At least three sources close to the production - who wish to remain anonymous - have confirmed that season 12 of Coke Studio is being produced by Rohail Hyatt.
The series, produced from season one to season four by Rohail and Umber Hyatt, after which it was produced by Rohail Hyatt in season five and season six solo with the latter shot in hybrid format.
The history of Coke Studio is a long one. But what will be most interesting is how Coke Studio Explorer is unveiled.
Music group Strings, who produced the show, after Rohail Hyatt parted ways, had their moments of excellence as well, inviting the now late Amir Zaki to the series as well as artists such as Jimmy Khan, Faraz Anwar, Usman Riaz, Bakshi Brothers, Malang Party, Mekaal Hasan Band, Mai Dhai, and Farida Khanum. They also introduced the formula of multiple music directors, which got Coke Studio millions of hits, but not enough critical acclaim. During this period, the queen of the box office, Mehwish Hayat also made her Coke Studio debut as did Mohsin Abbas Haider of Na Maloom Afraad fame.
Ali Hamza and Zohaib Kazi, who produced season 11, also got a lot of things right including introducing the module of Coke Studio Explorer and giving bands like Khumariyaan, The Sketches, Sounds of Kolachi, Mughal-e-Funk and Chand Tara Orchestra (CTO) a national platform via the show. It propelled Mughal-e-Funk and CTO to release their debut records with SoK having moved on to their second album with new records from Khumariyaan and The Sketches in the pipeline.
And putting the uber-talented Haniya Aslam, as the second guitarist/instrumentalist in the house band – when needed- and on the post-audio team as well as shrinking the house band were masterstrokes. They also showcased the rap scene of Pakistan by including performers Young Desi and Lyari Underground, the folk legend that is Zarsanga and a lot more but got shot down when Ahad Raza Mir and Momina Mustehsan’s cover of ‘Ko Ko Korina’ was aired in the finale episode, which led to appalling trolling of the singers.
Ali Hamza and Zohaib Kazi announced their departure after just one season. It remains to be seen what Rohail Hyatt - considered the pioneer of pop music via Vital Signs and the founder of Coke Studio Pakistan - conjures with season 12.
