Fables of Cantt are ready for the finals!
After receiving global acclaim for their debut album Let’s Pretend, Dubai-based Pakistani band Fables of Cantt has successfully developed a large fan base.
The alternative rock group is currently competing in the Street to Stage regional music competition organised by the Rolling Stone Middle East magazine. After being shortlisted to the best 15 and then screened out to be part of the top eight, the band has made it to the fourth and final round of the competition.
“We’re down to the final five of our Street to Stage competition. All contenders will get their shot at the Hard Rock Café on October 15,” read a post on the magazine’s Facebook page. The winner will earn the opportunity of signing a major record deal with Sony Music Middle East.
“The idea is that the band with the most votes per round, will perform live in front of a panel of judges and the winner will possibly get signed on for a record deal with Sony,” said Nabil Qizilbash, the brainchild and vocalist of the band. “The response has been great, particularly from listeners based outside Pakistan. I’m happy we have fans from the US as well as UAE and India — it’s a small group but we’re happy.”
Speaking of the initial phases of the contest, Qizilbash disclosed that once they were selected, the organiser mailed them a pocket camcorder — a device the band would have to use to shoot their music video. “The idea of shooting a video with limited resources brought to life a situation where creativity was the only way forward — a fun challenge,” he said, adding that it was the most interesting aspect of the competition.
“The filming process has been a lot of fun as well. We had the opportunity of collaborating with a director — for three of our songs ‘Forever’, ‘Wait’ and ‘Something on Your Mind’ — as well as shoot our own footage for an upcoming track ‘Believe’.”
The band
The band has a unique appeal primarily because of its diverse history and roots — Qizilbash himself is from Lahore but is based in UAE. The band includes German drummer Thomas Mielenz along with Qizilbash’s wife Zara Mahmoud and the talented Afaq Ahmed. Their debut album Let’s Pretend, which was released in November 2011, was written and produced in three different locations — California, Dubai and Pakistan.
The name of the band is of high significance for Qizilbash as well. He developed an interest in music in the ‘90s when he was in Pakistan. “Cantt is where my home in Pakistan is located,” he said. “This was the only way to convince myself that I hadn’t completely abandoned my culture and space which contributed significantly towards my identity, as I have been living abroad and singing songs in English.”
Furthermore, he elaborated on how the music scene in Dubai varies from that in Pakistan. “One of the biggest differences is that you have a lot more variety and choice here. If I ask someone to come and watch our band perform, they say: ‘Sorry, but Coldplay is playing tonight,” he humourously added. “However in terms of talent and ‘a movement’, I would say that Pakistan’s music industry is doing really well currently and there isn’t much they could learn from UAE’s music scene.”
In terms of future plans, the band plans to use the popularity they have already gained and work on a sophomore album. With intentions to release the album in mid 2013, they plan to start recording in March — six songs have already been shortlisted and ready for recording. “We’re going to work much harder to create something that is worth everyone’s attention,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2012.
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