Faisal Kapadia talks solo journey post-Strings, calls making his debut album an ‘addictive’ process

Singer got candid about his transition from ‘Strings way of making music’ to being under his own steam

After bidding farewell to the iconic rock band Strings in 2021, former frontman Faisal Kapadia has been making waves with his solo projects. With his debut album, Zindagi Jahaan Le Jaaye hitting all streaming platforms on February 2, the singer recently sat down with BBC Asian Network to discuss his foray into new musical endeavours.

Remarking on the joy of returning to the studio to make new music, Faisal shed light on his transition from the legendary Strings to his solo venture. “I was traveling and suddenly I got a call from Xulfi,” he recounted how a conversation with the composer and Coke Studio producer-mentor Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan, known as Xulfi, paved his return to music. 

Faisal furthered on, “He proposed this Phir Milenge collaboration. I thought twice, thrice that, ‘Hey, do I want to go back to music because, you know, I'm out and I'm really peacefully out.’” The 2022 track, made with the hip-hop duo Young Stunners, launched the singer into his solo career. 

 

 

 

 

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However, Phir Milenge turned out to be more than a stray instance, becoming a catalyst for Faisal’s new journey after Strings. His 2023 song Jaadu, featured on his album, was made in collaboration with Ahsan Pervaiz Mehdi before releasing as a single, his next after his Coke Studio track.

“Then I said, ‘You know what, I'll do a single.’ So I went to the studio and recorded Jaadu,” Faisal explained the process that led to the song’s genesis. “Jaadu is a very happy song. I was in a state of happiness, and that was so addictive, the whole process because it was something new for me.”

Contrasting the camaraderie of his former band with being under his own steam, he said, “Earlier, it was all Strings; we used to do it together. It was a Strings way of making music.” As per the musician, he “just kept on making, making, making” until he had eight tracks up his sleeve. “So, you know what, I need to go out and release the album,” he described his thoughts then.

Upon the album’s release, Faisal took to his IG handle with a heartfelt message.  “I am super excited. Finally, Zindagi Jahaan Le Jaaye is out and all yours,” he announced. Zindagi Jahaan Le Jaaye features eight tracks, including four solo songs and four collaborations, with Zoha Zuberi being one of the notable collaborators. 

Recounting the delightful process of making the record, Faisal expressed his hopes that it would be a similarly enjoyable experience for the listeners. “I hope you have more fun listening to this album than what I had when making it,” he added. The singer urged his audience to approach the album as a whole, stressing the track listing as a deliberate sequence for a more immersive experience.

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