Fareed Ayaz, Abu Muhammad Qawwal and Brothers to take the stage in Karachi next month as part of Rivayat Music Series.
Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad Qawwal and Brothers
culturevulture
Fareed Ayaz, Abu Muhammad Qawwal and Brothers to take the stage in Karachi next month as part of Rivayat Music Series.
It has been a long, colourful and most of all substantial year for music in Pakistan no matter which way you spin it. The flag of indie music is flying high courtesy of artists like Slowspin, Nawksh, Sikandar Ka Mandar, Jimmy Khan, Poor Rich Boy, Ali Suhail, The D/A Method, SNKM, and so many brilliant others who continue to do good work.
Some examples include Jimmy Khan’s last single, ‘Madam’ that is a snapshot of the reality faced by the transgender community in Pakistan, Shajie Hassan’s ‘Motorcycle’ that echoes depression and vulnerability and Nawksh’s No Need To Hide When Its Dark Outside that greets you like a palpable meditation on loneliness.
Initiatives like the Lahore Music Meet have also created both goodwill and a degree of hope in indie music circles. It has, among other things, led to greater understanding of the correlation between technology and music particularly as the digital shift broadens.
Music start-up Patari too backed a number of original music projects such as Patari Tabeer that led to the discovery of Abid Brohi (‘The Sibbi Song’).
Some treading in mainstream managed to create quality work. Artists like Ali Azmat (‘Chal Diye’, ‘Pataal Sey’), Hadiqa Kiani (Wajd) and Meesha Shafi (‘Yaar Mere’, ‘Speaker Phaar’) proved once more that even within a corporate-fueled environment, they can create memorable and miraculous music moments.
Others who belong to semi-mainstream/alternative circle like Zohaib Kazi and the Mekaal Hasan Band also gave us thrilling musical moments with their respective releases.
A lot of what we heard (Pakistan Super League soundtrack, Coke Studio, film soundtracks) was intended for commercial purposes and for those who find comfort in the familiar.
Sitting in the final quarter of 2017, it is safe to assume that while visibility of music on TV screens will diminish with the conclusion of Pepsi Battle of the Bands and the forthcoming conclusion of Coke Studio 10, music activity will thankfully go on.
One case in point is the ‘Rivayat Music Series’. Backed by Publicis Pakistan and curated by Mekaal Hasan, its mission is to highlight music and artists from Sindh while engaging with people and communities who remain forgotten and overlooked.
After making the initial announcement about the project that is set to take place in Karachi, Hasan has unveiled more details about the project.
Of the four concerts that are scheduled to take place as part of the initiative, the first one will feature Fareed Ayaz, Abu Muhammad Qawwal and Brothers. It is set to take place on the fifth of October.
Fareed Ayaz and co belong to the Qawwal Bachon ka Gharana of Delhi that was founded in the 14th century and have made some memorable appearances on Coke Studio. Known for merging devotional and secular ideas, they remain masters of the genre. The concert will take place at the Karachi School of Business and Leadership and will be free for the inhabitants of Gulshan-e-Iqbal and North Nazimabad. You can find more information on the event on Facebook.
In this age of gentrification, a project like this that promotes community engagement through music in spaces such as Sakhi Hasan, Gulzar-e-Hijri, Paposh Nagar and Pehlwan Goth, is definitely pertinent and holds enormous promise. Here’s hoping it gains traction with people and communities.
– Maheen Sabeeh
