In Atif Aslam’s last interview with Instep - the singer, songwriter and composer - discussed how he had plans to release songs with regularity in 2021. His words were more than just lip service. It started two years ago with the rocking old-school ‘12 Bajay’ that was accompanied by a smashing music video by Zeeshan Parwez.

Soon after, Atif Aslam appeared on Coke Studio 12 under the aegis of longtime producer Rohail Hyatt with multiple appearances including two collaborations. In a special Coke Studio effort, Atif also recited ‘Asma-ul-Husna - The 99 Names,’ a devotional elegy (produced by Xulfi). Just when it was assumed that Atif will probably make Sufi music, he went onto make one slick appearance during the debut season of Velo Sound Station with ‘Kadi Te Hans’ - a merger of original and the new - with Bilal Maqsood helming the music series. Atif went onto release the star-studded multiple narrative music video of a song called ‘Raat’ with Yasir Jaswal helming it.

A cover effort of ‘Chale To Kat Hi Jayega’, an original by Musarrat Nazeer, was released via Sufi Score. Somewhere in there, Atif also did a full-length jingle with Zong with the spirit being uplifting the youth. During Ramazan 2021, he released the devotional ‘Mustafa Jaan e Rehmat - Darood O Salaam’ backed by a group of musicians including Ahsan Pervaiz. You just can’t predict what’s going through Atif’s mind.

Music videos like ‘Raat’ also showcased an acting bug that has bit the country’s biggest musical superstar. So, it doesn’t come as a complete surprise that Atif Aslam has a song underway with one of the brightest actors in the country, Sajal Aly. Atif confirmed the news to Instep. The single, titled ‘Rafta Rafta’ is being shot in Skardu, according to further reports.

How the music video is executed and what narrative emerges remains to be seen but given his performance in ‘Raat’, maybe it’s time Atif Aslam is tapped by the film or TV industry.

Xulfi to produce Coke Studio 14, confirms the producer

Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan, better known as Xulfi, seems to have done it all. Once a member of the iconic and now defunct music group EP, he is still a vital part of another music group called Call. The latter also counts actor Junaid Khan as vocalist. Back to Xulfi, he has produced several seasons of Nescafe Basement (including the last one to critical and commercial acclaim), several songs on Pepsi Battle of the Bands during the comeback of the series and worked with newer acts like Kashmir and Karakoram on their respective debut albums. He also produced the PSL track, ‘Groove Mera’ for the latest edition of the Twenty20 cricket series.

After Coke Studio 2020, as Rohail Hyatt stepped down from the role of executive producer, he picked Xulfi as his choice for successor for the next season. Plus, we all know Coke Studio is like cricket; we love it or hate it or pick at it but as a people, we are simply not ambivalent to either.

So, interest in the series remains a reality. Given that, conjecture about producer is always probable. But Xulfi first confirmed the news on his social media this past week and fans are thrilled. When asked by Instep if he will be helming the series, Xulfi confirmed the news.

It will be fascinating to see how Xulfi executes Coke Studio. From co-founder Rohail Hyatt to former music group Strings to Ali Hamza-Zohaib Kazi teaming up to the return of Rohail Hyatt, Coke Studio has gone through a myriad of names.

The big question is what Xulfi will bring to the table. Will he turn the show on its head or keep certain ethos in mind particularly if Velo Sound Station does return for a second season? Time will tell. But a new (14^th) season of Coke Studio is thus definitely on the cards.

– Keep watching this space for more information.

By Asif Khan

Abida Parveen and Raga Boyz come together for ‘Ghareeb Nawaz’

The iconic Abida Parveen doesn’t collaborate with just anyone. So, when she collaborated with Raga Boyz for the traditional Sufi Bandish, ‘Ghareeb Nawaz’, the result was unanimous. Curiosity followed by fan following. Since releasing, the devotional track has picked up millions of views while emerging as a soul-stirring collaboration. Add to it, the music video that also features Nighat Chaudhry and you have a song that traipses between contemporary and classical with ease.

Raga Boyz, featuring siblings Wali Hamid Ali Khan, Inam Ali Khan and Nayab Ali Khan, the ninth generation descendants of the Patiala Gharana and sons of living legend Ustad Hamid Ali Khan, have never conformed to any particular genre of music. Maybe that’s what makes them such a special music group and ‘Ghareeb Nawaz’ - released by Sufi Score – an equally out-of-the-box track.

Speaking about the devotional track, the band said, “We think that fusing and collaborating such distinctive trajectories of music in contemporary form amplifies their reach. It makes our youth understand how rich our musical heritage is when it comes to diversity, range and appeal.”

Irrespective of their illustrious legacy, the band was moved by working with Abida Parveen. Speaking about their experience, Wali told Instep, “Regardless of her countless achievements with plethora of awards to her credit, Abida jee remains an epitome of love and humbleness. We recorded the song in Islamabad and got so much love and affection from her. She patiently listened to us when we narrated the entire concept to her and after the recording, I requested her to be a part of the music video and she obliged. She was kind enough to accept and came all the way to Lahore to help us create history. We are really indebted to her love and kindness.”

– Photo by Sufi Score