“Can you hear me when I sing? /You’re the reason I sing/You’re the reason why the opera is in me.” – ‘Sometimes you can’t make it on your own’ by U2

2023 is turning out to be a big year for Asim Azhar. In just three months, two songs from the first season of Velo Sound Station featuring the artist - that were originally held back - have been released.

By now we also know that the original creator/producer and co-director of Velo Sound Station – Bilal Maqsood – has confirmed that he will not be doing a second season voluntarily. But Azhar’s two songs (an original and a cover song) are a product of the debut season when Bilal Maqsood was the executive producer and helmed the show. The songs (‘Sona Chandi’ and a cover of Sajjad Ali’s ‘Chahay Jis Shehr’) may not be everyone’s cup of tea but there is certainly something to this young 20-something artist who commands a huge audience. The audience continues to gravitate towards his music. It also makes him one of the most appealing artists from Pakistani pop to the corporate-funded musical universe.

Having appeared successfully in Coke Studio as a featured artist in the past, Asim can be seen and/or heard in music videos, OST recordings, live shows and award shows - proving he is not a singer or composer but also a performer. Azhar tends to appear centerstage and has been developing a relationship with his growing audience, irrespective of the pandemic.

Where does his story begin in 2023?

Well, according to the data provided by Spotify, Asim Azhar is among the most-streamed artists in the country including provinces like Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

If you’re an Asim Azhar fan, ‘Sona Chandi’ is something to celebrate.

To be fair, it is one of his better songs. But the second song, a cover of Sajjad Ali’s ‘Chahay Jis Shehr’ by Asim Azhar and (by the very talented) Sara Haider didn’t come close to either the original or as an entertaining and creative cover.

Cover songs can be of countless hues musically with several examples including ‘Boom Boom’ by Meesha Shafi from VSS, ‘Mera Pyar’ by Arooj Aftab (single) by the late Amir Zaki or the Kashmir version of ‘Mera Pyar’ presented during the resurrected Pepsi Battle of the Bands (in 2017) and on and on it goes.

Asim Azhar fans seem to be loving it though, given how quickly it has reached the 10 million viewership mark. Musically speaking, I prefer the Sajjad Ali version. The production design, stage presence and new parts created in the studio mean a great deal of effort went into the making of this cover. However, covering Sajjad Ali can be a daunting task and Azhar’s collaboration with Sara Haider doesn’t register as a strong cover. Don’t get me wrong. I love cover songs but it has to be remarkable and Azhar’s foray just isn’t.

Between Spotify and Velo Sound Station, in 2023, a lovelorn song called ‘Dard’ was also dropped to the delight of Asim Azhar fans. If you’re into his ideas of love, longing and heartbreak, this is the heartbreak song that should appear as a compelling release.

Dropped approximately a month ago with a lavish music video and a multitude of collaborators, ‘Dard’ is for Asim Azhar fans and he has a dedicated fanbase that goes beyond Pakistan.

Azhar is also a part of the Pakistan Super League 8’s official anthem ‘Sab Sitaray Humaray’ with Faris Shafi and Shae Gill. The trio performed at the opening ceremony of PSL. To add more to his elaborate career, Asim Azhar was recently made a co-curator for Spotify’s Cricket Fever playlist.

Launched to tap into the enthusiasm of Pakistani fans for the sport of cricket as T20 World Cup is also on the cards, Asim shared the music he listens to when playing cricket. They include iconic and modern tracks such as ‘Hai Koi Hum Jaisa’ by Strings, ‘Hum Hain Pakistani’ by The Vital Signs, ‘Cricket Khidaiye’ by Atif Aslam, Faris Shafi and Talal Qureshi and ‘Jazba Junoon’ by Junoon.

Apart from these iconic picks, other songs that made Asim Azhar’s conclusive list featured songs such as ‘Groove Mera’ by Aima Baig, Naseebo Lal, and Young Stunners, ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ by The Vital Signs, ‘Tayyar Hain’ by Ali Azmat, Haroon, Asim Azhar and Arif Lohar, ‘Josh e Junoon’ by Ali Azmat, and ‘Khel Dil Mein Hai’ by Meesha Shafi, Eva B, Abdullah Siddiqui and Asim Azhar (for Jazz).

For fans outside Pakistan, there is more good news. Asim Azhar is scheduled to embark on his first solo tour of the United Kingdom in April. So far, he will be performing in Manchester and London.