tháng 12 28, 2014
Bilal and Faisal really knew how to achieve the perfect balance in what the show would offer to music listeners who love to criticise, incorporating styles and genres that had mass appeal.
On one hand, we saw legends like Abida Parveen and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, while on the other there were upcoming musicians like Jimmy Khan and the band Naseer & Shahab, who were greatly appreciated after the show.
“It's important that the songs we select show a wide spectrum not only in genres but also in time,” Strings said.
“From ancient Sufi kalams to classic film songs, to eighties pop and unreleased songs, Coke Studio has to cater to a wide range of audiences spread all over the world.”
Talking about their experience with Coke Studio this year, Strings commented: “As the producers of Coke Studio our responsibility is immense. We want Pakistani music and musicians to shine out and want to present the show in a way that they look and sound at par with international live music shows.”
What was Strings' most memorable Coke Studio moment?
“Working with Abida Parveen and Raees Khan sahib was a dream come true," said the band.
"Similarly, Rahat and Abidaji's collaboration is something we are very proud of. Just sitting in the company of these musical geniuses and discussing the songs and concepts are some of the most unforgettable moments.”
25 undiscovered musicians on Nescafe Basement 3
We haven’t seen much of this season so far, but the reason why it is one of the best moments for music is because of the 26 unknown musicians that producer Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan, popularly known as Zulfi, took on board with him.
Be it musicians from Karachi or Rahim Yar Khan, it seems this season Zulfi decided to pull out all the stops.
A group of young, promising musicians covered some great classics most of us grew up listening to, including songs by Roxette and the Back Street Boys.
From what we’ve seen so far, it seems that Sharoon Leo, the violinist, is definitely going places.
Indie bands represent Pakistan in the US
Struggling underground, independent musicians are the new trend in the Pakistani music scene, serving as the ventilator that keeps things alive.
Poor Rich Boy and Khumariyaan, indie bands based in Lahore and Peshawar respectively, got selected for a concert tour in the US for Center Stage, which is an exchange program with the sole purpose of using performing arts as a means of spreading cultural awareness.
`
Umer Khan, one of the vocalists from the band Poor Rich Boy, said it was a "dream come true" to play in America: “People there seemed genuinely interested in the arts and cultural activities in general.”
“Playing music out on the streets and parks is the norm there. Nobody thinks you're crazy!” Umer added. “Plus, we got paid enough to be able to buy our own instruments. Till then most of us had been playing borrowed instruments.”
Indo-Pak collaborations
The political situation in Pakistan and our relationship with neighbouring countries have remain strained across the year, which is why collaborative gestures by musicians on both sides of the border serve as a beacon of hope for any compassion and harmony in the future.
This year on Independence Day a song called ‘Rang Rangiya’ was released by an Indian band Maati Baani.
The band reached out online to a number of Pakistani musicians such as Omran Shafique and Komal Rizvi. Musicians from both countries worked on the song entirely with the help of the internet.
Two cinematographers from Lahore and Karachi also helped in shooting a collaborative music video, and sent it across to be edited.
The song revolves around spreading the message of love across India and Pakistan, and the beauty of music is its universal charm.
Music festivals
 |
In 2014, there were a handful of notable music festivals that were held in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi.
Most of these festivals were organised by underground musicians in order to have a platform to reach out to their cult following.
These festivals include Storm in a Tea Cup, which was organised by True Brew Records and took place in January in Lahore, where underground bands from Karachi and Islamabad also performed.
Rockfest, organised in Islamabad by Kuch Khaas, also took place around the same time as Storm in a Tea Cup. The concert was part of the Khayaban-e-Lussun tour, organised by Nadir Shehzad Khan, the front-man of Karachi’s indie band Sikandar Ka Mandar.
This tour helped bands from the three cities come together and play shows for wider audiences.
Music mela Conference took place in May, which was also held in Islamabad organised by FACE (Foundation for Arts, Culture and Education) in collaboration with the Pak-US Alumni network. What is most special about this festival is that some musicians that performed at the show were selected to perform in the US.
Todd Puckhaber, a booker for one of the largest music festivals in America known as South by Southwest (SXSW), selected bands from Pakistan to play at the festival in 2015.
Puckhaber also met with Poor Rich Boy and Khumariyaan who later went on to tour the US for Center Stage.
The Empowerfest, an all-day music festival, was held in Karachi in August with the aim of raising funds for flood victims in Thar.
The proceeds from the festival were donated to Resettling the Indus, an NGO that aims to provide help for flood-affected communities in Pakistan.
Không có nhận xét nào
Đăng nhận xét