Artist to watch: Izzchughtai

How can it be possible, in this day and age, for just one artist whom we should and/or could focus on more. But like every year, some names break through the clutter and make us wonder what they will create next.

One name that comes to mind is that of Umair Chughtai, better known as ‘izzchughtai’ whose YouTube bio says that he “envisions a diverse sound”.

The artist from Lahore has a number of songs to his name but if you listen to just one of his songs, you will reach the same conclusion that we have, which is that he’s a young artist with immense promise.

A favorite example is ‘Tere Baajo’, a song by Turhan James, which released last year, featuring him as well as the outstanding Abdullah Kasumbi. Another song from his growing catalogue that we adore is ‘Khuaab’ which was produced, mixed and mastered by Shahmeer Raza and released last year in February. Izzchughtai doesn’t have records upon records to his name, well, not yet. But he can write and perform his own songs and when he pairs up with the right producer, the result is extraordinary. ‘Khuaab’ is one example; ‘Tere Baajo’ is another. Other songs on his YouTube page offer more singles. He is an artist who has the voice and sings from the heart. In 2024, we hope to hear more from him and will look out for each release.

Always on the go: Hasan Raheem

Do you ever wonder just how or why Hasan Raheem takes out so much music? What is his narrative? Heartbreak? Success? Lost love? New love? It will require several days, if not weeks or month, to find the answer. Or, maybe, even then the answer might remain hidden under an invisibility cloak. It depends on something larger to find the right answer: perspective.

Are you wondering why on earth we’re so eagerly talking about Hasan Raheem?

To be fair, it is because of his musical velocity. The breakout artist of 2021, he has several singles as well as collaborations to his credit. But not one to rest on his past success, Raheem released a full-length album in 2022 called Nautanki, featuring nine songs and followed it up with an EP called Maybe, It’s Love in 2023 which contained 5 songs.

As the year was wrapping up, Raheem dropped one of his strongest songs called ‘Hungama’, which he co-wrote and co-performed with Abdullah Kasumbi with the latter also producing the song. The official music video for the song dropped this month, and shows how far he has come as an artist. What is obvious is that it is a love song, and is like a conversation with a beloved, where he has questions and observations. embedded in the lyrics. It is also a song where he shares inadequacies, the shape of his personality and one where he has made no effort to imitate the sound of his Coke Studio hit, ‘Peechay Hatt’ x Talal Qureshi x Justin Bibis or his chart-topping single, ‘Aisay Kaisay’. The video is larger than life and it flows with the song. And mind you, this is just the first month of the new year. So, whether you like his music or not, rest assured that 2024 will be another grand year for this young and restless artist.

Also, we should give big props to Abdullah Kasumbi because anytime he is producing or co-producing an artist, the result is one that piques curiosity. Among the most flavorful producers to emerge in the last few years, Kasumbi is at the top of his game and should be followed by those looking to embrace the newer sounds that have taken the music scene by a storm.

The newest hitmakers:
Hassan and Roshaan

This music duo first caught our attention when they collaborated with Shae Gill for a song called ‘Sukoon’. We were floored but we were, in a way, biased because post-‘Pasoori’, we’ve all been looking for any song that featured Shae Gill.

However, between that song and now, this duo has proven itself as an electrifying team that has more cards to play and ‘Sukoon’ was not a one-off hit.

Head to their YouTube channel, and you will be overwhelmed, surprised and captivated by the sheer volume of the music they’ve released including collaborations with other artists. And while you explore their catalogue, the big news for Hassan and Roshaan is that they are producing a song for producer par excellence, Mekaal Hasan and the usual suspects that accompany him. Set to release this year, it will be a rare chance for fans to listen to Mekaal Hasan being produced by someone else. For Mekaal Hasan, an industry veteran, letting another act produce him is a sign of how things are changing and ought to happen in the case of other veteran names. Watch out!

Under the radar: Saad Mazher, Umer Ahmed

The thing common to both artists is that they do not have many, many songs and albums to their credit but what they may lack in a large discography is made up by their unique talents.

Umer Ahmed, if you go back in time a little, is the younger brother of Waleed Ahmed of Janoobi Khargosh. One of his biggest fans is Zain Ahsan, and Umer Khan of Poor Rich Boy who has described his music taste and ability to be unparalleled. The younger Ahmed has even collaborated with Poor Rich Boy in the past. But as he breaks out from under the shadow of PRB or Janoobi Khargosh legacy, Umer Ahmed can count us as his biggest fans. Every song he has released in the form of a collaboration with another artist will make you think of no other artist, just him carving a space for his own identity.

On the other hand, Saad Mazher, who has just about three songs released on Spotify, and two videos on YouTube has an ethereal quality, one that is hard to pinpoint. But whatever subject he chooses to sing about, he has reeled us in because of the sincerity with which he sings and one that is not that common.

Both Umer Ahmed and Saad Mazher joined hands in late 2023 for a song called ‘Mera Din’ which has a video up on YouTube as well. Saad Mazher brought his bag of goods in the form of writing, composing, arranging, playing guitar and performing the song.

Umer Ahmed, too, brought his bag of magic music as he played several instruments and produced the song. As a result, it feels like finding that diamond in the rough, entirely by accident. Their combined vision in the form of the song ‘Mera Din’ is a clutter-free song that is so genuine and so rare that we can’t get enough of it. Here is a song that has not thrown everything on the wall to see just what sticks. A light, mellow ditty, ‘Mera Din’ is part of an EP called Bahaar, by Saad Mazher and while we wait for it, we’re jazzed by this collaboration. Another song from Bahaar is also up on YouTube, which is called ‘Pyaar Jo’ and just as cool with Ahmed involved in the song on electric guitar.

Umer Ahmed and Zair Zaki (of Kashmir) have also worked together and have plans to work together, according to Zaki. So, all in all, it looks like 2024 will be the year when we must unearth these lesser-known producers, voices and instrumentalists and shine a light on them.

‘Mera Din’ also has a music video up on YouTube and it matches the mood of the song so well that it must be viewed once before you get hooked to it or write it off.

Saad Mazher and Umer Ahmed as a duo (due to the quiet sincerity of ‘Mera Din’) as well as solo artists are the ones to watch for. I, for one, am baffled how this song from 2023 went under the radar and didn’t become the hit it should’ve been. The future, with both these artists, does look happier, though.

P.S.: Umer Ahmed and PRB joined forces for a song called ‘Saal’ and he has also worked with other artists so keep looking for the younger Ahmed because he seems to be as talented as his older brother, if not more.