The last time I saw Ahsan Bari, he was giving Lahooti Melo’s fourth edition a taste of Sounds of Kolachi. But, as Ahsan Bari tells Instep, “He is busy with a number of things.”
Expanding on what those things are, Bari said, “I’m trying to work more on Ahsan Bari Music.”
It, however, doesn’t mean that Sounds of Kolachi, who have released their debut album and appeared on Coke Studio 11, last year, is calling it quits. “Sounds of Kolachi is producing music for Paanch – The Mixtape, which is the initiative of Babar Sheikh, Wajiha Naqvi and myself. For that, we have done a Sindhi song, progressive rock song. It is going to be the first experiment of this kind. It’s a progressive rock song but in Sindhi and the kalaam is of Sachal Sarmast.”
Bari further reiterated that SOK is not going anywhere and is presently planning some collaborations. “During NAPA Performing Arts Festival, we are getting ready to collaborate with Italians.”
Bari also revealed that under the banner of Ahsan Bari Music, he has produced other artists. “A song by Nafs (a band) is ready; a song by Quaid Ahmed is ready. These are the two songs and these are the two artists Ahsan Bari Music will release, in the coming months after Ramzan. At least one song will be released before that.”
Ahsan Bari, like many musicians, is also doing commissioned work. But he’s got even bigger plans. As he tells Instep, he plans to leave for Hunza in May where he will write and compose the symphony that will take him to new heights, i.e., performing with symphonies abroad.
“It’s tricky but I’ve managed so far. I’ve collected some tools. When this composition is written, in the next year, it will be presented and we will be collaborating with major symphony orchestras next year.”
And, though, Sounds of Kolachi will continue to perform, Ahsan Bari tells Instep, “I won’t be seen onstage unless with SOK. I’ll be acting more as a music director than a performer. I’ll be launching two or three artists as well, within this year. I will produce fresh artists.”
