Laal's Shahram returns with 'Banbaas: Exile in Wilderness'

Shahram Azhar, former frontman of Lahore-based band Laal, is back with a powerful announcement that will excite fans and music lovers alike. In a heartfelt post on Facebook, Shahram revealed that the first song from his long-awaited ghazal album Banbaas: Exile in Wilderness will be released this week, timed perfectly to coincide with the birthday of the legendary poet-philosopher Jaun Elia.

The song is a tribute to Elia, whose poetry became a companion to Shahram during his personal journey of exile and self-reflection.

Addressing the many questions that fans have had about his absence, the singer-activist opened up, saying, "Over the years, friends, fans, and Urdu poetry lovers have asked me numerous questions about my absence: why did you stop singing? Have you stopped making music altogether? What happened with Laal? What happened after Umeede Sahar?"

Umeede Sahar was the group's debut album, released in 2009, by Shahram along with Taimur Rahman, Mahvash Waqar, and Haider Rahman. Laal began as a politically concious band dedicated to making socialist and progressive songs. However, Shahram parted ways after Umeede Sahar citing irreconcilable issues with Rahman.

Elaborating further on his hiatus, the singer-activist clarified that he did not lose his passion for music but made a conscious decision to step away from the spotlight. "Music, for me, was never about personal fame or self-aggrandisement; it was always a spiritual service emanating from the soul, with the hope— for it can only be a hope at best— of lessening the burden of life on other souls," Shahram penned in the long Facebook post.

"I never stopped making music, or singing; over the years, I have composed hundreds of Ghazals and Nazms. These will be released in upcoming months and years." Banbaas, the album at the heart of his return, reflects a decade of deep introspection and philosophical exploration, guided by the poetry of Jaun Elia and the psychoanalytic theories of Jacques Lacan. Shahram also reflected critically on his past work, particularly the limitations of the progressive movement, stating, "Umeede Sahar, and indeed the official progressive writers' tradition that led to it, never fully appreciated the subjective element of material life."

The first ghazal from Banbaas, set to premiere on December 14, features the haunting flute of Ustad Baqir Abbas and the soulful violin of Ustad Raees Ahmed. He hopes this song will offer "catharsis to all the lost souls."