music
Powerful, poetic and transcendent, a qawaali’s hypnotic rhythms and melodies celebrate God, love and music as one. It is the physical and musical manifestation of the Sufi religious tradition in South Asia and no easy feat to master.
From pop-rock hits to folk classics, to making an acting debut earlier last month, she does it all with an ease and grace unfamiliar to many. Pakistan’s most accomplished female artist, Hadiqa Kiani, has recently showcased her brilliant versatility with the release of her first qawaali, ‘Jaanay Iss Dil’. Released in collaboration with Sufiscore, a YouTube channel for South Asian music, Hadiqa’s voice resonates like never heard before with the phenomenal composition done by the legendary qawaali icon, the late Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s patent tabla player, Ustad Dildar Hussain.
“Qawaali is indeed the purest form of music. Having had the opportunity to jump into a genre that is somewhat outside my comfort zone, I have an even greater appreciation for the art that is qawaali. The opportunity to work with Ustad Dildar Hussain, someone who has been an important part of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s entourage was nothing short of extraordinary,” shares Hadiqa.
With the mesmerising ‘Jaanay Iss Dil’, the icon proves her masterful artistry once more with her incredible vocal prowess. The poetry has been selected by Abrar Hussain and verses of numerous classic poets that have been incorporated to enrich it with ‘Girah Bundi’.
The qawaali has been musically arranged and recorded live, without the use of click track or auto-tuners, by one of Pakistan’s leading music producers and Hadiqa’s long-time collaborator and brother, Irfan Kiani. He also incorporated the all-elusive sarangi instrument, a rarity in the genre’s modern examples but a classic instrument of the sub-continent that possess unmatched microtones that complement the human voice. Moreover, the track’s clean and raw sound has been skilfully mixed and mastered by Eva Kiani. The project has been produced by Mian Yousaf Salahuddin for Sufiscore. It has been visually captured by director Abdullah Haris.
“This heart touching performance (captured in the moment) is surely a treat for both ghazal and qawwali listeners as it incorporates the elements and beauty of both genres,” expresses Irfan.
– A. Jafri