Coke Studio 5: Move to the music

‘Coke Studio’ returns with season five.

Pakistan’s cherished music platform “Coke Studio” is back with a new season that will start from May 13 and will air right through the summer with a new episode every fortnight, states a press release.

Like its previous season, “Coke Studio 5” aims to focus on traditional eastern, modern western and regional music. This year featured artists will explore their heritage and play the cultural chord of their signature styles.

Moreover this season “Coke Studio” will be exploring and highlighting regional language songs and artists and will be introducing some gifted, yet virtually unknown young singers.

The upcoming season will also showcase the creative and intellectual rediscovery of artists who return to “Coke Studio” for a second time while the young artists will discover their traditional streak by incorporating parts of Sufi poetry and philosophy in their music.

Music maestro Rohail Hyatt is back at the helm as executive producer and he has chosen: Atif Aslam, Bilal Khan, Bohemia, Chakwalis, Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad, Hadiqa Kiyani, Humayun Khan, Meesha Shafi, Tahir Mithu, Overload, Qayaas, SYMT and Uzair Jaswal to feature on the show.

Hyatt has said, “Entering into our fifth season, we at ‘Coke Studio’ believe our journey continues to explore the wealth of talent and cultural diversity that we as a nation are blessed with.”

Season 5 also marks the return of the house-band with Asad Ahmed on guitar, Babar Ali Khanna on dholak, Javed Iqbal on violin, Kamran ‘Mannu’ Zafar on bass, Omran ‘Momo’ Shafique on guitar, Sikander Mufti on multi-percussions and Rachel and Zoe Viccaji on backing vocals. Joining the house band this season are two new talents: Farhad Humayun on drums and Mubashir Admani on keyboards.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2012.