Nescafé Basement's new season seems to put Pakistani music back on track

Season 5 of the show opened with two spectacular tracks

KARACHI: Nescafé Basement is back with its fifth installment and we can't contain our excitement! The show promises to bring forth the best of Pakistan's young and raw talent. Season 5 encompasses 73 artists from different fields and genres and we can't wait to see how it will unfold.

The first episode of the show was released on Friday. It featured only two songs and may we say, they turned out to be some of the best work of Pakistani music in a long time.

With a few surprises, Xulfi revealed two tracks, Bol Hu and Mehbooba. The songs were well received by audiences and rightfully so!

'Bol Hu':

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The first composition of the season was Bol Hu. Orchestrated by Xulfi and Soch - The Band, that has now become Nescafe's constant, the track is sung by the band itself and the latest addition to the plethora of young talent: Eight-year-old Hadia Hashmi. Needless to say, people are in awe of this fifth grader's singing prowess!

"The Bol Hu track on Nescafé Basement is just epic. Wah, wah, wah! Zulfiqar and Soch - the band," known actor-writer Vasay Chaudhry wrote on Twitter. "The arrangement, the build ups, what an opening to the new season. And that kid, Syeda Hadia Hashmi! Masha Allah. What range! Crazy, crazy stuff."


When inquired how the former EP guitarist crossed paths with Hadiya, Xulfi commented, "February 2018. I discovered a free of cost academy for kids who want to learn music and don’t have the resources to do it. Discovering new talent is what the universe wants from me. I auditioned Hadia in October. In tears, I decided that day that I’ll make the world witness her talent."

And, he kept good on his promise! Hadia is the latest gem from Nescafe and we wish to see so much more of her.

'Mehbooba':

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One would think the world would have gotten over the renditions of classic songs after the infamous Ko Ko Korina debacle (or atleast, we hoped so). But this season follows a rendition on Haroon's famous song Mehbooba. We are absolutely loving it!

Not taking it too far, Xulfi puts just enough spin on the 2002 hit. Contrary to other covers we've heard in recent times, Nescafe Basement's Mahbooba ticks all the right boxes.

"I LOVED this version of my song Mahbooba," Haroon himself lauded the rework of his hit. "A very intricate, polished and huge sounding production by Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan - Xulfi. Congratulations to Xulfi and the Nescafe Basement team. My original was launched in 2002 and this excellent version comes 16.5 years after the original. Time flies."

A Twitter user posted, "I hardly like remakes but Mehbooba from Nescafe Basement 5 is surely one of my favourite remakes. Better than the original I would say."

Another teen artist we were really pleased to see was 13-year-old Sinnan! The world is on the road to witness some hardcore Pakistani talent. All credit goes to Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan for having a vision this deep to create such master pieces.

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