From streets to studio: Patari to promote unsung Pakistani talent with project Tabeer

KARACHI: We often see videos of street hawkers, students or sweepers showcase their untapped talent by singing a popular tune. Saania and Muqqadas Tabaydar became known as 'Justin Bibis' after a video of them covering Justin Bieber’s Baby took social media by storm. Similarly, there are many others waiting for an opportunity to show what Pakistanis are made of.

Interestingly, the idea aligns with music steaming platform Patari’s agenda. Their latest project, Tabeer, brings together six unknown names from different parts of the country and pairs them with six well-known producers.

“It all started when I was in Islamabad and an office sweeper named Nazar approached me,” Project head Ahmer Naqvi told The Express Tribune. “He said he had heard I was involved in music and wanted to speak for a few minutes. He sang a song, and then we moved on.”



It wasn’t until Patari owner Khalid Bajwa met a Pakistani expat in New York that the project kicked off. “He was there to receive an award for Patari and met Fawzia Naqvi, who’s been involved in banking and investment sector but is deeply engaged with Pakistan’s civil society, helping young people realise their objectives. Her $8000 investment brought Tabeer to life.”

It took eight months to scout and gather the artists, pair them with producers and record the songs. Nazar finally got his opportunity as he paired with music producer Farhan Zameer. “Besides him, I met this rapper from Lyari who raps about the area’s footballers and Balochs. We have paired him up with Dinoman.” said Naqvi.

Lahore-based electronic music band SomeWhatSuper found a domestic worker from rural Sindh and brought him on board. Jahangir, the kid from Rohri who gained popularity in 2015 after his video singing Chitta Chola went viral, was given the chance to work with Abbas Ali Khan. A singer from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, named Malala was paired with Danish Khwaja, while some folk musicians from rural Sindh collaborated with Saif Samejo from The Sketches.



But it isn’t enough to have them release one song. Many talented individuals disappear and are only remembered as one-hit wonders. With their 15 minutes of fame over, they go back to obscurity. Naqvi said, “The whole idea is to have them produce a second song and get them to perform live as we slowly continue to build an ecosystem for music in Pakistan.”

He added Patari was trying to show the industry a new business model. “The best way to sustain it is to facilitate artists and leave the creative calls up to them. It is beneficial for everybody to trust them. The idea is to put music first.”



When asked if giving opportunities to untrained artists just because someone went viral or belonged to a less privileged background was fair, Naqvi said, “Many artists go viral on the internet. Some are picked up for advertisements, or if they’re lucky, by Coke Studio or Nescafe Basement. But that’s the limit. We think there is a place for everyone in the industry. We just need to bring them to the fore.”

The first song from project Tabeer will release online over the weekend.

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