It’s another big week for Pakistani music, not just in the country but beyond. Apart from new music releases from the likes of Hadiqa Kiyani, Ali Azmat - QB and Ali Suhail, several artists have taken their melodies to foreign shores.
Sanam Marvi, Sounds of Kolachi and other acts play live shows abroad. Instep takes a look.
It’s another big week for Pakistani music, not just in the country but beyond. Apart from new music releases from the likes of Hadiqa Kiyani, Ali Azmat - QB and Ali Suhail, several artists have taken their melodies to foreign shores.
Zeb Bangash, nominated for a Lux Style Award again this year, performed in Berlin as part of the elaborate Élan Bejewelled Rose collection showcase event that was organized to celebrate the Pakistan National Day and was attended by dignitaries from around the world.
Sajjad Ali, one of pop’s music’s big names who emerged at the Lahore Music Meet last month, took his melodies to London after ten years. The singer-songwriter whose last release is a song called ‘Tamasha’ on which he collaborated with rapper Bohemia, performed at Cadogan Hall in London and followed it up with a performance in Karachi.
London also witnessed the expansive sounds of Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwals, grand-nephews of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan who paid a glorious tribute to the late legend as they took the stage at the Barbican Centre in London last week.
While Qawalistan (made up of Imran Aziz Mian, son of Qawali legend Aziz Mian, Zeejah Fazli and Allan Smith) and Zoe Viccaji played their tunes during the SXSW 2017 festival in Austin, Texas, currently Sounds of Kolachi and Sanam Marvi are playing their incredible music across United States of America as part of a tour backed by Center Stage. While SOK have moved on to North Carolina after impressive performances in Washington D.C., Sanam Marvi, having made her Boston debut is currently in New York and will play there before heading out to other vicinities like Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan and finally Washington D.C.
In May, the folk-rock unit, Khumariyaan will perform in London, courtesy of Funoon London, who also hosted Ali Hamza and Bilal Khan last year. The cherished music group will take the stage during The Alchemy festival by Southbank Centre which will begin on 19 May and will go till 29 May in London.
Similarly, singer-songwriter Bilal Khan, currently starring in the TV drama Sammi and Shaukat Dholiya, a dhol master from Pakistan will also play during Southbank Centre’s Alchemy festival. The living legend Abida Parveen will also play in the same event with a performance that is being presented by Rafi Peer Mystic Music Sufi Festival.
