contradictory statements about Zaki’s involvement with the venture. Industry  speculation remains that either Zaki got rejected because of poor vocal quality, or that it had to do with something more personal.

However, sources close to Zaki told The Express Tribune about what actually happened.

“Back in October 2010, Amir Zaki and his session players were called up by the Coke Studio people to their pre-production house in Defence. They came there and played four songs , which included the very popular “Mera Pyar”, “Saaen Wadero”, “Mohabbat Blues” and “Jaana”.”

Sources also revealed that after Zaki’s auditions, they never got a call from any of the Coke Studio officials.

In the past year and a half, Amir Zaki was all set for making a proper comeback. Be it The Second Floor, Base Rock Cafe, the Pak-American Cultural Centre (PACC) auditorium or anywhere else, he had brought the crowd to their feet in all his recent live gigs. In the recent two day long Tehzeeb Sitar Festival, Amir Zaki became the star of the show on the second day, as he did a fusion of his phenomenal jazz guitar playing with Ustaad Rais Khan’s son, Farhan Khan, on the sitar . He has also recently released his comeback music video “Tumhari Aankhon Mae”, which is currently playing in the top ten lists on TV channels.

Amir Zaki is more than a maestro of his art form; he is an asset for the Pakistani music industry, and for him to get rejected from a forum on which someone like Komal Rizvi qualifies to stand next to Akhtar Chanal, doesn’t make sense at all.

True, his vocal prowess has been ebbing for quite some time, but he was never known for his vocals. One would say he could have easily been a featured guitarist in “Coke Studio 4”, like he has been featured in some local festivals.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Rohail Hyatt on Coke Studio’s Season 4</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/170482/rohail-hyatt-on-coke-studio%e2%80%99s-season-4</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/170482/rohail-hyatt-on-coke-studio%e2%80%99s-season-4#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 17 May 11 16:29:01 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[saadia.qamar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gossip]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=170482</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[With the new season slated to go on air on May 22, The Express Tribune speaks to the man behind the hit show.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The summers are here and so is Coke Studio Season 4. It brings with it the usual array of hits and misses, the stars who have made it big, or have become even bigger in the music industry through the re-created, fused renditions of songs that are by far the most poignant and heart-rendering to come out of Pakistan.


The musical genius behind these songs is ex-Vital Signs band member Rohail Hyatt, producer extraordinaire of Coke Studio.

The Express Tribune speaks to Hyatt about about what the latest instalment of the show will bring.

How is season 4 going to be any different from the  former three seasons?

Every season of Coke Studio is a journey into the exploration of our musical traditions. Perhaps the two things that will stand out this time are the influence of classical music and our attempt to fuse it with modern instruments, and our venture into Balochi music and rhythms. Balochi music is not like any other music in our country, and that allowed for some interesting experimentation to take place.

Fusion is the key to bringing music, not just as it is, but as a blend of classical with pop or folk. What do you have to say about this, keeping show’s different thematic versions in mind?

In my opinion, fusion is the key that allows for our traditional art forms to become palatable in modern times. At Coke Studio, we try to stay true to the essence of the traditional art form and at the same time bring it up to date with the styles and instruments that people are accustomed to hearing these days. It’s certainly not meant to be a substitute of the original art form, but perhaps intends to stimulate a curiosity in people to explore their heritage and culture.

Coke Studio usually ends up promoting different dialects as a result of its different musical collaborations. What dialects are being used this time?

The unique ones are Marvari and Brahui, along with the better known ones such as Seraiki, Hindi, Punjabi, Farsi, Poorvi, Urdu etc.

Tell us a little about any upcoming talent that you are promoting in the new season?

We have all kinds of talent. Known and unknown. I think I will let their work speak for them...

How would you define Coke Studio 4 in one word?

Experimental!

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>‘Uth Records’ - the next big thing after ‘Coke Studio’?</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/146893/%e2%80%98uth-records%e2%80%99-the-next-big-thing-after-%e2%80%98coke-studio%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/146893/%e2%80%98uth-records%e2%80%99-the-next-big-thing-after-%e2%80%98coke-studio%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 10 Apr 11 17:48:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rafay.mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=146893</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The production, despite a smaller budget, manages to make stars out of new talent]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[When the “Coke Studio” phenomenon took off three years ago, the fusion of music took everybody by storm. Pakistan’s popular artistes got a platform that allowed them to experiment with their music, and create songs worth listening to. “Coke Studio” was accused of selling soda bottles instead of contributing to the music industry but, on the contrary, it can’t be ignored that in the last few years the most celebrated tracks from the Pakistani music industry are from “Coke Studio” sessions. It has even managed to attract an audience across the border.


The year 2011 saw a relatively raw version of “Coke Studio”, known as “Uth Records”. The treatment was quite similar to that of “Coke Studio”;  every episode started off  with a behind the scenes with the artists discussing the song to be performed and, after going through the creative sessions, the episode eventually led up to the final version of the song. “Uth Records” was sponsored by a telecommunication company and had two music producers on board, including Omran Shafique and Gumby who were responsible for producing songs much like Rohail Hayat in “Coke Studio”.

Despite all these similarities, “Uth Records”, with its very low budget music video production (compared to the sets of “Coke Studio”), managed to pull off the greater task of introducing new talent in the market, making them work with industry professionals and, finally, making stars out of them.

