While indie fans are regularly treated to new, original and quality music, the mainstream music scene - currently overshadowed by film music - is often struggling with fewer records releasing and singles replacing the trend of full-length albums.
Having formed their own record label, BIY Records, Noori are currently working with Ali Azmat and Qurutulain Baloch (QB) on new music.
In a brief conversation with3 Instep, Noori’s Ali Noor explains the will and vision behind their label, BIY Records.
While indie fans are regularly treated to new, original and quality music, the mainstream music scene - currently overshadowed by film music - is often struggling with fewer records releasing and singles replacing the trend of full-length albums.
While channels are dedicated to sports, news, dramas and deranged morning shows, music suffers from a case of lack of visibility, among other things. As the industry continues to lose faith in existing record labels and deals with the looming shadow of security issues, the comeback of one mainstream band has, to a degree, given hope to the music scene at large.
The band is but of course Noori, consisting of brothers Ali Noor and Ali Hamza, who have been showcasing a kind of verve and consistency that is hard to find in mainstream these days. Since releasing their third studio album (Begum Gul Bakaoli Sarfarosh) last year, Noori have been consistently doing something worthwhile. Nope, they don’t make headlines for doing absolutely nothing. They keep up with the times, as can be gauged from the sound of their album and must be commended for having retained their endearing ways of connecting with fans, both old and new
Having released two music videos earlier this year - one of which is a collaboration with Indian folktronica artists Hari and Sukhmani – Noori brothers have a lot more planned for the coming weeks ahead. After playing three shows across three major cities (Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad), as part of the new initiative Cornetto Pop Rock, the brothers are gearing up for more new music with the likes of Ali Azmat and Qurutulain Baloch (QB) via their label, BIY (Believe In Yourself) Records.
In fact, some of those upcoming singles were played out during the Cornetto Pop Rock concert series, revealed Ali Noor, while speaking to
Instep in a brief conversation. “We played these songs for people and also took it as an opportunity to test them out,” noted Ali Noor.
At a time when the existing record labels inspire zero faith in the music scene and original music is diminishing from industry veterans, Noori is invigorating the scene by inviting artists to take a step together via their own label, BIY (Believe in Yourself) Records, a platform that will allow a free and fluid exchange of ideas and where creativity and innovation will go hand in hand as artists (like QB and Ali Azmat) involve themselves in the process of creation and collaboration.
Noori’s social media presence will tell you that they’ve been hanging out in the studio with the original Rockefeller Ali Azmat and the breathtaking Qurutulain Baloch (QB) as part of the project.
“It’s a starting point,” explained Ali Noor. “BIY Records space is more like breathing ground for music. You have to believe in yourself to do it yourself; speak your mind and speak your heart.”
With Noori’s encouragement and support, artists will have a free reign to explore and challenge their own limits while the message they are sending is one of self-belief. “You have to be really involved in the process,” said Ali Noor pointing to the fact that QB is penning her own lyrics.
These are encouraging signs, not just for listeners but for artists across the board as more original content, mixed with potent collaborations, pave way for the future. Point, Noori.
