Sounds of Kolachi, Omran Shafique, Zoe Viccaji, Faisal Baig join hands for concert

Sounds of Kolachi, Omran Shafique, Zoe Viccaji, Faisal Baig join hands for Tribal Fusion Electro Symphony

KARACHI: The summer has been blazing hot, giving party goers all around the world the perfect excuse to hop onto the dance floor. They’ve been needing some crazy beats to sway to. But if you’re unable to fly to Ibiza or hit the underground scene in Berlin, why not bring the madness to Karachi?

Tribal Fusion Electro Symphony is doing just that. The first of its kind in Pakistan — organised by the Tribal Media Group, Destiny Enterprises and Event Inc. — the event brings together some of the best artists of the country to provide a ‘transcendent experience.’ The Sounds of Kolachi ensemble and guitarist Omran Shafique pair up with artists like Aziz Kazi and flute player Zulqernain Haider and electronic music producers Bilal Brohi and Faisal Baig, to create an electronic-ambient-trance and psychedelic effects, fused with Rock/Progressive/Djent and Indian classical music.

“This is the first step toward introducing innovative sounds. It is unique; something that has not been done before in Pakistan. We are not doing our regular numbers so it’s a risk for us too. But we are trying something different and hoping that we give an amazing experience to the audience,” Sounds of Kolachi’s music director Ahsan Bari told The Express Tribune. Bari revealed that the four- hour show will be divided in two segments: The first will be a fusion of electronica and live, featuring Sounds of Kolachi and Zoe Viccaji pairing with Baig and Shafique. It will showcase new original tracks by the ensemble while the second segment will consist of pure electro trance by Baig and Brohi.



Guitarist Shafique stated that the idea has been in the works for quite a while now. “It’s happening all over the world. We are bringing it to Pakistan to give you a unique experience.” Associating traditional music like Qawwali and regular dance numbers to trance, Shafique said, “It is not a new concept. It started in the 70s with Pink Floyd. The trance and electro music is supposed to take you somewhere else, transcend you to another dimension. And so does Qawwali and dance music. We are merging modern and traditional sounds to create something new and provide an ecstatic experience.”

Singer Zoe Viccaji feels she has no idea how it’s going to turn out but it is definitely exciting to be a part of the show. “I’m bringing a couple of original songs to the table but Faisal and Omran are going to be giving them a brand new feel,” she revealed.

There has been a thriving electronic music scene in Pakistan for a while. However this kind of fusion is very different. Viccaji said, “It’s the first time I’m doing something like this, and it’s outside my comfort zone. I have faith because of the musicians involved.”



Syed Muhammad Imad, owner of Event.Inc, said they were expecting a great attendance. “We have people from all over who are interested in the concert and are hoping there would be over 1000 people.” So if you are looking for a transcendental experience, a ‘haal’, a mi’raj or meditation through music, the concert is bound to give you exactly that.

The concert will take place at The Regent Plaza hotel at 8pm on Saturday, (today). Tickets are available at Delfrio and BellaVita outlets in Karachi.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2016.

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