Here is the list of artists and songs:

Episode 1

Jumbo Jutt featuring Faraz Anwar’s “Jumbo Jutt”

Jumbo Jutt’s band members include Mohammad Ali Suhail on vocals and lead guitar, Syed Saad Shams on bass, Adeel Hussain on drums and Omar Kapadia on rhythm guitar. Jumbo Jutt’s track “Jumbo Jutt” is a typical rock song. The collaboration with the legendary Faraz Anwar just adds value to the band’s already mature sound. However, overall the song is just another rock song like many half-hearted tracks that have come out after the success of bands like EP and Call. All in all, a good job.

Episode 2 

Yasir and Jawad’s “Reidi Gul”

Whatever has been written about this band is less. This band of music lovers studying at Government College, Lahore and originally hailing from Khyber-Pakhtunkwa, has become the identity of “Uth Records”. The band comprises Yasir Rehman on the traditional rubaab, Jawad Iqbal on rhythm guitar and Wali Orakzai as the lead vocalist. Way to go Y and J, the best is yet to come.

Episode 3

Usman Riaz featuring Ali Noor’s “Hum Tum”

After his recently released song “Firefly” we all knew that Usman Riaz is more than just a talented instrument player. However, Ali Noor’s collaboration with him literally killed his style of music. By the end of, it sounds just like another Noori song, which is not the purpose of “Uth Records”. All aside, Riaz is immensely talented.

Episode 4

Natasha Ejaz’s “Right Way to Fall”

Having studied eastern classical singing, Natasha is currently pursuing a certificate in audio production in Malaysia. Influenced and inspired by genres such as acoustic/jazz, indie, folk, dream-pop and alternative music, Natasha has been around doing theater, dance, acting and singing. “Right Way to Fall” is a track worth listening to. The electronic feel to it just adds more value to her phenomenal vocals. Though she might not be able to make it beyond radio play lists in Pakistan, she can create wonders.

Episode 5

Athar Saani’s “Jaane Kyun”

Winner of the “Pakistan Sangeet Icon 2”, Athar is a great find for “Uth Records”. Earlier, in the talent hunt, only his vocal side was explored. However, “Jaane Kyun” reveals his great composing abilities. Though he sounds very much like Sonu Nigam, he is the only artist of “Uth Records” who seems to have a bright future ahead because the kind of melodies he produces - a mixture of eastern classical and pop music - appeal to most listeners in Pakistan.

Episode 6

Raamlal’s “Naughty Boy”

Consisting of musicians Mohammad Fazli on lead vocals and guitar, musician and audio engineer Muhammad Agha on guitar and backing vocals, the band members are currently in the process of recording their first album. The band seems to be very Elvis inspired and is definitely unorthodox - producing contemporary music and even more contemporary lyrics. If the members make it big, they will have a cult following.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th,  2011.]]>
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			<title>Coke Studio comes to an end</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/34052/coke-studio-comes-to-an-end</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/34052/coke-studio-comes-to-an-end#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 03 Aug 10 20:05:08 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[saba.imtiaz]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=34052</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[]]>
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				<![CDATA[The fifth episode of this year’s Coke Studio aired on Sunday night, marking an end to weeks of feverish discussion on which artiste was the best - and who ruined the show.

Five artistes featured on the finale - Tina Sani, Abida Parveen, Rizwan and Muazzam, Amanat Ali and Sanam Marvi - while the rest of this year’s performers were represented through short interviews on their experience during this season.

While the acts on the finale were stellar, particularly Rizwan and Muazzam who performed a jazzy, electrifying version of “Jaana Jogi De Naal” and Sanam Marvi, who sang “Manzil-e-Sufi”, the disaster of the episode was Amanat Ali.

Ali, who also performed a cover of Khaled’s “Aisha” and a duet with Marvi during this season, decided to sing a cover of the very popular patriotic song, “Ae Watan Kay Sajeelay Jawano”, which was originally sung by Madam Noor Jehan. The emotionless, flat cover was meant to be ‘fitting for the times’ but ended up souring one’s experience. It is hard to tell at this point whether Amanat Ali’s version was as bad as EP’s “Bolo Bolo”, but nonetheless, they were both travesties.

After three years and most of Pakistan’s top bands and singers performing on the show, is it time for the show to renew its concept? Introducing elements such as a ‘vote in’ option could help make it more fun, and it may be time to rethink the idea of relying on artistes from previous seasons, given that Noori or Zeb and Haniya couldn’t come closer to new finds such as Marvi or Meesha Shafi.

This show’s season has also drawn in some high profile fans, including Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer, who tweeted last week: “Coke Studio is the greatest ambassador of moderate Pakistan. I watch it in my free time especially ‘Jugni’ (by) Arif Lohar and Meesha. Great music.”

What Tribune readers say

“Coke Studio got songs wrong which don’t suit the artists that were put in. They should ask the artists to pick the songs they want to do for Coke Studio and Coke Studio should allow people to pick the artists in season four. It looked like someone in Coke Studio picked songs which were no good deliberately.”

Salman Jafri

“I think this season made more waves than the other two seasons. I wouldn’t label Noori/Karavan/Zeb Hania as failures but I agree I wasn’t expecting Aunty Disco Project to do ‘Sultanat’, it’s a good song but not their best and certainly didn’t suit the Coke Studio mood.”

