Watch Sajjad Ali in an interview and as incomplete as it would’ve been without his singing, he did sign a few lines in his effortless style.
Highlight has to be his wise words especially at the end! ” There are also certain things, which you are NOT supposed to do” – golden words.
Take a look below as Sajjad sings “chal rein day”.
Thank You Mr. Sajjad for the opportunity !
Dark, stormy weather – the gloom that separates, this is the opening sequences of Overloads’ new video “Ankahi”.
The build-up for the video was handled quite well, with half a dozen video and a truckload of pictorial teasers released throughout a period of about two weeks from the initial announcement. Overload really pulled peoples wait and got people to notice. The proof is that within one day of it’s release the video has passed 5000 views.
The video also marks a first appearance of top actor from Pakistan’s top list of actors Nadeem in a music video.
The feudal system that successfully creates divides among people who share common values and belong to the same piece of land. Words that don’t get expressed because people are engrossed in distancing themselves from one another. Lack of tolerance, gaining control over what one has and overpowering those less powerful. There are two major moods in the video symbolically linked with the weather. The first, thunderous and unstable one, matters are worsened with uncontrollable factors. The changing of visuals between being tied up, stuck in spot, struggle and lack of harmony. Alongside, there is change happening and sometimes we just need someone to show us the right path.
The video again marks social commentary which is a common theme among artists now a days, all appreciation is for artists who still manage to come up with creative work despite the appalling conditions that surround them.
Emotive
Farhad’s singing has angst, softness, hope and desire matching the theme of the song.Very emotively sung. The treatment of the melody is that of 80’s rock anthem with the western instrumentation abetting in the recreation. The clarinet captures the essence of sadness and regaining of hope towards the end rather well.
The modern poetry penned by Tahir also like the video has social change as the theme. The words in Ankahi also lay the bricks in what is becoming a musical determinant to beating stereotypes and opening mindsets, if only listeners can learn.
Looks wise- it has been stylized well- with the rescuers peace boats getting a different wardrobe represented with white the color of peace.
This is a band which has made a niche of its own and is coming out with work that is both audibly and visually appealing.
The second mood, ( I didn’t forget) is of spring, the bloom, addition of colors a fresh start with everyone standing together. The color fill at the end of the black and white video adds much needed positivity.
Pakistan, Much?
Catch the video here
First let’s start with the video.
Well produced, and follows no storyline thankfully ( not many appreciate it despite the
effort which a story based video demands). Directed by Saqib Siddiqui,who also directed Khwahishon by Farhan, one can see the similarity in the work
with the combined use of natural tones and portrait shots which highlight the artist.
Along with good musical sensibilities, Falak has
good fashion sense and has stylized himself quite impressively.
Now on to the song:
Ijazat is a great Punjabi R&B track if it can be classified as such. Poetry from a female’s perspective has been featured in Punjab for long enough time.
The lyrics capture that feminist element; one easily sympathizes with the sufferer. Longing and desire feature prominently in its theme.
The music balances wellcombines with a western sounds, eastern vocal melody and flutes, cleverly.
The ending is also well crafted with the use of an outro making it more unique.
A notable mention to the ‘sighs’ that are seemingly placed to provide gentle landings to the very high notes. (Instant Likes on Social Media websites this aspect brings)
After the success of Falak’s singles from his first album, he seems to be coming back stronger. Having identified his niche, where his soulful Punjabi tracks and body dancey numbers clearly show talent and forte.
Watch the video here:
Recently Ustaad Javed Bashir performed in Qatar, I Had an opportunity to sit with him and interview him, the time window I got was very narrow so I had to interview him in a place, with all the background noise, still is pre
tty clear though, hope you enjoy it.
viagra
Sajid and Zeeshan are back. Their album, “The Harvest” is slated to be released later this month.
The precursor is out and it’s called “Walk on Air” -An uptempo track mixing guitar elements(acoustic/electric) with dance music. News earlier came out that their next album will be different in sound than their first. This track release is relief that even with live drumming coming into the new album, some tracks shall remain grounded to the Sajid & Zeehsan first album sound.
The video has elements of the audio by having the major part of the video in black & white and the infectious guitar solo in color- which mixes well with the dance beats having a nineties sound and the guitars a very modern and pacey strum rhythm.The song is pure love right from the barre chord beginning to the strumming ending.
A visual pun can be seen in towards the ending of the video when the lens provides a close shot of the shoes which Sajid is wearing and it gives a reason to think if this track was made on the name of this particular footwear brand.
Although there would be videos that have slow motion – black and white elements in them, some refreshing shots are in this video too, i.e sugar-guitar- rubber lizard-rubik’s cube-plectrums
The Words
The track itself is well written which has the mention of the simple pleasures in life. And interesting
philosophical word usage is imminent with lines like
I know, when everything comes down on me,
And I am left with no more screams,
I’ll gently lift up the floor and
Start to walk on air
another interestingly written part is
But space, was never shorter than its place \
And still I roam around and round and all around
This is meaningful songwriting that seems to be lost in the music made by people who have English as their native language.
Sajid and Zeehsan are the clear indication of the potentially global appeal the musical talent that exists in Pakistan. Songs that should be no.1 on charts worldwide and videos that should have million of hits.
Let’s make it happen!
The Video
Traveling above the oceans
And residing in lands unknown
First a showing of resistance
And then a settling of persistence
With voids that later begun to flow
The astronomy that lines show
Something left behind that reflects
Mirrors and instances
Decisions that are reflexes
And the situations that familiarize
The moments and the circumstances
A different scene and setting
Humorous and a caught up defection
These times are a little undone
Thinking changes have begun
But it’s all the same
Just like a rose
with a different name
This is my winning entry for Bloombury Qatar Foundation Publishing competition “images and words” called in for the opening of
MATHAF Modern.
