The concept of Paanch – The Mixtape emerged from the brain of Babar Sheikh; it was an idea he shared with the collaborative Ahsan Bari (Sounds of Kolachi) and Wajiha Naqvi, who in addition to being a Coke Studio backing vocalist has curated other initiatives and is associated with I Am Karachi.
As Paanch – The Mixtape ropes in Natasha Baig, an independent artist who blew us away with her performance on Coke Studio 11’s ‘Shikwa/Jawab-e-Shikwa’, Babar Sheikh speaks to Instep about the project at length as well as his band, Chand Tara Orchestra (CTO).
Paanch – The Mix Tape
There is no shortage of talent in Pakistan, Babar Sheikh tells Instep. Plenty of artists have risen above the underground rank and have made a name but they don’t have labels.
“Mauj, Chand Tara Orchestra, Sounds of Kolachi, Khumariyaan, Mughal-e-Funk, Mekaal Hasan Band are just some examples,” he notes.
In order to make it to Paanch – The Mixtape, the objectives were simple. It would have to include acts that “are complementary and have a different sound. It is based on aesthetics, diversity, the biography of the act.” But there is a deeper meaning to Paanch – The Mixtape, reveals Babar.
“The spiritual meaning is to appreciate each other, support each other rather than pull each other down. It is about collaboration and a bridge to promote the larger art/music fraternity.”
Call it a compilation or a mixtape but the acts featured on it, five to be total – hence, the name Paanch – will create one original song, each for the platform exclusively. The songs won’t be found on their records or EPs and so on, reveals Babar further.
After announcing the platform and the two acts to feature on it - Chand Tara Orchestra and Sounds of Kolachi - the third name has been revealed. It is Natasha Baig. As Babar states, the names of the other two acts will be revealed on a week by week basis.
Since Paanch – The Mixtape will include five original songs, the release is scheduled for early next year. Think January 2019 and onwards. Babar notes that since we’re already close to November, the reason to release it next year is to give time to the artists to record their songs.
Paanch – The Mixtape is ultimately about celebration of music and what better way than to release new music. “It is about a shared vision and creating a bridge to promote art. There is no other agenda,” explains Babar.
Chand Tara Orchestra
Babar Sheikh, as a member of Chand Tara Orchestra, the super-group who made their Coke Studio debut this past season with a song called ‘Nami Danam’, has a lot more in the pipeline for listeners.
Having uploaded a rough acoustic video of the song ‘Nami Danam’ post their Coke Studio appearance on Instagram, the band, states Babar, received requests for a proper unplugged version of the song.
A request they have taken seriously by creating an actual acoustic version of ‘Nami Danam’ that was recorded at a studio called Cinema Tech that is owned by Yasir Khan. The unplugged version also features Aziz Kazi on percussion, Rizwanullah Khan on harmonica, Shaheryar Tariq aka Sherry on vocals and Omran Shafique on bass and guitars.
“Yasir Khan welcomed us; it was nice. He’s a DOP and he shot the thing and we recorded it in his studio. We think the song has great potential and a lot of that potential was tapped on Coke Studio. But there is more,” explains Babar.
‘Nami Danam’, the unplugged version, is slated to appear this week but CTO also has an album and a music video in the pipeline.
Discussing the much-awaited debut record, Babar notes that the music video for the song ‘Rung De,’ featuring kalaam by Amir Khusro, will release roughly ten days before the album.
“The video for ‘Rung De’ has been shot and it will come out with the album, which should be out early December 2018.”