Artistes weave magic into Tribal Fusion Electro Symphony

Omran Shafique, Faraz Anwar, Zoe Viccaji and Sounds of Kolachi come together for an electrifying performance

KARACHI: It was Saturday night. You were all set to witness the first live electro concert at the Regent Plaza. Naturally, your expectations were high because you were aware of the caliber of the musicians involved and you sacrificed a weekend. Omran Shafique, Zoe Viccaji, Faraz Anwar and Ahsan Bari with Sounds of Kolachi were set to bring you magic with their fusion of unique sounds.

You were greeted by a low-key lit hall, digital sketches of the artists who will be performing, and the stage decked with two large screens and an unusual arsenal of musical instruments. A drum set, sitar, sarangi and guitars catch your eye and you automatically start anticipating the show.

The atmosphere was surreal at best. Reds, purples and blues shine. There was a lot of energy all around as people patiently waited for the gig to kick off. And when it did, it brought everyone to their feet. The show was divided into two segments. The first was a fusion of electronica and live, featuring Sounds of Kolachi and Zoe Viccaji with Faisal Baig and Omran Shafique. The second segment consisted of pure electro music, courtesy Bilal Brohi and Faisal Baig.

A sitar performance officially started the show, mesmerising everyone in attendance. For about thirty minutes, Waqas Hussain — who has roots in the famous Senia gharana of music — gave you a shade of what he is capable of. The mood was now set. Amid the cheers and applause, Zoe showed up on the stage, crooning a cover of Adele’s Rolling in the Deep. The performance was decent at best but it sure gets your feet tapping. However, in contrast to absolutely astounding performance put up by every other artist involved, Viccaji’s segment seemed rather lackluster.

What followed was pure magic. The Sounds of Kolachi ensemble arrived on the stage, joined by Faraz Anwar on guitar and Gul Ahmed on sarangi. A fusion of rock and classical was played. Faraz and Omran impressed with their guitar solos, teleporting you back to the era of legendary musician Prince. The performance did exactly what was promised: it transcended you. For thirty minutes or so, you were neither here nor there; and yet you were.

You were because you felt it. The sound of the strings, the flute and the absolute madness of Ahsan Bari’s improvised alaap forced you into another dimension. He single-handedly brought a spiritual touch to the show, making the walls and the people around you disappear, transporting you to a quaint saint’s tomb where you are performing zikr and then, in a moment out of nowhere, you heard it. You felt it – a destruction of self - and then, there it was. You had achieved enlightenment.

The first segment ended, and with that, the main party. The mood shifted and it was time for some electro music. The beats by Baig and Brohi once again brought the audience to their feet. You could even see groups of people dancing like they had just arrived in a club.

All in all, while the concert had its highs and lows, it provided what it promised: a transcendent experience like no other. Kudos to Bari, Shafique and Anwar in particular, and Waqas Hussain, Gul Ahmed and Zulqarnain Haider, the flutist, who provided a unique ambient sound and a wonderful support. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2016.

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