Muteeur Rehman

“Coke Studio 3 has not only raised the bar but its biggest success this season is roping in icons like Abida Parveen and Tina Sani. Their performances have been groundbreaking. Abida Parveen with her energetic style and Tina Sani with her soulful voice have enchanted many a heart.”

Mohammad Umar Khan

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4th, 2010.]]>
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			<title>What cokestudio fans want</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/32423/what-cokestudio-fans-want</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/32423/what-cokestudio-fans-want#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 01 Aug 10 07:02:48 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[s.gulbadan]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Facebook tells me that many of those who like Coke Studio are conformist sheep, really. You know how Facebook has this magnificent suggestions thing going in which it runs its super-smart algorithms to tell you what your friends like, in the hope that you’ll like it too? Well, I decided to play along and see what this was all about after getting annoyed by a constant barrage of suggestions along the lines of “Many of your friends who like Coke Studio also like…” (Yes, I like Coke Studio on Facebook. In my defence, Ali Hamza is irresistibly cute and my current man-crush.)

As it turns out, people who like Coke Studio, amongst my friends, also like things as diverse as Pervez Musharraf, Zaid Hamid, Junaid Jamshed, 3 Idiots (the movie, not the previous three personalities, who are obviously not idiots. Duh.), Imran Khan (do you know Sony Entertainment Television recently ran a “Become the 4th idiot” contest?), Ufone, Top Pops, gol gappay, Nestle Fruita Vitals, and a delightfully named Facebook page, “Oye, extra pen hai?”.

In this piece, I will try to analyse why Coke Studio fans are partial towards some of the entities mentioned above. Let me begin with Pervez Musharraf.

Musharraf is the reason Coke Studio exists. Had he not toppled Nawaz Sharif’s fumbling, tumbling Humpty-Dumpty-sat-on-a-wall government, pop and rock stars in Pakistan would still be writing boring, meaningful, mildly catchy songs about accountability and consequently getting banned on television. By setting free the powerful forces of enlightened moderation to guide us towards gleaming progress, he set in motion the wheels that eventually led to Meesha Shafi singing on national television clad in, of all things, jeans. Coke Studio, obviously, is the progeny of Musharraf sahab’s visionary thinking, thereby explaining why they have many fans in common.

Zaid Hamid’s case is even simpler. Coke Studio is Pakistan’s answer to AR Rehman. And as we know by now, nothing pleases Hamid’s hilariously passionate supporters more than us getting one up on India. That too an India made famous by a treacherous Muslim like Rahman, whose forefathers were probably too lazy (more likely too poor or indifferent) to migrate to the pure land back at the time of the Big Bang.

On the other hand, I honestly cannot for the life of me understand what Junaid Jamshed and Coke Studio have in common besides a) Rohail Hyatt being sugar daddy for both; and b) only the rich kids who can afford his kurtas to wear at Eids and their cousins’ Mehndi celebrations are actually into Coke Studio.

I am similarly confounded by the seemingly disparate nature of gol gappay and Nestle Fruita Vitals. I am inclined to hypothesise the following: while the Coke Studio-savvy crowd has obviously become health and brand conscious, and thus relies on premium-priced fruit juice to quench its thirst and replenish its vitamins after a grueling gym session, it still appreciates the quaint, sarak chhaap charm of the occasional plate of gol goppas to feel connected to the pure land’s delights on offer. However, I am certain the irony of paying Rs100 for a sanitised, upscale version of such traditional delicacies at places like Chatkharay is lost on us.

The writer blogs at Gulbadan.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1st, 2010.]]>
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			<title>The hits and misses of Coke Studio</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/30741/the-hits-and-misses-of-coke-studio</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/30741/the-hits-and-misses-of-coke-studio#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 24 Jul 10 17:46:17 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[saba.imtiaz]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Coke Studio is set for a resounding finale - reportedly featuring all of the artists who have appeared on the show - on August 1, but the first four episodes have left their own indelible mark.

Karachiites have been blaring “Alif Allah Chambay Di Booti” on weekends as they race around in their cars, and Meesha Shafi has become this summer’s pin-up idol. The influence of the four episodes, which have seen fans turn against stars for their mediocre performances and rediscover old icons, is what has made this show a success so far.

Watching the show has become a collective experience for many. Facebook and Twitter users post updates throughout the one-hour episode, ranting, raving and reviewing. Some of the angriest comments came the night EP performed their cover of Sajjad Ali’s “Bolo Bolo”, with several fans expressing bewilderment at what their favourite band had done to the 1990s hit.

Poetic times

However, the show has had its fair share of successes. Arif Lohar’s metal influenced “Mirza Sahibaan” and Abida Parveen’s renditions of sufi poetry have helped remind one of their lasting impact on music. Stars such as Sanam Marvi, who is extremely popular in Sindh, have notched her own share of fans through their performances on the show.

The misses

The misses this season have been the bands - Aunty Disco Project, EP, Zeb and Haniya, Karavan and Noori - who have all paled in comparison to the musicians performing.  For some, such as Karavan, it was bad luck to be lumped into an episode line-up that had far more powerful voices. For others, it was bad song writing that did the trick (“Tann dolay/mann dolay/raaton main” is far from being Noori and Zeb and Haniya’s best effort) or repetitiveness (how many times will we hear “Sultanat” before Aunty Disco Project gets rid of it?)

