Tag: Music

  • Khumariyaan welcomes Pakhtun vocalist Obaid Khan to the band

    Khumariyaan welcomes Pakhtun vocalist Obaid Khan to the band

    Khumariyaan recently took to Instagram to announce that they have added a new Pakhtun vocalist, Obaid Khan, to their music band. The news was met with support by many fans.

    In the same Instagram post, the band shared that they aim to include “languages of our land”, i.e. languages of Pakistan, in their music.

    Khumariyaan, known for being an instrumental band, was founded by rubab player Farhan ‘Bogey’ Bogra in 2005 and officially became a band in 2009. Bogra has always emphasised that the band belongs equally to all its members, each playing a vital role.

    The group includes Bogra on the rubab, Shiraz Khan on the zerbaghali, Sparlay Rawail on lead guitar, and Aamer Shafiq on rhythm guitar.

    Over the years, Khumariyaan has represented Pakistan at international platforms, including the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Texas.

    After over a decade of promoting music from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Bogra believes the band is ready to focus on promoting different languages.

    Obaid Khan, a 28-year-old artist and anthropologist, is the perfect fit because of his multi-lingual abilities.

    “Obaid has done his master’s in anthropology and has been singing and playing in KP for years. With him, we plan to promote Pashto, Kohistani, Hindko, and eventually even languages from Sindh and Punjab,” said Bogra.

  • From Tharparkar to Times Square: Mai Dhai’s journey celebrated on global stage

    From Tharparkar to Times Square: Mai Dhai’s journey celebrated on global stage

    Folk singer Mai Dhai, a renowned figure from the deserts of Tharparkar, has reached a new milestone by being featured on the iconic Times Square billboard in New York City.
    Times Square is well-known for its famous digital billboards and commercials, which include pictures of notable celebrities and a variety of well-known brands. It is acknowledged as one of the world’s busiest travel destinations. 
     
    Mai Dhai belongs to the Manganhar Muslim community, known for its rich musical heritage in Pakistan’s Tharparkar district and India’s Rajasthan state.
     
    Since her breakthrough appearance at the 2013 Lahooti Live Sessions, her unique look and soulful voice have captured the attention of audiences worldwide. With her appearances at the prestigious SXSW Music Festival in 2015 and the City University Graduate Centre in New York, Mai Dhai’s global profile increased even further.
     
    Dhai unexpectedly rose to fame in Pakistan in 2016 after making her Coke Studio season 8 debut and receiving critical acclaim for ‘Aankhaṛli Phaṛookai’ and ‘Kadi Ao Ni,’ which featured Karam Abbas Khan and Atif Aslam.
     
    The official account of Spotify Pakistan posted a picture of Mai Dhai with the captioned, #Koyal jaisi awaaz pohanchi seedha Times Square
    Listen to @MaiDhai_Official on the #EQUALPakistan playlist
      Another singer from Pakistan, Talal Qureshi, was featured on a Spotify billboard at Times Square in October 2023. Spotify promoted his album ‘Turbo’, showcasing his blend of contemporary techno sounds and traditional Pakistani music.

  • ‘I chose music over marriage’; Shazia Manzoor on staying single

    ‘I chose music over marriage’; Shazia Manzoor on staying single

    The queen of soulful singing, Shazia Manzoor, is back with a bang on our airwaves, belting out Coke Studio’s latest single ‘Turri Jandi’.

    The iconic singer ruled the music industry for years, but kept a low profile, choosing to mostly keep her private life away from the limelight.

    Which is why she has stunned fans with her candid confessions in a revealing interview with Sohail Warraich on Aik Din Geo Ke Saath.

    The veteran journalist asked her, “You are the only child of your parents. Why did you not get married?”
    Shazia replied, “I told my parents that I’ve decided not to get married, and it was a surprise to them.” She continued to say, “I believe an artist’s marriage is to their art. Those who love their profession often find their first love in it.”

