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Shaan e Pakistan Music Summit connects artists from two generations

By Buraq Shabbir
Mon, 03, 19

Bringing together legends like Arshad Mehmood and Tina Sani with newer artists Raania Durrani and Rabeel Warraich, the event offered useful insights into how music shapes our lives beyond just entertainment.

Lahore: The two-day long, Shaan e Pakistan Music Achievements (SEPMA) 2019, helmed by Huma Nasr and executive producer Irfan Pardesi of Zee Foundation (title sponsor), commenced on March 21st with a Music Summit that took place Thursday evening at the Shahi Qila in Lahore. With keynote speakers Shahzad Nawaz, Umer Hussain and Ali Zafar onboard, the evening featured three panel discussions alongside some soulful music performances.

Those who turned up at the event, aside from panelists, moderators and keynote speakers, included Meera Ji and comedian Faiza Saleem while the Governor of Punjab, Chaudhry Sarwar was the chief guest who stressed on promoting our culture, no matter what part of the world we are living in.

The first panel, titled ‘The Future of Music in the Digital Age,’ featured Patari CEO Rabeel Warraich, COO EMI Pakistan Zeeshan Chaudhry, analyst Faisal Qureshi and Raania Durrani, Co-founder of Salts Arts as panelists while Taimur Rehman, Director Program at SFEA, moderated the session.

The subject in question was: how digital platforms would help music prosper in the future?“If we start implementing copyrights in Pakistan, it can change the entire game because this is what drives the business,” noted Zeeshan Chaudhry, who feels we, in Pakistan, haven’t really been able to understand music business in comparison to the western world.

Added Rabeel, “A lot of music consumption is moving towards digital platforms, particularly streaming sites. It depends on how effectively you monetize the entire process – whether you are making it user friendly by not charging any amount or providing them exclusive access.

Faisal Qureshi, on the other hand, is of the view that it is all about making money and doing things in a way that they sell.

“Access to online content has become very easy in the present age,” he shared, adding, “If 500 people listen to a song online, 490 will be stealing it and only the remaining 10 would have paid for it. I feel we need to expand to international markets; there is money to be made.”

Sharing her views on the subject, Raania Durrani asserted, “I think the problem really lies with thought leadership – in the areas of how do you make the culture change, how do you make people realize that in order for them to listen to us there has to be a transaction.”

The next session, ‘Sur Aur Kahani,’ focused on the connection between Sur and Kahani with Tina Sani, Sharif Awan, Arshad Mehmood and Seemi Raheel on the panel, which was moderated by Rafay Mehmood.

“It is important to keep telling stories and making music because “the culture is the essence of any civilization,” Arshad Mehmood maintained, referring to a quote by an elderly. “But I feel the younger generation runs away from it. I suggest them to have a day job and continue their passion at the same time.”

Reflecting on the influx of internet and digitalization, Tina Sani added, “There is a glut. Whenever there is a glut of information, one feels it’s all there but chances are, they won’t access it.”

“I see a lot of insecurity amongst young musicians because they don’t know each other,” she continued. “When they see those likes and the following, it’s like they are living in a bubble.”

Last panel of the evening, called ‘Evolution of Music in Films,’ discussed the connection of music to films, featuring Yousuf Bashir Qureshi (YBQ), Saqib Malik, Hajra Yamin and Irfan Pardesi with Arshad Mehmood moderating it.

“I think music makes films different from dramas and it has become a part of our film tradition,” Saqib Malik asserted. “Playback singing is a key element in sub continental films and they play a key role in connecting the narrative emotionally; you are transported to another world while watching a film.”

He also informed that there are 8 songs in his first feature film Baaji, which comes out on June 29 this year, with four music directors on board.

Moving on, YBQ, who was also a part of this panel, shared, “In this technological era, everything is moving very fast. Music has a huge impact on everything; it connects people to themselves as well as to others beyond boundaries. We need to make more musical collaborations, leading to more music production.”

Starting with AKS the band, the evening featured performances by Badnaam and Hyderium before it came to an end.