I’m trying to bring the vibe of the music I grew up with to Battle of the Bands: Fawad Khan

Singer-actor gets ‘The Express Tribune’ up to speed on his plans for the new season of ‘Battle of the Bands’

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

As the judges were preparing themselves for the upcoming season, The Express Tribune sat down with none other than Fawad Khan to get the lowdown on what the audience can expect from the super hit reality show this year.

“New bands, new sounds,” the singer-turned-actor replied. “There are some really interesting ensembles this time around, and a variety of acts. I'd be giving away surprises if I elaborate on them so, let's just leave it at that.”

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Back in 2017, for season two, Fawad brought his former band Entity Paradigm (EP) back together for a special appearance on Battle of the Bands. The iconic rockers played their super hit Hamesha and after that, Fawad didn’t grace the stage until last year, when he performed Satrangi. What are his plans for this season?

“I’m just trying to bring the vibe of the music I grew up listening to and have wanted to make for a very long time now,” he said. “Synth-based electronic meets industrial or rock. The track we tried executing this time is just a step in that direction. It's going to evolve more with time but after a long period, I'm excited and sure about the kind of sound I want.”

PHOTO:FILE

According to the Khoobsurat star, Battle of the Bands works because it does not force the competing bands to sound like something they are not. “What you see and hear is what you get,” Fawad claimed, when asked about the same. “Critique, when given, is to further improve what they are already attempting. Battle of the Bands just introduces the musicians to the audience, letting them artist do as they please.”



And for Fawad, that is the most liberating feeling. “You get to do what you want. Sure, the format is such that competitors are knocked out as it progresses but that's just the nature of the show. However, let's not forget that at the same time, they are playing for an audience on a popular music platform that they may or may not have had the chance to see otherwise.”

So does the national heartthrob promise this season of Battle of the Bands will be different? “It always is,” said Fawad. “With the exception of a few bands that return, and that too in most cases having changed a lot, you always get something new and fresh every time.”

Season four of Battle of the Bands will commence on June 29.

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