    The crooner then said that she had dedicated herself to her career. “Perhaps I didn’t give marriage the attention it deserved during that time. I’m a human with my own desires and emotions, but circumstances didn’t allow my relationships to progress. However, I have no regrets about these choices.”
    Shazia Manzoor was formerly engaged to someone in her family, but the engagement ended when she began her singing career.

    She concluded, “I haven’t given up on the idea of marriage altogether. If I find the right person, I would definitely consider it.”

  • AR Rehman’s mother made a huge sacrifice for her son’s passion

    AR Rehman’s mother made a huge sacrifice for her son’s passion

    Indian musician AR Rahman has revealed that his mother sacrificed her jewelry to purchase his first musical instrument.In a recent interview with ‘Netflix India’ celebrating the success of their most recent project, Rahman revealed that he never attended college and felt like he was losing out on a lot at the time. He was speaking with the musical team of ‘Amar Singh Chamkila,’ which includes Imtiaz Ali, Mohit Chauhan, and Irshad Kamil.

    AR Rahman said, “I got bored, so I started listening to different things to see what else was out there. I found that side amazing with so much to explore.” Recalling his early struggles he said, “When I first set up my studio, I couldn’t afford an amplifier or equalizer. It was just a bare space with an air conditioner, a shelf, and a carpet. I had no equipment, but I was determined to make it work.”

    He also said “My first recorder came when my mom gave her jewels as a loan. That moment made me feel strong and changed my future.”

  • Coke Studio is coming back

    Coke Studio is coming back

    Coke Studio is coming back

    Coke Studio Pakistan is getting ready for its 15th season, set to premiere on April 14, 2024.

    The season is expected to showcase Pakistani music talent across different genres, continuing its tradition of innovation and cultural expression.

    While the lineup for Season 15 is still a secret, people are eagerly waiting to see the potential collaborations and talents it will feature. The show has a history of making emerging artists famous, which adds to the excitement about its upcoming season.

  • Sahir Ali Bagga calls Rahat Fateh Ali Khan a ‘hypocrite’ on Insta

    Sahir Ali Bagga calls Rahat Fateh Ali Khan a ‘hypocrite’ on Insta

    Sahir Ali Bagga is a musician who has been ruling the pakistani music industry for years. He is the man behind almost all the hit title songs of famous Pakistani dramas.
    Bagga has also composed songs for ghazal singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. They collaborated for many years, but lately, Bagga has openly criticized his former close friend, indicating that they are not on good terms now.

    The singer has shared a post on Instagram stating, “Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is the biggest hypocrite and a brutal person -Khuda ki lanat ho munafiq pe Rahat Fateh — Khan Darinda sift hone kay sath MUNAFIQ bhi hai”.

    Bagga did not make it clear what triggered his post.

    Take a look:

  • Anzela Abbasi is quitting acting

    Anzela Abbasi is quitting acting

    Anzela Abbasi is from one of the most talented families in entertainment. Her dad Shamoon Abbasi and mom Javeria Abbasi are big stars, and her aunt Anoushay Abbasi is also a famous actress. She herself tried acting, doing a few projects, but later she decided to focus more on modeling.

    Anzela hasn’t acted for a while, and people haven’t seen her on TV lately. But now, she’s getting ready to begin a music career. In an interview, she said she’s always dreamed of doing music, and now she’s finally following that dream. She explained why she left dramas and acting.

    Anzela explained that she’s not trying to change anything, it’s just that people don’t know her well. Being different doesn’t mean she’s bad, she said, acknowledging that her uniqueness can be hard for some to understand, but she’s okay with it.

    “Acting runs in the family, and I pursued it once I became an adult. While it was nice, it didn’t fully satisfy my artistic side. Pakistani dramas, for those who have watched them, often revolve around typical household issues and portray women in a derogatory manner. It didn’t resonate with the person I am. People started seeing me as just another actress from dramas, but in reality, I’m not. I’m a simple, soft-spoken person, and because I don’t do anything extravagant, I was labeled as plain and simple. I’m not like that. People who watch my dramas are surprised to see me speaking English on my Instagram because they have a different perception of me.”