Underrated

Arieb Azhar is one of this season’s most underrated stars. From the haunting rendition of”Na Raindee Hai” to his collaboration with Tina Sani on Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s “Mori Araj Suno”, Azhar’s mesmerising voice has added more depth to each episode, and lent a feeling of introspection that is missing from the lighter songs such as “Nazar Eyle”. Building up from his performance on last year’s season of Coke Studio, Ali Hamza has proved that he is the stronger voice in Noori. His vocal talents shine on “Hor Vi Neevan Ho”, and one looks forward to hearing what Ali Hamza brings to Noori’s next record.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2010.]]>
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			<title>‘Chori Chori’ to get the Coke Studio treatment</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/24556/%e2%80%98chori-chori%e2%80%99-to-get-the-coke-studio-treatment</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/24556/%e2%80%98chori-chori%e2%80%99-to-get-the-coke-studio-treatment#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 10 18:25:10 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[After sharing the stage with the uber-popular icon Arif Lohar, Meesha Shafi is set to cover a song by another legend: Reshma.]]>
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				<![CDATA[After sharing the stage with the uber-popular icon Arif Lohar, Meesha Shafi is set to cover a song by another legend: Reshma.

The Overload singer’s performance with Arif Lohar, “Alif Allah Chambay Di Booti”, has been one of the most memorable songs of the show’s third season, and has racketed up over 295,000 views on YouTube. But with Reshma, Shafi is stepping into another league altogether.

The singer will be covering Reshma’s hit song “Chori Chori” for the third episode of Coke Studio, which goes on air on July 4. The song was plagiarised in a Bollywood film, and was re-titled, “Yaara Sili Sili”. However, director Subhash Ghai roped in Reshma to contribute “Lambi Judaai” for his film Hero which starred Meenakshi Sheshadri and Jackie Shroff.

However, Shafi is not the first contemporary musician to cover Reshma’s music. At the Lux Style Awards in 2008, Atif Aslam and Shehzad Roy performed “Lambi Judaai” and “Chori Chori” respectively to pay tribute to the artist. Reshma, who is suffering from cancer, was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement award at the ceremony, and despite finding it difficult to speak, was able to attend the event and sit on the stage as Aslam and Roy serenaded her.

Reshma is one of the country’s most iconic folk singers, and was a star in Pakistan long before Bollywood discovered her. Old recordings of Reshma’s earthy music have a magnetic quality to them, and her songs focus heavily on themes of love. She has toured extensively in Pakistan and abroad, particularly to the US and India.

Meesha Shafi told The Express Tribune that she had suggested doing the song, and that is how the cover came about. “The song is a personal favourite. As people know, Reshma does not sing anymore and I think that people should try and take her music forward. So it is more of a tribute to her.”

When asked about the inevitable comparisons that will be made between the cover and the original, Shafi said, “There is definitely going to be a comparison. Rohail Hyatt has given the music a completely different treatment, so the song has gone into another genre altogether. I’m sure there will be all kinds of reactions to it. With songs like this, people will either love it or hate it. So I am not nervous, but I am curious about what kind of reaction it will get. I haven’t heard the final version myself!”

Shafi also says she did not expect the reaction that “Alif Allah Chambay Di Booti” would receive. “The response has been quite overwhelming. It has been pleasantly surprising; people have had very nice things to say. The feedback has come from all kinds of people, from all kinds of age groups.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30th, 2010.]]>
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			<title>Piracy hits Coke Studio</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/21254/piracy-hits-coke-studio</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/21254/piracy-hits-coke-studio#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 10 17:58:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[saadia.qamar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Karachi’s Rainbow Centre has been a hub for piracy for decades now, and even several raids on the market have not dented the open sale of pirated films, music and computer software.

Incredibly receptive to customer demands, the newest offerings at the market are CDs of Coke Studio.

One CD stall, located right next to a Rangers vehicle, did not offer CDs of Coke Studio’s third season but he had one DVD titled ‘Coke Studio with Comedy Time’.

When asked why he only had one copy, the salesman said, “Who watches this? People watch Indian films,” while he gestured towards the Bollywood DVDs on sale.

However, other salesmen at CD and DVD stores at Rainbow Centre told The Express Tribune that a company called Master Music released the songs from the first episode of the show on CD last Friday. ”

When asked if this would also be pirated, a salesman at Big Ben Video said, “No, we would not benefit if we made a copy of it as it is being sold for Rs60. If we make a copy of it ourselves it would be priced at Rs50 so there is no monetary gain for us.”

While Radio City stores do not offer the first episode of Coke Studio 3, but prominent stores such as Music City in Bahadurabad and Laraib in Clifton are selling the CDs openly, touting that it is ‘pirated stuff’.

But can the owners be blamed for not catering to public demand? Since access to the internet is still limited to a percentage of the population, without CDs and DVDs those who would like to listen to the Coke Studio songs are unable to do so.

Rohail Hyatt, the producer of Coke Studio, told The Express Tribune, “We do intend to release official versions of the CD and DVD this season.

Since our content is given out for free with the intent to share, piracy is not a concern for us. However, quality is. That is the primary reason for releasing the official content.”