Written partly on what I feel is double-dialogue, Laila and Majnoon conversing but in each others perception of the others feeling
and the poem ends with them in a unified voice
It’s called “The Bridge”
Majnoon:( Lailas Perspective)
I seek the voice that lies between your lips
I seek the sight that extends within your eyes
This weak armor curtains your face
reveal the gleam, remove the shade:
Your uncovered strands raise a desire
to play with them in twisted swirls
The calmness I feel in your presence
is bloomy flowery essence hence
Laila ( Majnoons Perspective)
my conscience pulls me back
I can’t look at you
can I speak with silence
with silence you reply too
there is a contrast
although nothing to deflect
guided by my feelings
on to you, I reflect
Common Feeling:
Although we aren’t talking
but we have congeniality
this may not be perfect
but this is the reality
we’ve found each other now
that’s better than being apart
let’s make this life worth living
before from this world, we depart
Comments to go Below!
Humnasheen in English would translate to be an associate,that’s what your relationship with the song becomes as soon as the first strum,the electric guitar intro is played and the first line is sung,all hinting immediately that the song is a winner.
As the song progresses it becomes absolutely certain that the first impressions were not falsified at all . The song is about remembrance of times gone past and the desire to re live them. The song also talks about the fact that mistakes happen and misunderstandings arise but a good way to set them right is to step in to the others shoes in order to properly asses what they go through.
“If a picture is worth a thousand words then a thousand pictures is worth a novel” -Hani Arif (that’s me!)
The video took 7 months to make where 5000 digital pictures were taken to make this video possible and where such hard work is involved the results are evident.
The video is pure genius,directed by multi-talented director Zeeshan Parwez who has created his own niche in digitally directed work very different from his contemporaries.Zeeshan is probably the only director who has a signature style in Pakistan and as showcased in Coke Studio has a good idea on timing shots that really add to the musical experience.The messages in a song are also well represented in the video.The use of photographs is a good representation for the songs theme of remembrance ,and as per the words flow the moments are captured.
Something which you might have missed : Uzair Jaswal also makes a guest appearance in the video!
By the the time the video has ended, the song has subconsciously progressed from being an associate to a best friend.
Irtaash for the win
The contrast from their previous releases is absolute and tugs at their being a promising and talented act.
Other than the successful artists it is artists like these that keep the interest intact alive in Pakistani music,since album releases by the top artists are far spaced and other new content also remains non existent,it is our duty to support fully talented acts like Irtaash so that they don’t disappear after a few single releases and it is for us to ensure that they see multiple albums being released.
The vast desert, nomads, acquaintances made that never go further because they vanish in the sands ,the colorful souls ,people whose physical features and inner selves are sculpted with the winds that blow and the air that is breathed by them. This is Sindh.
All of the above is showcased in Sketches latest video release,Raat. From the beginning chords of the guitar and the flute to the individual solos that end with similar notes being played on them simultaneously.The song quite simply talks about longing and the ever present waiting period.Almost all Pakistani Music usually has a lot of emphasis given to the vocalist where the voice has very strong presence in a song.Saifs vocals are a bit different ,as in this track they are more ambient and at a pitch more reserved for backing vocalists.
This subdued vocal aspect also adds to the song as there lies longing which merely is something not up in front of you and rather that exists somewhere in the mind.
The video has some particular great shots.
One is where the female sits under the shade of a tree in otherwise in an open ground, does take one back to where the essence and true life is which doesn’t at all get fulfilled by living in the concrete jungles,the other shot is where the band have sun light on them passing in through stone work arches.The shade-light contrast makes good emphasis over how the sun affects the lives of people there.
The video is super simple and goes well with the song;
Have a look at the video!
Punjab’s size has facilitated in the cultural and the linguistic export through out Pakistan and around the globe,due to which the cultural,musical existence in other parts of Pakistan has never really come out.It’s nice to see Sindhi folk making its way into mainstream Pakistani music scene and further diversifying it. Hearing such true melodies it’s hard to imagine that our current President Mr.Asif Ali Zardari also belongs to the same province!
Before you judge me on my language , the two ** cover up s and i (to read as Fusion) and does not cover
up the letters c and k which you would have definitely thought ( see how your mind works?)
This post is a concert review to Atifs Aslam concert in Qatar.
Now it is actually without doubt that Atif Aslam is the biggest performer in Asia at this moment.The stature and this position calls for a certain level of professionalism on part of the organizers at all levels of a concert . An aspect which Lacked completely in Desert Fusion 2010 .
I got myself a VIP ticket in order to be in the front row and be able to experience atif first hand.
I was among the first people to arrive at the concert and be able to see the soundcheck and experiencing that led me to believe that this was going to be a memorable concert.
Atifs being the main act had his set reserved for the last.The show began with opening and filler acts performances and in process of which the sound kept on deteriorating and even the stage backscreen fell flat right on stage
BackScreen there
By the time Atif came, it became a disgrace to call the sound output device as being speakers as they had completely become noise emanators.
Even Atif and his musicians complained about the sound but nothing was done to rectify the sound, I am sure the other acts were also not to happy with what was going on with the sound.
BackScreen No more (magic)
No backscreen!
All the speakers (read noise emanators) were put up with full volume and they couldn’t handle the inputs . The sound company was a total failure and it ruined the whole concert experience for me . Even with the money i paid dor the ticket I so hoped that atif would have declined to play but certainly he’d come with the mentality of the “show must go on ”
Although the crowd was all super excited to see Atif at the concert,if it weren’t for that soundcheck I would’ve labelled the a show as a complete waste of money.
A piece of advice to all future organizers of concerts, artists like Atif and other acts which are live should be given the dignity of a proper sound to save the artists and their own competency.