It’s a big year for music, no matter which way you cut it. The third edition of Lahore Music Meet will make an appearance later this month. Coke Studio 10 is also in the making and should make its presence felt in the coming months ahead. But while we wait on music’s biggest show and wonder whether it will break new ground or not, other efforts in the scene - both good and bad - must be discussed.
Hit and Miss: Komal Rizvi’s new tune from Cornetto Pop Rock 2, ‘Yeh Kya Hua’ is cliched and insipid. On the other hand, Abdullah Siddiqui’s ‘Fiction’ is elating synth pop magic.
MusicMix
Komal Rizvi’s new song is a letdown while Abdullah Siddiqui captivates with synth-pop magic. Instep takes a look.
It’s a big year for music, no matter which way you cut it. The third edition of Lahore Music Meet will make an appearance later this month. Coke Studio 10 is also in the making and should make its presence felt in the coming months ahead. But while we wait on music’s biggest show and wonder whether it will break new ground or not, other efforts in the scene - both good and bad - must be discussed.
Our story begins with the second season of Cornetto Pop Rock, which is back for another run. The first offering from the platform has come in the form of a music video featuring one Komal Rizvi and unfortunately it will leave you jaded. The track, which is called ‘Yeh Kya Hua’ sounds like a desperate plea to stay relevant. The sound is neither edgy and borders on boring while the lyrics blur into the background. There’s nothing remotely interesting or unique about it. The unholy union of the song with the folk number ‘Chitta Kukkar’ doesn’t help matters. Meanwhile, the choreographed music video featuring a club-esque environment is a showcase of ideas that are long past their prime. The music video of ‘Hookah Bar’ from Akshay Kumar-starrer Khiladi 786 is infinitely superior and one can simply view it instead of this peculiar concoction. One has seen better choreography at the Lux Style Awards on plenty of occasions.
It is obvious that Cornetto Pop Rock is not just about purity of music. It is a commercial venture and therefore relies on a strong doze of glamour, perhaps to prominently place itself in the minds of viewers. But, it must also be said, that at a time when even most Coke Studio songs dissipate after the year is over, relying on glamour gimmicks instead of focusing on originality and sonic innovation, is a bad bet. It may fetch numbers as has this video but in the long run, only a shadow of the song will remain while other similar efforts will, with the passage of time, obliterate it from memory completely and the cycle will continue until it all fades away.
One can only hope that the upcoming songs/videos from Cornetto Pop Rock 2 will rise from here on and will not only stay away from these trappings but will make room for some innovation along the way, or so we hope.
Moving on, in new releases, the soundtrack of Raasta, an upcoming film featuring Shah Rukh Khan wannabe Sahir Lodhi, is out and features musical heavyweight Rahat Fateh Ali Khan as well as other notable singers like Sara Raza Khan, and Nabeel Shaukat. If love is on your mind and you don’t mind an overblown display of musical tastelessness, then this is the album for you. Then again, maybe not.
In new music worth applause and appreciation, apart from the recently released stellar debut album, Elhaam by Sounds of Kolachi, you can also look out for a new track called ‘Fiction’ which is by a young artist from Lahore called Abdullah Siddiqui.
Released via indie music collective, Forever South and running just over four minutes, the song is riveting because it is so very unpredictable and such a terrific concoction of pop, synth and electro vibes. Siddiqui is both singer and songwriter and he excels in both roles. With its surprising elements like the trumpet in the background, this song, available for streaming on Patari, is actually better than many mainstream releases including a plethora of film soundtracks and PSL anthems. The good news is that this young artist is not a one-hit wonder and is scheduled to release an album this year so we are psyched to see what he comes up with next.