  • Streaming giant Spotify adds music videos to output

    Streaming giant Spotify adds music videos to output

    Stockholm (AFP) – Music streaming giant Spotify on Wednesday announced it would be posting music videos on its platform in “select markets”, entering an arena long dominated by YouTube.

    “The beta version of music videos on Spotify begins rolling out today…,” the company said in a statement.

    It would release limited catalogue of hits from global artists such as Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, and Ice Spice, as well as local favourites, it added.

    Initially, the music videos will only be available to paying subscribers in the UK, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Brazil, Colombia,the Philippines, Indonesia, and Kenya.

    In early February, Spotify announced it had passed 600 million monthly users, of which 236 million were paying subscribers.

    Google’s streaming behemoth YouTube has long dominated music videos online, with much of the platform’s most-viewed content being music videos.

    Songs like Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito,” Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” and K-pop star Psy’s viral hit “Gangnam Style” each gathered several billion views.

    Spotify has invested heavily since its launch to fuel growth with expansions into new markets and, most recently, exclusive content such as podcasts.

  • Swifties swoon as Taylor Swift wins record fourth best album Grammy, beating Frank Sinatra

    Swifties swoon as Taylor Swift wins record fourth best album Grammy, beating Frank Sinatra

    Taylor Swift made Grammys history Sunday by winning her fourth Album of the Year prize, the most of any artist – the crowning moment of a night of electric performances and breakthrough wins.

    In taking home the honor at the 66th annual Grammys in Los Angeles, Swift surpassed the likes of Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder, industry greats she previously had been tied with.

    It’s a cherry on top for the 34-year-old, who is already one of music’s blockbuster stars.

    “For me, the award is the work,” Swift said, who earlier in the night announced she would drop a new album on April 19. “I love it so much.”

    “It makes me unbelievably blown away that it makes some people happy who voted for this award too.”

    Swift however lost two other top prizes she was up for.

  • Which music did Pakistanis listen to in 2023?

    Which music did Pakistanis listen to in 2023?

    Here are some of the songs and artists Pakistanis enjoyed in 2023:

    1.Kaifi Khalil

    The 27-year-old Kana Yaari singer was right at the top of the charts with his smash romantic melody ‘Mujhay Pyaar Hua’.

    Even though the track was released in 2022 and was the theme song for ARY Digital drama serial, Mujhe Pyar Hua Tha; it remained as one of the most listened tracks in 2023 and relieved recognition across and beyond Pakistan.

    He also released a new track in 2023 called Mansoob which has more than 4,700,000 listens on Spotify.

    2.Abdul Hannan

    In collaboration with Shahmeer Raza Khan, Abdul Hannan released an EP called Diya. Other singles included Raabta and Kehdena featuring Annural Khalid and ChillBazaar.

    However, his songs from the former year remained Pakistan’s favourite as Iraaday and Bikhra (both in collaboration with Rovalio) were among Spotify’s top tracks in Pakistan.

    3.Natasha Noorani

    The ever-talented Natasha Noorani released her debut LP, Ronaq, in 2023 – a groovy, electro vibe.

    4.Singers beyond borders

    Indo-Canadian, AP Dhillon’s With You charted among the most listened songs in Pakistan. This was not only because of its lyrics and vibe, but also because of its cute music video featuring the singer Banita Sandhu.

    Likewise, Shubh, Indian rapper-singer based in Canada, also took over the charts with his song, One Love. His album called Still Rollin featuring the famous song, Cheques, was also released.

    5.Hasan Raheem

    Our favourite, Hasan Raheem released his EP in September. Its track list includes the song, Wishes featuring Umair and Talwiinder – which everyone is vibing to these days!

    Most listened Pakistani songs:

    1. Wishes Hasan Raheem, Umair, Talha Anjum
    2. ‘Kahani Suno 2.0’ by Kaifi Khalil
    3. ‘Bikhra’ by Abdul Hannan, Rovalio
    4. 4.‘Sukoon’ by Hassan & Roshaan, Shae Gill
    5. Left Right by Ali Sethi, Abdullah Siddiqui, Maanu, Shae Gill
    6. 4U by Maanu