But it seems like AP Dhillon has seemingly debunked these rumors, with a pinned comment by the producer Rebbel below the ‘Without You’ music video which reads:
“This beat is not copied or stolen. It’s produced by me and AP Dhillon rightfully purchased this beat off me and now owns the exclusive rights. I’m grateful to have been part of this record.”
Aima Baig recently gave an interview to Dawn Images where she spoke about the creative process behind her new song ‘Funkari’. Speaking on how the the song was created, the singer revealed:
“It took us like three years to make this song and I’m not joking, I’m not kidding… and the reason why because the song was made but I was too scared to let a solo single out. Because in these past six years of my career, I have never released a solo track on which I had worked on my own day and night. I had never made a song like this. This is the first track where three years ago during Ramzan we had started writing this song together. Shakeel bhai, may he rest in peace, this was the last song he had written with me ‘Funkari’ and then after that he died.”
However, Pakistani singer and songwriter Shiraz Uppal took to Instagram to call out Baig for spreading misinformation, revealing that it was not Baig and Shakeel Sohail who wrote the song, but it was him, pointing out that Youtube credits mention him as the writer and composer of the song.
Taking to Instagram stories, Uppal slammed Images and Aima Baig for misquoting and spreading misinformation
“Recent statement given by Aima Baig to Dawn Images about the fact that she and (late) Shakeel Sohial has written a song Funkari, has been misquoted by her. She forgot to give due credit that already mentioned by Universal Music India in her youtube credits.”
Uppal pointed out that the late lyricist passed away six months prior to when the song was written, and had only written ‘Faraq Faraq” for Aima:
“Get your facts right lady. Shakeel Sohail passed away 6 months prior to writing this song and the last he co-wrote with me was another single for you named ‘Faraq Faraq’. So Funkari was written, composed and produced by me and you just came to sing it that only took three hours.
Dear dawn_images,- kindly double check facts before posting false statements.”
Federal Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Marriyum Aurangzeb, has released a statement announcing that Pakistan’s first music policy is being designed to help boost the industry and address issues like copyrights, pirating as well as artist rights.
According to Aaj news, Aurangzeb pointed out how Pakistani artists have suffered from theft of intellectual rights because of weak policy planning.
“Since the 1970s, no policy parameters, including legislative and administrative, for the music industry have been introduced,” the PMLN politician lamented in a statement. “The new policy will fully protect the copyright, which [will] help compose quality music for masses.”
Aurangzeb revealed that the music policy has been prepared according to international music law standards, and will address issues like piracy, copy rights as well as artists’ public performance, production , adaptation, duration and communication rights.
The rights of Pakistani singers, song writers, composers and producers will fall under this policy as Aurangzeb said that all issues and demands of music stakeholders, especially copyrights will be resolved.
Aurangzeb also stressed that the policy will work to protect classical musicians, as well as set up initiatives to promote more regional musicians by providing incentives. The policy will address how Pakistan’s musical legacy can be preserved as it is, “rich, being a unique combination of Sufi poetry, with classic and modern music”.
After the success of ‘Duur Se’, pop songwriting duo Hassan and Roshaan are set to release the video of their song ‘Bandhaan’ which features Quratulain Baloch. The video is set to release today, and will be directed by Saad Yratta from Yratta Media, who was also the director of ‘Sukoon’ featuring Shae Gill.
Speaking on the collaboration with the ‘Humsafar’ star, Hassan Sheikh from the singing duo said:
“We are thrilled about this collaboration with Quratulain Balouch, whose unique sound has been a true inspiration to us. Sharing the screen with her is an exhilarating experience.”
Yratta, who had previously been a wedding cinematographer, expressed his excitement about the project, stating:
“It is always fascinating to witness how people interpret visuals and reflect ongoing real-world conversations through abstract works of art. Similar to our previous collaboration, this video will be open to interpretation, allowing the artists to truly shine through.”
The music video will also feature Ahmed Randhawa, who is known for his role as Behram in the Hum TV drama ‘Agar’, as well as the actor and model Waqar Ali Zulfiqar, who starred in Ali Sethi’s ‘Chandni Raat’ music video. An ensemble of performers from the LUMS Dance Society, will also be gracing their pressence in the video.