Published in the Express Tribune, June 15th, 2010.]]>
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			<title>Why I love Coke Studio</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/21245/why-i-love-coke-studio</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/21245/why-i-love-coke-studio#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 10 16:04:49 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=21245</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Coke Studio entered its third season this summer. The music show has captured the hearts of many. Here are some views.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Coke Studio mania has shown no let-up this season, as the combination of music by seasoned artists and new talent has captured the hearts of many.

Here are just some views The Express Tribune has gathered:

VJ Anoushey Ashraf:

I love Coke Studio because it has made me familiar with our own music. Everybody knows what Ali Zafar is up to but Coke Studio has brought to the screen our musicians who were not being covered before, giving them a cool look.

Ali Noor:

From Noori’s point of view, we get to experiment with our music, work with the best musicians of the country and the best producer.

Shehzad Roy:

Rohail is the best producer. Coke is promoting new talent and those musicians that the masses were not listening to and as a result people are listening to them now. There is more infotainment these days than entertainment and this is taking us back to entertainment.

Ayesha Tammy Haq:

I love coke studio because it is doing something fabulous! It is giving musicians a platform to display their talents.

Tapu Javeri:

It’s a great effort. It’s introducing the younger generation to folk music taking them back to their roots. The generation that otherwise only listens to pop or rock music.

Hassan Shehryar Yasin:

I saw the Meesha Shafi and Arif Lohar song. It was incredible! I was blown away by it! Mixing new talent with seasoned musicians is a great idea especially at a time when Pakistan needs to look at the positive rather than harping on about the negative.

Rup (Josh) on Twitter:

@RupJoSH if you havnt seen it yet, search: coke studio 3 arif lohar and meesha, you're gonna love it, gurunteeeeeee

Ali Zafar on Twitter:

@AliZafarforu Listening to coke studio abida perveen waiting for my shoot for music video for the film. Rohail hyatt and the team. Bravo !!!

Do you love Coke Studio? Leave feedback below.]]>
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			<title>Coke Studio upstages Cyclone Phet</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/19535/coke-studio-upstages-cyclone-phet</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/19535/coke-studio-upstages-cyclone-phet#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 07 Jun 10 18:31:24 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[saba.imtiaz]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=19535</guid>
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				<![CDATA[The first episode of Coke Studio’s third season premiered on Pakistani television channels on Sunday night with six exemplary artists on the bill: Abida Parveen, Arieb Azhar, Arif Lohar and Meesha Shafi, Karavan and Zeb and Haniya.

But the real shocker of the night was how fantastic the Arif Lohar-Meesha Shafi collaboration, “Alif Allah Chambay Di Booti” was. The idea of combining one musical powerhouse - Arif Lohar (who an entire generation of young Pakistanis grew up seeing almost daily on Pakistan Television) and the edgy, young Meesha Shafi, was bound to be either very, very good, or very, very bad.

It turned into a win-win situation. Shafi managed to show off that she has remarkably strong vocals and held her own against Lohar, who reminded why exactly he was - and is - a musical powerhouse. Their song has garnered more hits on YouTube than any of the others featured on the episode, and was an exemplary fusion of Lohar’s signature use of chimtas and the “Jugni” chorus.

Gumby told The Express Tribune last month that Meesha Shafi was the biggest surprise of the season for him, since he had never imagined how powerful her voice could be.

Meesha Shafi got the same reaction from musician Ali Noor, who posted on Twitter: “Listening to ‘Alif Allah’ on repeat ... goose bumps are not going away ... Meesha Shafi is the next big thing man ... way to go CS!”

Even though the show was airing simultaneously on multiple television channels, the Coke Studio website was unavailable 45 minutes into the show.

The other strong point of the show was Arieb Azhar’s powerful recitation of poetry by Bulleh Shah, “Na Raindee Hai”, which the backing vocalists contributed to with a haunting chorus. The trippy vibe to the song, combined with its dark undertones and Azhar’s expressive voice, speaks volumes about Rohail Hyatt’s vision as a producer.

Zeb and Haniya’s groovy rendition of the Dari song, “Bibi Sanam Janem”, featured the rubab and like “Paimona Bitte”, they managed to make the popular tune and unfamiliar words into a beautiful, catchy song.

While Abida Parveen was consistent with “Ramooz-e-Ishq”, Karavan’s debut was mistimed, since the mellow “Yaadein” was an immediate downer after “Alif Allah Chambay Di Booti”. 

Lohar told The Express Tribune that he hoped Pakistanis would look at the show and realise “kuch bata nahi, sab aik hai” (nothing has divided, we’re all one).

At the very least, Lohar managed to unite hundreds of Pakistanis in front of their television screens, spellbound by the magic created by the team behind Coke Studio.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 8th, 2010.]]>
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			<title>Coke Studio, unplugged!</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/19032/coke-studio-unplugged</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/19032/coke-studio-unplugged#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 05 Jun 10 18:55:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=19032</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The new generation of artists have their own taste &amp;amp; they also respect Sufi kalams. The Express Tribune talks to the stars.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Zeb and Haniya:

How was the experience of being a part of Coke Studio this year?

Coke Studio was as exciting for us this year as it was last year. The stress is up a couple of notches because I feel people expect more from us this year than they did last year, but we’re pretty sure it’s all going to sound great.

Whose performance are you looking forward to watching at Coke Studio?

Haniya: I’m most excited about Abida Parveenji’s and Fakir Juman Shah’s performances.

