Like most contemporary artists operating in the entertainment universe, Uzair Jaswal has plenty of pop culture identities. Some recognize him from his appearance on Coke Studio, many moons ago, which also earned him the title of youngest performer on the show before the title was eventually swooped by another artist. No matter though, Jaswal’s rise has been in the making for some time and long overdue.

Some know him for his film work in projects like Jalaibee and more recently, the online release Oye Kuch Kar Guzar. Other are enamored by him as an actor on TV, as he appears in the serial Moray Saiyaan.

But for many, the name Uzair Jaswal still brings to mind musical melodies. Having been around for several years, the singer-songwriter deserves a pat on the back for having the courage to release an album at a time when full-length LPs in mainstream music have all but disappeared and have been replaced by singles, soundtracks and corporate-fueled music projects. Alternatively, many have turned to the dynamic independent music scene for obscure and inventive sounds as well as projects like Patari Tabeer.

Jaswal’s debut offering, Na Bhulana, released towards the very end of December last year, is therefore an important addition to the colorful world of pop music. It is also, in many ways, an album that is easy to digest; it has its own lovelorn identity and is comfortable staying within that structure and is not pretending to be a subversive, out-of-the-box experience.

The record, essentially a compilation of songs Jaswal had in his musical repertoire for years, is short and sweet and contains 11 tracks in total including one remix.

On ‘Na Bhulana’, an easy-listening production, driven by acoustic guitar charm, Jaswal sings (possibly to a lover) about how he yearns to not be forgotten so easily. The love theme continues with ‘Bichara Dil’ where the constant absence of a beloved makes the heart weep. Just under three-minutes, the sonic electro treatment on this song is measured and entertaining.

With the upbeat ‘Khazana’, the easy-listening sound architecture is given pop-ish layers while the lyrical content alludes to falling into all-encompassing love with someone.

If the mood on the preceding songs retained a cloud of hope, ‘Jhootay Pal’ changes the mood and has darker undertones, both musically and lyrically. Running over five minutes, it has all the hallmarks of a power ballad and is a prayer that asks for the one to not leave. With piano/keyboards proving a crisp texture of sound, it’s a song where Jaswal lets his emotions run wild through the vocals.

‘Meri Rooh’, while staying with the parameter of urban pop, is another ballad-esque track that changes on you in a fashion that is surprising; it begins in slow, haunting fashion and blows into a fully-encompassing explosion of a song. Soulful crooning is Jaswal’s strength it seems.

Meanwhile, ‘Kahaani’, running just over two minutes, is an unabashed story of a broken heart, of a lying moment and of being let down. It echoes a search that stays incomplete.

‘Sajna’, nearly four minutes long, feels out of place in this otherwise, palatable album that is full of short, effective pop bursts that are drenched in love, loss and heartbreak. Louder than most tracks, it’s also poetically weak. A remix by Zeeshan Parwez is also present which lends authenticity to the original and rescues it smartly.

‘Tu Hai’ is introspective, a look at how life changes on you, and observes how despite the passage of time, some moments stay forever. While poetically it fits into the album, sonically it is closer to ‘Sajna’ but more optimistic in theme. ‘Bolay’, on the other hand, is peppy, playful and easily one of the album’s high points.

The Verdict

Music is often interesting when it has a curious narrative. In the case of Na Bhulana, the storytelling is coming from Uzair Jaswal who has admitted in interviews leading up to the album’s release and post-game that the record captures his life and emotions.

"Every song in the album has been written at different stages of my life - teenage, school and then college. I believe you always fall in love once, but once you’re heartbroken, with time you not only learn to get over it but you live and love better the next time," Jaswal told Instep in an earlier interview.

The feel of the album is also youthful and in some ways it’s a reflection of the man who made the album. As Jaswal explains, the songs on this record are a "compilation" of his journey "for over a decade". The songwriting is also honest if not groundbreaking. And Jaswal, who counts Noori, Atif Aslam and Ali Zafar as some of his favourite artists, maintains that he would like to be taken seriously as a musician. Releasing an album, which Jaswal says is the most cherished part of a musician’s career, certainly achieves that goal.

In the end, it doesn’t matter if you’ve never heard of Uzair Jaswal’s songs or not. This album is full of safe, sweet, adorable and accessible sonic moments. And though not astonishing in range, or daring greatly, it remains a channeling of Jaswal’s inner world and for that effort alone, it must be applauded and heard.