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Indie kids, assemble. This summer has put forth quite a number of sonic curveballs into the atmosphere of the Pakistani indie scene, which demands some attention from passive playlist-scrolling fans and full-time SoundCloud sleuths. Our music scene is not only growing, but flourishing while redefining itself. From gloomy lo-fi to R&B and cosmic electro-mash-up, Pakistani artists are composing songs that cater to those nursing a heartbreak, looking for some form of healing, as well as those gripped by an existential crisis. Test your knowledge and find out which artists and songs are making waves right now.
1. Which song by Amna Riaz was named Spotify Pakistan’s Hitmaker of the Month in July 2025?
a) ‘Duur Se’
b) ‘Samandar’
c) ‘Kya Sach Ho Tum’
d) ‘Khizaan’
3. Which of these Pakistani indie songs was NOT released this year but is still very popular?
a) ‘Jhol’ – Maanu & Annural Khalid
b) ‘Jeevan’ – Marina Khan & Zara Z
c) ‘Tasveer’ – Zahoor
d) ‘Pal Pal’ – Afusic
2. Which song by Lahore-based artist Misbah was released recently on Spotify?
a) ‘Baadal’
b) ‘Dur Aik Sitaray Pay’
c) ‘Sitaray’
d) ‘Dukh’
4. Ali Sethi’s eagerly awaited debut album Love Language is scheduled to release on which date this year?
a) July 25
b) August 1
c) September 1
d) August 15
Answers
1. The correct answer is c.
If Spotify gave out medals for lyrical soul-searching, Amna Riaz would be polishing hers right now. Her single ‘Kya Sach Ho Tum’ didn’t just land her the coveted Hitmaker of the Month title in July 2025—it gave listeners a beautifully bruised alt-pop anthem about truth, vulnerability, and late-night spiral energy. With minimalist production and a haunting R&B edge, the track feels like a confessional booth set to a beat. The audio-streaming platform lauded her for “lyrical vulnerability and sonic minimalism,” and rightly so—she’s part of a class of Pakistani women rewriting the indie pop rulebook from the inside out. With heavy rotation on Fresh Finds Pakistan and Hot Hits Pakistan, and a solid top-five slot on local charts, Amna’s definitely not flying under the radar anymore.
2. The correct answer is b.
Misbah, the soft-spoken architect of your next existential playlist, dropped ‘Dur Aik Sitaray Pay’ song this summer. Though the EP - featuring gems like ‘Dukh’, ‘Udaas’ and ‘Laraztay’—of the same name debuted in 2023 via Cape Monze Records, an indie music label that’s basically the indie Hogwarts of Pakistan—this new track arrives with retro-pop synths, lo-fi textures, and a vibe best described as a sad astronaut lost at a rave. The lyrics, loosely translating to “Far Away on a Star,” are drenched in dreamy escapism and emotional gravity. This is the kind of song that makes you stare out your window and lose track of time because it is as addictive as it is gripping. Reddit users, never short on poetic takes, have dubbed it “retro-pop for daydreamers”—and honestly, we agree.
3. The correct answer is a.
We love a track with staying power, and ‘Jhol’ is still living rent-free in our heads. But let’s be clear—it’s not a summer 2025 release. It was released last year on June 14, as one of the singles from Coke Studio Season 15. While the music video—directed by Jamal Rahman—was an ode to the architecture of old Karachi and its thriving jazz scene (which existed back then), its musical tone remains steeped in lo-fi melancholy and lingering beautiful harmonies.
This song is one of the standouts from Coke Studio Season 15 with composition by Maanu and Xulfi, with music arranged & produced by Xulfi, Abdullah Siddiqui, Talal Qureshi, and Abdullah Kasumbi. A beautiful blend of heart-on-sleeve moodiness with ethereal flavour, it quickly became a favourite among fans. It continues to remain a favourite this year, and we can’t help but root for this stylish, emotionally devastating throwback single by Maanu and Annural Khalid.
4. The correct answer is b.
Ali Sethi is no stranger to sonic reinvention—but Love Language, his first full-length album, promises to be something else entirely. Scheduled for release this year on August 1, the record is already being described as one of the most anticipated drops in South Asian music.
Sethi calls it “a crimson confession”—and from what we know so far, he’s blending classical ragas, ambient textures, Sufi poetry, and a touch of high-art melodrama. With tracks like ‘Maya’, ‘Tera Sitam’, and Rocket Launcher (his collaboration with Maanu), the album suggests a richly emotional and textured body of work.
If the plans go as designed, Love Language might propel experimental South Asian sounds straight into the global mainstream—perhaps even onto a select few critics’ end-of-year lists. Here’s hoping it does.