In the past two years, Coke Studio has introduced a different brand of fusion music to Pakistanis. Is this the only platform left for folk and indigenous music to thrive?

In the current socio-political scenario, Coke Studio has been the only project willing to invest so heavily in bringing our traditional forms of music to the forefront.

What was the highlight for you this year?

Haniya: Our collaboration with Noori was definitely one of this season’s high points for me.

Karavan:

How was the experience of being a part of Coke Studio?

The Coke Studio experience for us is one of camaraderie and team work.
Assad Ahmed: This is my second year and I have to say that as a unit all of us were much more cohesive this time.

Whose performance are you looking forward to watching at Coke Studio?

We feel the performances were all great but if we had to choose one it would be Abida Parveen.

In the past two years, Coke Studio has introduced a different brand of fusion music to Pakistanis. Is this the only platform left for folk and indigenous music to thrive?

We would hope not...Coke Studio is the start of something that hopefully others will continue in the future.

What was the highlight for you this year?

Assad Ahmed: The highlight for me this year was getting to play with all these great artists and also having the new Karavan album Saara Jahan released. We also played live on Coke Studio... life is good

Arieb Azhar:

How was the experience of being a part of Coke Studio this year?

The experience of being part of Coke Studio was beautiful - again! It was great to see that the producers of Coke Studio had outdone themselves in terms of organisation, music planning and production and the content involved this season.
Everything from the word go was as smooth as clockwork. It was a pleasure to see this level of professionalism in Pakistan, which just goes to show that everything can be done here just as well with the right work and intent.

Whose performance are you looking forward to watching at Coke Studio?

This year I am personally looking forward to several performances, the foremost being Abidaji, Fakir Juman Shah from Bhitshah, Rizwan and Muazzam, Tina Sani, Sanam Marvi and Arif Lohar.

In the past two years, Coke Studio has introduced a different brand of fusion music to Pakistanis. Is this the only platform left for folk and indigenous music to thrive?

This is the only platform left (or should I say ‘newly introduced’) for folk musicians to survive in the mainstream media.

Folk and indigenous music has always survived and thrived outside of mainstream corporate funded media in the shrines and folk festivals of this land, and I believe it always will. The producers of the Coke Studio project were sagacious enough to bring this deeply rooted, educative and truly entertaining content into the mainstream media.

What was the highlight for you this year?

The highlight this year was the Coke Studio press conference in which everyone who had participated in this year’s project was present. It gave me the opportunity to watch some of the video clips of all of the other artists, and to fully appreciate the scope of its work this time round. It was also a unique honour to sit amongst so many artists who have been inspirations for me in my personal journey as a musician.

Arif Lohar:

How was the experience of being a part of Coke Studio?

It was absolutely amazing! I think with this project, Rohail Hyatt has started something which will be remembered by many generations.

Whose performance are you looking forward to watching at Coke Studio?

Everyone on Coke Studio has worked really hard and has done an amazing job. I will be tuning in to watch all the performances.

In the past two years, Coke Studio has introduced a different brand of fusion music to Pakistanis. Is this the only platform left for folk and indigenous music to thrive?

I personally think Coke Studio is really different from all other platforms and it has done a great job in promoting our rich folk music culture but I do think there should be more platforms for folk music in the country.

What was the highlight for you this year?

As an artist whatever I have achieved from this project and the reaction of people to my performances will be the highlight for me this year as this is something which I have never done before.

You have worked with younger artists before, but this was an entire cast of young new musicians. How was your experience?

Performing with this great ensemble of artists was an experience I will never forget. Every single house band member is uniquely talented in their own way.

An entire generation of young people were introduced to your music via state-run television. Do you feel that there are enough platforms for musicians of your generation left now?

I think Coke Studio is an excellent platform for musicians like me as well. It gives us an opportunity to experiment and present our music like never before but like I said earlier, we need more of such platforms in the country to promote folk music and our culture in general.

Meesha Shafi:

How was the experience of being a part of Coke Studio?

Being a part of Coke Studio was most overwhelming. It gave me the opportunity to be under the same banner as so many legends, and even my own contemporaries.

It was also an introduction to how things are executed with finesse and professionalism in the rest of the world. Our industry has a long way to go, and Coke Studio is paving the way and setting very high standards. I’m honoured to be a part of it.

Whose performance are you looking forward to watching at Coke Studio?

Definitely Abida Parveen and Tina Sani. As for fresh talent, I think Amanat Ali and Sanam Marvi have beautiful vocals.

In the past two years, Coke Studio has introduced a different brand of fusion music to Pakistanis. Is this the only platform left for folk and indigenous music to thrive?

It’s not the only platform left, it’s the only platform there ever was. Everybody has big ideas, executing them is where most fail the test. Coke Studio is only getting bigger and better.

What was the highlight for you this year?

Collaborating with Arif Lohar on Coke Studio! I am a huge fan of his.

Abida Parveen:

How was the experience of being a part of Coke Studio?

The atmosphere built was similar to the ones at shrines. Coke Studio has its own flavour, concept, colours, everything unique in its truest sense.

It felt like everything has merged into one to produce a fusion which is often only witnessed in shrines. Every person involved, from the producers, to coordinators, to the technicians to the musicians, they have created an environment which has lead to new and undiscovered paths.

