Keeping a band intact is a huge, huge task: Strings

Judges Faisal Kapadia, Bilal Maqsood talk new season of ‘Battle of the Bands’ and what they hope to change with it

KARACHI: The stage is set. The judges, musicians and instruments are all ready. Battle of the Bands is soon going to be returning to our television screens with its much-awaited fourth installment and a new host in tow: Ali Safina.

As the judges are preparing themselves for the upcoming season, The Express Tribune sat down with Strings to get the lowdown on what the audience can expect from the super hit reality show this year.

"First of all, let us just say we are extremely excited to be returning for another season," said the duo of Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia. "It is amazing to be a part of this platform through which we get to know so many new musicians. We won't call it underground bands but this show helps us know what's happening ‘out there’."

Last year's host Ayesha Omar. PHOTO:FILE

Reminiscing about their own journey in the Pakistani music industry, the Dhaani hit makers revealed how they used to keep a keen eye on the bands that were famous back in the day. "When we were growing up, we knew everyone who was making music, who was trying to make it big, who was trying to go mainstream," they said. "But the thing is, it has been so many years and there are so many new layers to Pakistani music that we weren't aware of before. We perform on stage but we don't really get to experience or consume this new music."

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The former Coke Studio producers added, "Our job is to listen to these new musicians and these new bands and we love it! We are really enjoying this process. But as veterans, as people who have spent over 30 years in this industry, there's a certain sense of responsibility as well. Whatever we can pass on to newcomers will be a great exchange. Meeting the bands, getting to know them, learning from them - it's a two way street. They have open access to the judges at all times."

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The band went on to share how Pakistani music has been lacking in band culture of late. "There was a wave that we have seen in the 2000s and the 90s. In early 90s, when we were starting out, there were so many bands like Vital Signs, Barbarian, Final Cut, Wet Metal, Jupitar, Milestone and others. That scenario is no more," Strings remarked. "Of course, there are so many hurdles as well. Keeping a band intact is a huge, huge task. There's no formula on how to do it. Bands break up the world over. It's very difficult in Pakistan to leave everything and just focus on music. Hence, it becomes harder for musicians themselves to progress."

They continued, "We hope that with more seasons of Battle of the Bands, they will get an incentive and more and more bands will try and work on their careers. We hope it serves as a motivating platform. Once they win, they'd realise at least we have a startup. Of course, there is a lot that has to be done but Battle of the Bands would serve as a starting point."

PHOTO:FILE

Asked how the show has changed their perception of bands in general, the Duur crooners replied, "It hasn't changed a lot. Every band has a signature sound which we don’t try to change. As far as how it has changed us as a band, there's actually a lot going on right now. We have a new album and a new track coming out. We don't feel we’re 30 years old."

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