'We're starting from memory and emotion': Hasan Fancy and Maha Ali Kazmi on reviving classics

Duo's collaboration began with chance Instagram story, has grown into mission to preserve South Asian musical heritage

From doing renditions of classic songs like Mera Pyaar as a spur-of-the-moment thing, Hassan Fancy and Maha Ali Kazmi's collaboration has come a long way and for a reason we can all connect to: music.

 

 

 

 

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Speaking to The Express Tribune, Hasan discussed his music journey. The musician, who says he lives with music, noted that he sees it not in a boxed form but as a personal opening that has shown him how to live. “Music is in my blood. I hear it everywhere,” he said.

Maha Ali Kazmi

Hasan Fancy

Just as most people find it as a form of escape, Hasan finds music as a way to express himself. Whether it’s someone playing something or creating something entirely new, he takes it as an opening, leading to a jam session or a collaboration.

This is how he first interacted with Maha. Hasan opened up about their first interaction, where he heard Maha sing on his friend’s Instagram story and was moved by her raw, unprocessed vocals singing his friend Amir Zaki’s song Mera Pyaar.

“I asked to be connected with her and requested a raw vocal so I could build something around it. I tested them, and it just clicked,” Hasan said, adding that Maha's voice was exactly the kind of emotion he resonated with, “very effortless, very real.” According to him, from the very first session, their music felt aligned.

 

 

 

 

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Hasan's sound, he said, comes from travelling. “I listen to musicians and music across different cultures, which shapes how I approach sound,” he noted. He added that, over time, listening to music and remixing his own sounds helped him develop a footing in production and sound design.

For him, what matters is not how the music sounds but the story it tells and how the track is shaped around it. Discussing his collaboration with Maha, Hasan revealed that it was not planned as a series. The idea just grew from the first realisation, Hasan said, adding that this opened doors for the two to blend modern sound with original tracks.

 

 

 

 

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He also shared that there isn’t any set formula to this; “It’s instinct. There’s no formula, no planning.”

Hasan elaborated, though, that there is something deeper at work: the feel of a song when you sit quietly. It hits you out of nowhere, he said, an emotional depth where you know you can genuinely add something new to it. “That’s when I know it’s worth revisiting,” he noted.

 

 

 

 

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When asked about what inspires the idea of revisiting classics, Hasan was very clear: he wanted to create something powerful that already resides with people. “Instead of starting from zero, we’re starting from memory and emotion,” he said. This process, with Maha, Hasan said was enjoyable. “She brings a very pure, emotive vocal energy. From there, it became less about making songs and more about expressing something familiar,” he noted.

 

 

 

 

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The idea, according to Hasan, isn't to remake but to feel the music in today’s sound. Discussing the reasoning behind his choice of songs like Mera Pyar, Chura Liya, Ajnabi, and Sochta Hoon, the musician noted that it is the meaning behind the lyrics that stands out to him. He also added that, “A lot of these classics are slowly fading out with time, and the newer generation is missing out on what real music feels like.”

Saying that music should be about substance, soul, and honesty, Hasan explained that, as an audiophile, he wanted to hear these emotions in today’s sound “in a way that hits even deeper now.” According to him, that’s the driving force. “That’s what I’m building, not just something catchy, but something that feels right.”

 

 

 

 

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Moving forward, Hasan gave insight into his reinvention process, saying it’s all about respect: “Respect first, innovation second.” He added that he doesn’t want to overpower or reinterpret the vocal style too much, risking it losing its originality.

Instead, he wants to keep the delivery as close to the original artist’s sound as possible, without changing the intended rhythm, phrasing, emotion, or style.

 

 

 

 

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Regarding what influenced his sound, Hasan shared that he has a mixed affiliation with different kinds of music. “South Asian legends, global electronic and house music, African influences, classic rock, heavy metal, grunge, funk, soul, R&B, Caribbean sounds,” were some he listed as his source of inspiration.

Apart from his work in musical reinvention, Hasan opened up about his evolution as an artist, sharing that his approach is simple: “By not getting comfortable. The moment something feels repetitive, I shift.” He noted that he enjoys exploring new mediums, styles, and techniques.

 

 

 

 

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His original work, he said, carries his raw emotions; what he felt in different phases of life poured out through his music. “It’s raw, it’s real, and it comes in different forms,” he said, adding that the sound ranges from bass-heavy house tracks to more laid-back sounds, also delving into grunge and heavy metal, covering a range of genres.

Discussing his musical method, Hasan shared that he likes to work with both hardware and software, some high-end, some very standard, layering sounds and mixing beats. Revealing that he plays strings as well, including bass, sitar, guitar, and other experimental instruments, he stated, “that process is what gives the music its unique identity.”

Although some of his upcoming original work is in the pipeline, with many projects out for copywriting and licensing, the pieces that have been approved are up on his Spotify and YouTube pages.

 

 

 

 

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Regarding motivation, the musician said it’s the reaction, the connection with a track, which means everything to him. “That’s fuel,” he said. Creativity, meanwhile, is expression; “if someone feels it and connects with it, it means I’ve been heard. That’s enough,” the musician noted.

 

 

 

 

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Further, Hasan revealed that his musical journey is set to expand. He elaborated that he has been collaborating with artists from Africa, France, and Pakistan, planning to build new directions that challenge different sonic spaces.

Sharing an insight into this, he revealed that he is reworking Nazia Hassan’s Boom Boom with a French twist, making it more suited for play in European spaces while keeping the essence intact. “I want the world to hear what came out of our part of the world,” he said.

 

 

 

 

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In his latest collaboration with Maha on Chura Liya, originally sung by Asha Bhosle, Hasan shared that the song was in production for a week when news of Bhosle's passing came. “We completed what we had and released it as a tribute on the same day,” Hasan said.

He also shared insight into Maha’s own journey as a multi-talented individual making waves through her voice but also expressing herself strongly in classical Kathak.

 

 

 

 

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Praising her work, Hasan said Maha has a long trajectory ahead of her in the music industry. Working with her was an absolute pleasure, he said. Maha shared the same sentiment; “Working with Hasan has been a very organic and creatively fulfilling experience.”

She supported Hasan’s ability to create something familiar while giving it a fresh, modern identity, all while preserving its soul. Maha also shared that she holds deep respect for Hasan’s work; his natural understanding of emotion and sound, which she said made their musical journey easy and seamless.

Regarding their collaboration, she said it allowed them to explore a space that felt both nostalgic and new, expressing her excitement about what the future holds for the duo.