In the past two years, Coke Studio has introduced a different brand of fusion music to Pakistanis. Is this the only platform left for folk and indigenous music to thrive?

This project which Rohail Hyatt has started is indeed great and I would like to be a part of it for a long time.The music that comes out of this project reaches both the heart and soul and it always compliments the lyrics without overriding the true message of the kalams. This platform builds on those messages of our Sufi elders.

What was the highlight for you this year?

To experiment and experience Coke Studio in a manner which commends the nature of shrines, spreads the message of Sufi kalams, the freshness of talent seeking the eternal moment were the highlights.

You have worked with younger artists before, but this was an entire cast of young new musicians. How was your experience?

During the recording, I was actually waiting to perform with these musicians as every stage in Coke Studio is different and I was tensed about my performance. I think if you don’t feel a level of heightened tension about your work you cannot prepare properly.

This new generation of artists have their own taste and they also respect Sufi kalams. The connection of soul and heart has nothing to do with age and they all felt enlightened from within.

Published in the Express Tribune, 6th, 2010.]]>
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			<title>The magic of Coke Studio</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/18825/the-magic-of-coke-studio</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/18825/the-magic-of-coke-studio#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 05 Jun 10 01:37:56 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[osman.samiuddin]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[With the greatest trepidation I come bearing what may not be bad news. In fact, I’m not sure if editorial policy allows me to celebrate something, given tragedies all around us; terrorism and intolerance, Israel and flotillas, Phet and Facebook, the budget, Afridi’s Test captaincy prospects or Rehman Malik’s ties. So at great risk of pricking bubbles of morbidity – and hoping that we don’t spontaneously combust between now and then – tomorrow begins season three of ‘Coke Studio’.
I am unapologetically devoted to Pakistan’s music scene, even if such magnanimity invariably grants forgiveness to Haroon and Faakhir — even after they gave us ‘Mr Fraudiye’. Living abroad during my youth, alongside cricket and PTV, music was the firmest way in which I interacted with Pakistan.
Memory fails me as to which one, but I had a crush on one of the earnest Benjamin Sisters; perhaps more likely it was all three. In the car stereo on drives, the battle would be of age and taste, not nationality; Nayyara Noor or Nazia and Zoheb, Malka Phukraj or Alamgir or Muhammad Ali Shaiki, Mehdi Hassan or Sohail Rana with children so homogenously talented they could only be Chinese or South Indian?
Then, just as I was getting into bad, foreign heavy rock – a genetic failing among subcontinent male teenagers – Music 89 happened. A new world opened up. On annual visits through the 90s, the energy of Pakistan’s contemporary music became clear; Vital Signs, Aamir Zaki, Junoon, Nusrat and much, much else besides, including an incredulously vibrant underground scene. Waves came and went, but were always replaced by new waves.
My arrival here early this decade coincided neatly with another burst. By then, a spell in the UK – musically fresh and open – had expanded my mind and taste so that I worried about keeping in touch. And I couldn’t, but found with much happiness that I didn’t care because there was more than enough here.
Any scene, after all, that can contain Rushk, Meekal Hasan, Coven, Sajid and Zeeshan, Zeb and Haniya, Mauj, Noori, the relentless, driving madness of an Overload beat as well as an entire pop mainstream is rich, thriving in quality and diversity if not quantity. And none of this even touches upon the established and indigenous strains of music, filmi, folk, classical and otherwise.
In particular, the lack of cross-genre snobbery here is precious. In other countries, different genres become different cultures altogether, sneering down at others. The glamsters of house music sniff at skinny indie folk, who sniff right back; the rougher-edged jungle-heads, or garage or hip-hop, look down on everyone. Reggae has its own, minding their business, the herb making love not war. Often people will not take in other genres over an entire existence. Coke Studio’s greatest achievement – besides confirming our contrariness to global norms that say big corporations kill creativity – is to rejoice in this spirit. Here Atif Aslam is as credible as Saeen Zahoor; Ali Zafar branches out from sounding similar to Kishore Kumar; even Strings sound like they may have something new to offer.
Here, if you like it, you listen to it and it doesn’t matter whether it is a ghazal, qawwali, electronica, rock, pop or all in one grand jam. Ultimately, ‘Coke Studio’ makes its own small contribution to an old, tricky dilemma. In an interview with I A Rehman, the ever-lucid Faiz once explained how our cultural tradition consists of two broad, disparate strands: the tradition of Punjabi, Sindhi, Baloch and Pakhtun folk culture and our classical tradition of Urdu, Persian and Arabic. There is friction between them. Post-independence, he said, the rise of an English medium sensibility created a greater muddle, divorced as it was from the other traditions. Unless all three were in harmony, a true cultural identity could not be established.
What else is 'Coke Studio' if not an attempt to do precisely this?
Published in the Express Tribune, June 5th, 2010.]]>
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			<title>Everyone’s talking about... Coke Studio</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/17555/everyone%e2%80%99s-talking-about-coke-studio</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/17555/everyone%e2%80%99s-talking-about-coke-studio#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 31 May 10 09:00:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[saba.imtiaz]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[The promo for the first episode of Coke Studio was released over the weekend, showcasing the most prominent stars from this season’s ensemble. 

Abida Parveen, Arieb Azhar, Arif Lohar, Meesha Shafi, Karavan and Zeb and Haniya are all included in the video promoting the first episode, which goes on air on June 6.