On March 25, 2021, Strings announced that after a successful run for 33 years, they had decided to break up the band, with members Faisal Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood going their separate ways.
The decision broke hearts across the subcontinent, as fans grappled with the end of the band they had grown up listening to.
Now, Bilal Maqsood has opened up about why the decision to end ‘Strings’ was difficult but necessary. He said that because both him and Kapadia wanted to end the band with good memories rather than being cast out of the limelight with disgrace:
“We were incredibly happy to end ‘Strings’ because the respect we wanted our band to have was our top priority. Both of us had discussed prior to our announcement that if we would ever end the band, we’ll do it at the peak of our career, rather than dragging it on to a point that people beg us to leave and retire.”
Maqsood made a reference to other members of the sports and music industry, especially senior officials who grow vastly unpopular with audiences because of their denial of the fact that they could lose their fanbase
“We had noticed this with the sports and music industry, with senior officials who remain in a sort of denial that they could never be unpopular, and since they’ve been here longer they deserve respect from the public. We never wanted ‘Strings’ to go out of the public this way, so we decided that it’s best to end this before that happens. Lockdown provided us with the perfect opportunity because that’s when things began to stagnate, concerts weren’t happening so it was a good opportunity to end with good memories with our fans.”
Maqsood went on to thank the fans who had kept the band popular for 33 years since they began and promised that even though they had gone on their separate ways, he will have a lot of respect for Faisal Kapadia and wished him the best of luck with everything in his life.
Maqsood also assured his fans that he was still making more music, and soon they will see other projects that he is working on come to light.
Aurat March is a day of calling attention to the struggle for equality, as women march on the streets in cities across Pakistan to raise awareness about the numerous issues they face everyday. In spirit of this celebration, we have to pay homage to the powerful feminist anthems that have championed women to be fearless and have called for women to be raised to an equal bar with men. When this twitter user asked her followers to give suggestions about Pakistani feminist songs women could listen to in celebration of the day.
Soon, women flooded her comment section with suggestions and we’re more than happy to share them with our audience!
1 Hum Dekhien Gey by Iqbal Bano
The celebrated poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz was written to counter Zia’s brutal dictatorship who had imprisoned Faiz. Legendary singer Iqbal Bano held a performance at Alhamra where she wore a black sari and sung this poem in defiance of Zia’s ban on saris.
2 Mujhe Apnay Jeenay Ka Haq Chahiye by Tahira Syed and Roshaneh Zafar ft Shabana Azmi
Written by celebrated Urdu poet and writer Amjad Islam Amjad, this song served as the title OST for the drama ‘Akhri Station’. It gives voice to the struggles women face and their desire to break free from the chains of patriarchy.
3 Intehai Shauq by Hadiqa Kiani
Hadiqa Kiani is a beloved Pakistani actress and singer who has consistently acted in dramas that raised issues faced by women, and for her efforts to provide relief to the flood victims in Balochistan. This song was suggested by women on Twitter because it motivates people to overcome their struggles and setbacks to keep striving for a better future.
4 Rajkumari by Meesha Shafi
Actress and singer Meesha Shafi has always used her platform to raise awareness about sexual harassment, and providing easier access for women to file cases in court and hold their abusers accountable. Last year, she dropped this feminist anthem as a surprise, to champion women from everyday life to never forget that they’re queens!
5 Izzat by Jaan-e-Haseena
Hussain Zaidi who goes by ‘Jaan-e-Haseena’ on social media, is a transgender rapper who wrote this powerful anthem for the Sindh Moorat March, to demand spaces for more trans women in Pakistan.
6 Chup by Zeb & Haniya
Fans have loved the way female desire and playfulness is the central theme to the song, so this is a must add in our feminist playlist!
Pakistani singer Kaifi Khalil has thanked his fans for their support and love after his hit single ‘Kahani Suno 2.0’ became one of the Top 10 most watched global music videos. The ‘Kana Yaari’ star wrote in a tweet on Sunday,
“Thank you Allah Taala & Thank you so much all for your pure love and support lots of love and prayers for my all fans main humesha shukr guzaar rahunga or humesha koshish karunga ap sub k liye k humesha liktha rahun jo main mehsos karta hon ap sub k liye Love you all my broken homies ”
Music producer Xulfi, who had produced Khalil’s Coke Studio hit ‘Kana Yaari’, also congratulated the singer, praising him for making the hit song on his own without any music label’s help.
