A unique blend of music and melancholy

Club Caramel’s new single ‘Terey Bin’ deals with the difficulty of separation.

LAHORE:

Club Caramel’s latest single “Teray Bin”, which was released on October 3, shifts gears from the band’s up-tempo sound to provide a dark and Victorian-sounding song that will definitely strike a chord with listeners.

Known primarily as a cover band, Club Caramel has had a significant impact on the music scene through their self-organised electrifying concerts. By bringing an edgy and New Age sound, they have raised the creative bar for many artists. The band, formed in 2007, aims to have performed at a 100 concerts by the end of this year.

With plans to expand its presence, the latest single shows a different side to the band’s musical prowess. The track is also the first lyrical attempt of Club Caramel’s lead guitarist and occasional vocalist Adnan Sarwar, whose contribution to Pakistan’s overall entertainment and sports culture can’t be ignored — he currently runs and heads two different companies: Racing Pakistan, a motorsports events company, and Oxygen Entertainment.

“A lot of people and bands go to someone else for lyrics, but I have penned ‘Terey Bin’ from a to z,” beams Sarwar. “I wanted to share my stories, and I think song writing is about exposing oneself to emotional pain and sharing some of life’s experiences through songs.”

Following the release of their debut single “Zindagi”, “Teray Bin” tries to explore a different set of complex emotions that one feels when separated from a loved one. The band which includes frontwoman Kiran Chaudhry, who brought forth the idea of exploring a Gothic, melodramatic theme, wanted to branch away from the typical love song pattern. Chaudhry, tried to explore the complexities of relationship while also trying to break through the gender stereotypes associated with women.

“This is not an ordinary love song; it’s kind of strange,” says Chaudhry. “It’s about female who is looking to make things right and regain her power.” The song showcases the vocals of Chaudhry in a dynamic vocal range which includes dark raag-styled humming. Acoustic sounds, that seem to have a hint of middle-eastern music, complement the singer’s vocals perfectly. In a nutshell, “Terey Bin” takes the listener on a journey, which is melancholic but hopeful at the same time.

Instrumentally, the band has attempted to maintain the essence of its musical identity which is to be unpredictable with sound. The emphasis on uniqueness of Club Caramel doesn’t end on music, as the band itself is an odd mix of professionals. Sarwar is a qualified doctor who has worked in Australia, has pioneered in car racing and has studied music from ballad singer Meekal Hassan. On the other hand, Chaudhry is and Oxford-graduate, who left a potentially lucrative career as a barrister in England to pursue her dream as a singer. “Sacrificing for that gift is what really matters, and we should keep doing this till we start valuing greatness over mediocrity,” says Chaudhry.

Both band members feel that the future of the music industry will depend on how well musicians are able to connect with their audiences, and have concluded that currently singles are what sell and they will continue to release original songs every two-three months.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2011.