Lahore
Noori’s new music video, ‘Aik Tha Raja’ follows a story meant to “depict how temptation can change a person and force him to do evil things,” says director Mandana Zaidi.
The sound and face of the Pakistani music scene has changed dramatically over the past decade. Where once you had a plethora of successful bands and musicians playing concerts and taking up airtime on music channels, there is now a stronger emphasis on alternative and experimental musicians. The shift is inevitable, given the lack of space and infrastructure for commercial music to thrive.
Hence, the news that Noori was finally making a comeback after a ten-year hiatus was reason to be excited, especially for those of us growing up in the noughties and for whom the band defined the ultimate rock sound of the decade. The launch of the band’s new video ‘Aik Tha Badshah’ in Lahore brought together the old guard – musicians, producers and fans who once headlined Pakistan’s burgeoning (now non-existent) rock scene – and their presence under one roof lent the event a powerful sense of nostalgia and anticipation.
“There were many reasons and there were none,” shrugged Ali Hamza when asked why it took the band ten long years to follow up on their 2005 release, Peeli Patti Aur Raja Jaani Ki Gol Duniya. “We were working on content all through this tim
The name of the upcoming third album, slated for a September 2015 release, is a signature Noori mouthful – Begum Gul Bakaoli Sarfarosh (BGBS). It marks a coming-of-age for the band, signifying an evolution not only of their sound but also of the content. Art that matters is one that holds a mirror to society and Noori’s ability to produce music that represents the socio-political climate of the country is a major factor in the band’s commercial success. Where their two previous albums spoke of the innocence and idealism of youth and its eventual decline into apathy, the current album “is about getting things done,” says Ali Noor.
Talking about the concept of the thematic album, Ali Noor went on to explain that Gul Bakaoli is a fabled flower with the power to restore vision to the blind. “The album follows the journey of a woman starting at the time of partition. She changes her name to Gul Bakaoli when she moves to Pakistan, wanting to let go of the trauma of she has gone through and start anew. Her time in the new country makes her realize that not much has changed and she finally understands why things in Pakistan are they way they are at present. The album is a catalyst to make people think and maybe make the effort to better their lives.”
The band chose to announce the new album with the catchy single ‘Aik Tha Badshah’. Directed by Mandana Zaidi, the video marks a departure from Noori’s previous ones that focused on the band’s performances. This one is a slick production that
Kings of live music: Noori brothers Ali Noor and Ali Hamza, played a set of four songs including the classic gem, ‘Manwa Re’ and two new numbers.
Luckily, when it came to the live performance, the audience got to see Noori at their best – unadulterated, energetic and interactive. In a four-song set, they were treated to two new numbers, the classic ‘Manwa Re’ and one reimagining of Nusrat Fateh Al Khan’s ‘Sano Ek Pal Chein’.
The evening set the stage for what’s to come in the next few months as Ali Noor promised to “take his fans along for the journey” till the launch of the album. Noori fans finally have something new to look forward to.