“Kahani Suno 2.0 reaches the Global Top Ten! Wah! What a news for all of us!
This is probably one of the biggest achievements for a song and artist on the global stage in recent times for Pakistan. Kahani Suno 2.0 by Kaifi Khalil right now sits at no.8 on the @youtube Global Music Video Charts. The first song in Pakistan to ever do that. Others in the top include Rema and Selena with Calm Down, Shakira and Miley Cyrus and also a recent Latin hit Que Vuelvas. Also, there are Blackpink, Rihanna, Ozuna, Arijit outside the top ten. Just look at the company Kaifi is with in the charts!
This is a humble guy from Lyari making music for the love of it. Expressing for the love of it. Expressing authentically without any layers. Sitting in his small studio space, creating while learning the ins and outs of music production and recording.. collaborating with others from Lyari only for audio engineering as well. And just like that, he brewed Kahani Suno. An independent artist releasing a song independently without any labels. What’s a more heartwarming and amazing belief story in recent times. I can’t think of one.
I want to tell all of you that this is possible for all the artists. We have seen Pakistani music, with and without platforms, reaching global charts now in the recent past. The gate is open. The world is listening. The world wants to know our stories. Our unique stories with our unique narratives, textures, ideas and melodies. Just one thought – just try baking all of this in humility. It will have the universe’s blessing then.
@kaifikhalilmusic – MashAllah. Jeete raho and aisay hee sacchay expressionist raho. Saari Dunya mein perform karte raho aur hamesha seekhte raho. Ye sub bhee ek aur shuruaat hee hai apke liye ✨♥️”
Celebrated singer Britney Spears made Desi followers blissful when she shared an Instagram reel of a button dosa preparation made by an influencer. The video had the favored music Pasoori within the background. Followers have been overjoyed to see the put up and flooded the video with feedback, saying that it was ‘satisfying to observe’. The music Pasoori has been sung by Ali Sethi and Shae Gill.
Zulfiqar Jabbar a.k.a Xulfi expressed his gratitude on the transnational popularity of his song as he is heading the coke studio 14 this year.
Indian Comedian Varun Grover took to Instagram and shared the video on his Tales with the caption, “Britney Spears making Button dosa to the music of Pasoori is the type of international citizen liberals need.”
Music Composer and Music Producer Abdullah Siddiqui has already made his name that one cannot deny that he has achieved a lot at such a young age. The young music expert has recently broken down the Pakistan Super League (PSL) anthem Agay Dekh for Spotify, giving us a look into his journey of producing the masterpiece.
Abdullah, who is assisting Xulfi (Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan) in the 14th season of Coke Studio, worked on the PSL anthem sung by singers Atif Aslam and Aima Baig.
“When I knew I was going to be doing this anthem, I knew that the first thing I wanted to make sure [of was] it had a dance beat because these anthems normally don’t have dance beats and I love a good club beat. It has more of a dance hall pattern,” the electropop prodigy explained on Spotify’s “How To Sound Like Me” feature.
Siddiqui said he found a trumpet loop that sounded “instantly super catchy” so he added that to the mix. “Then I decided that it needed a lot of crowd sounds so there are all these samples of crowds clapping and chanting, it’s like the ambiance of a stadium. When you put all of that together, it kind of feels like the foundation for the song.”
He mentioned another instrument that played a big part in the music. “There are also these very big cinematic drums.” He said they also had “vocals that are very tightly treated, like very crisp pop vocals”. “There are some synths happening and I kept building and building just to add more intensity because I felt like this song needed to be super intense and upbeat.”
Siddiqui first gained national fame with his Nescafé Basement original Resistance, and later his super hit Kingdom for Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 6 last year. The song was Zalmi’s official anthem.
Singer Aima Baig, during a concert schooled a man for misbehaving with her, the video has gone viral on social media. A front-row concert attendee misbehaved with the Sajna Door crooner. The singer did not shy away from expressing her anger over the boy.
“Go at the back,” said the Do Bol diva said to him angrily.
“If you guys misbehave, I’ll go back…”
“Because of one person like him, everything gets ruined for everybody else who’s here to enjoy,” added Aima.
The audience apologised to Aima, she then continued her singing.