While Arieb Azhar and Zeb and Haniya have performed at Coke Studio before, the real draw this season appears to be Abida Parveen. Fans of devotional music flock to hear Abida Parveen sing live, and her performances are often sold-out in Karachi. When the show was being taped, Parveen sat through hours of re-takes and minor technical mishaps with immense patience, thanking attendees at the end of the recording for listening to her.

At Coke Studio, she gelled extremely well with the house band, which comprises of some of the country’s best musicians including Gumby, Omran Shafique and Assad Ahmed.

Overload’s Meesha Shafi, who told The Express Tribune earlier this month that she had never imagined she would get a chance to work with Arif Lohar, was one of the “biggest surprises this season” for Gumby. The drummer told The Express Tribune that while he had heard her sing before, he was very pleasantly surprised at the ‘completely different feel’ she had at Coke Studio.]]>
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			<title>Coke studio season 3</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/13935/coke-studio-season-3</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/13935/coke-studio-season-3#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 17 May 10 19:08:20 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=13935</guid>
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				<![CDATA[This is with reference to Saba Imtiaz’s article of May 16 titled ‘Coke studio: spinning a new tune’. 

The lineup this year is just mind blowing. Ali Noor and Ali Hamza are not only back this year but they have brought their parents as well. Their father, Ali Kazim has come as a vocalist and their mother, Noor Zehra as the only sagar veena player in the country — the world rather. The sagar veena is an instrument that was made by their grandfather who is a well known lawyer in Lahore. This season promises to be a treat for sure.]]>
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			<title>Coke Studio: spinning a new tune</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/13511/coke-studio-spinning-a-new-tune</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/13511/coke-studio-spinning-a-new-tune#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 15 May 10 19:00:23 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category><category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Coke Studio’s third season looks set to be full of interesting contrasts. Arif Lohar, Punjab’s beloved folk singer whose chimtas (tongs) - as a friend of mine once put it, “seem to be an extension of his body” performing with the edgy Overload singer, Meesha Shafi. 

The extraordinary Tina Sani singing with Arieb Azhar of “Husn-e-Haqiqi” fame, and pop singer Amanat Ali performing an Urdu version of the hit Cheb Khaled hit, “Aicha”. With a line-up that is every Pakistani music fan’s wildest dream come true, this year’s Coke Studio promises to provide a deeper insight into the very basic concept of fusion music when it goes on air on June 6.

At a press launch on Thursday night, the artists performing, the crew behind the show and representatives from Coke came together to introduce the third season. A montage video played to introduce the show left one awe-struck, particularly the powerful voices of Abida Parveen and Tina Sani, the chemistry of Lohar and Shafi, the strains of folk music by Fakir Juman Shah and the spine-chilling moment when Rizwan and Moazzam sing “Ni Saiyon Asa”.

The atmosphere at the event was just as electric - Abida Parveen was mobbed by television cameras, while the rest of the artists looked buoyant at the launch of the project. The Express Tribune spoke to some of the featured artists about their experience at Coke Studio.

MEESHA SHAFI 

What was it like to perform with Arif Lohar?

Fantastic. It was a dream come true, one of those far-fetched dreams that you can never imagine will come true.

 Singing in Punjabi is difficult. How was it for you? 

I didn’t find it difficult because I’m from a Punjabi family and the dialect comes naturally to me.

ARIF LOHAR

 How was your experience at Coke Studio? 

I really liked it because I feel through Coke Studio a younger generation is introduced to our traditions and artists from every province have been represented at the show. I am happy that I have worked on such a platform. I am thankful to Rohail Hyatt for calling me and the team has done such exceptional fusion, har artist hai, rang ka baadshah hai. This is a huge service to the country. Bohat zyada tension hai logon main; magar bata kuch nahee, sab aik hai.

ROHAIL HYATT

 How do you feel now that the project has been introduced to the world at large?

It’s been hidden so far, so seeing it go up, and the emotional reaction that the artists and the people here are having almost has me in tears. It’s very exciting, the fact that people still get excited about it, and it’s almost redefining what ‘commercial’ is.

TINA SANI

 How was your experience at Coke Studio? 

Fabulous! Its music and music can never be a stranger to me. I can be anywhere in the world and feel at home with musicians. At Coke Studio, nobody compromises so you each bring your art. I had heard some of the songs before, but this was a new breed of talented musicians that I didn’t know about. (Last season) when I heard Zeb and Haniya sing “Paimona Bitte”, I called Rohail (Hyatt) and then I went out and bought their CD!

AMANAT ALI

 How was your experience at Coke Studio?

It has been a great experience. I am very excited. The kind of songs that we have done, people will be able to see our versatility and style.

What was the thought behind doing an Urdu version of “Aicha”? 

Initially, Rohail Hyatt and I had thought of doing a mix of the original French lyrics with Urdu ones. But then it did not make sense because people here do not speak or understand French so we thought of doing the entire song in Urdu.

ALI HAMZA 

Given the fantastic response Noori got last year, did you go in knowing there were higher expectations?

No, you can’t think about that at all! You get in to do your best and that’s all you focus on.

How was it working on this season? 

It’s much bigger, the production, everything. It’s brilliant!

Published in the Express Tribune, May 16th, 2010.]]>
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