hen we selected Karachi-based Cape Monze Records (CMR) as the most exciting label for the year 2023, several reasons went into that decision. Other labels may offer mainstream artists on a platter. But, on the other hand, when it comes to exciting indie and electronic music, Cape Monze Records has crossed the Rubicon. Ofcourse, we find absolutely no resemblance between Julius Caesar and Cape Monze Records. But, while the former inspired the idiom, the latter is about providing a chance for eclectic, brilliant artists to spread their music as well as a label where there is always room for collaboration. CMR has no bias when it comes to artists and what an artist wants to say through their music.

Just recently, we reported that TMPST has released his three-track EP (18C) with Cape Monze Records. An established indie-electronic artist with several releases to his name, 18C was the first EP that TMPST released through Cape Monze Records.

To add to their thrilling roster, CMR has another punchier release to its credit: a single called ‘Dukh’ by the very talented and often underrated Misbah.

According to press material, this is the first song from Misbah from an upcoming EP called Dur Aik Sitaray Pay. Depending on your musical taste, you might enjoy this song and the upcoming EP because for one thing, the song and its music video is “stylistically” an elegy to an earlier song ‘Sitaray’ by Misbah, which was an ode to the late (and forever great) Nazia Hasan and to the period when The Vital Signs were still together and that particular “era”. In other words, Misbah’s earlier singles were an ode to the golden age of Pakistani pop.

His new release ‘Dukh’ was composed in 2021.

Noted the press statement: “When Misbah was setting up a cottage for himself in the mountainous Hunza valley which he later ran as a guest house and a space for artists to create and collaborate.”

Before going solo, Misbah was a founding member of Takatak (the brilliant heavy-metal group from Lahore) before forming another terrific group called Keeray Makoray with Altamash Sever. Now though, Misbah is making music under his own name with the sound echoing a dream pop landscape.

As for the lyrical part, as the statement said, it is an exploration of certain feelings like loss and “the wave of depression that can sometimes come with it.”

Misbah is pursuing his particular sonic landscape of dream pop (think French artist, Melody Prochet’s Melody’s Echo Chamber if you’re hoping for a connection).

Before going solo, Misbah was a founding member of Takatak (the brilliant heavy-metal group from Lahore) before forming another terrific group called Keeray Makoray with Altamash Sever.

Now though, Misbah is making music under his own name with the sound echoing a dream pop landscape.

Written, played, performed and produced by Misbah, it also features Fatima Khan, Sameen Qasim and Natasha Noorani on backing vocals with Waleed Ahmed (Janoobi Khargosh), mastering the single.

The music video is directed by young directors from Beaconhouse National University (BNU): Zaurithestoner, Anoosh Qainart and Zain terror.

So many artists have come together for this beauty of a song that if you miss it, you cannot say good music is not being made right here at home.