On the periphery

From left to right: Jamal Rahman (True Brew Records), Janat Sohail Aziz and Ahmer Naqvi (Patari COO) sat down to talk about the music industry for those on the periphery of it as well as the new music video ‘Circus’.

Cultural/public spaces in Pakistan may be numbered but it is in spaces like these that citizens find a space to breathe and nurture their creative selves. Lahore’s The Last Word is one such space that has developed into a welcome sanctuary for those who relish intellectual stimulation. Aysha Raja, the owner sees it as more than a bookstore - a social space, a cultural hub and a place to soak in the knowledge of not just books but people. She often invites artists, writers, comedians, musicians and of course readers to congregate and exchange ideas in a place where you can have discussions that are meaningful. With books stacked from ceiling to floor, one is inspired by their surroundings to learn more. One finds books that won’t usually be found in mainstream bookstores, as The Last Word strictly maintains its independent bookshop status. As the bookstore is Raja’s personal curation of books, it’s apparent that mainstream literature (that the city’s other bookstores already stock) doesn’t pique her interest.

To further her cause, Raja held the latest in events - a music video launch and panel discussion for the emerging indie artist Wooly and the Uke. If it wasn’t already clear that she prefers the unusual over the run of the mill through her taste in books, it definitely was from the kind of music she supports. The event started with the artist’s new music video, ‘Circus’, which in itself provided a great talking point for the panel thereafter.

The producer, Jamal Rahman of True Brew Records and Patari COO, Ahmer Naqvi along with the artist Janat Sohail Aziz sat down to talk about the song, its inspirations and the music industry for those on the periphery of it.

“It was a long process to find the sound that I have now. In school there was pressure to like a certain type of music but this sound came about when I learnt to accept myself in every way – not just musically. I tried to be friends with myself and polish the voice I had so I don’t have to fill any moulds,” Janat said about her music. Jamal agreed, “There’s a certain time in every artist’s life where mimicry and emulation is important but after that you have to find your own voice.” He made the point that there are only a handful of musicians with distinctive sounds because people want to get famous fast so they prefer to do what’s trending. He jokes about that being a part of Patari’s top ten which elicited a laugh from the audience and company COO, Ahmer.

Wooly and the Uke’s next release will be a song titled Monster.

Fueled by a passion for music and songwriting, Janat is a self-taught musician who can play the guitar, ukulele and keyboard. She reveals that her song is an honest expression of growing up, enveloped in emotions and the part society plays in it. “For me it is a satirical comment on society, consumerism and not being able to get out of it,” she added. The video has a defined visual sense that was aided by Janat’s emotions behind it. Retro House productions brought it to life in a video that gives a sense of the bizarre, confusion and inexplicable state the artist found herself in while writing it.

Janat was also on Nescafé Basement where she performed as a part of the well-known Nescafé all-girl group. Their cover of John Newman’s ‘Love Me Again’ became known nationwide and abroad and even caught Newman’s attention. However, Janat told Ahmer that the feeling of the cover going viral was nothing compared to what her original compositions made her feel. “That wasn’t what I wanted to do; it was only what people wanted to hear. Music is about stripping yourself of your most valuable emotions and giving them to your reader,” she shared during the panel discussion.

 –Wooly and the Uke’s next release will be a song titled Monster.