With the corona pandemic still a global reality, more and more events are going online. Literature, music and cultural festivals in Pakistan, like the recently-concluded Tehzeeb Festival, have also taken the digital route. Stepping into the webscape, Lahooti Melo also went digital just recently. Featuring performances and talks made for intriguing and intelligent dialogue, this is one festival you should make time for.

The videos uploaded thus far include Khumariyaan ft. Akber Khamiso Khan, The Sketches ft. Hamza Akram Qawal, Hamza Akram Qawal ft. Master Wali, Mai Dhai ft. Ameer Ali, Natasha Baig, Hamza Akram Qawaal and Brothers and Ustad Abdullah (Shehnai player). You can also find the 2021 edition of Winter Lores by Lahooti featuring Bhagat Bhooro Lal & Ganga Bhagtiyani and many others.

Apart from performances and talks that can be found on YouTube, a special recommendation is the acoustic live version of ‘Galiyan Prem Nagar’ by The Sketches. The folk song is described on YouTube in the following words: “My childhood has so much attached with this kalaam because of my visits to shrines & listening to many fakirs singing this, especially ‘Sufi Sohrab Fakir’ and I fell in love with his voice that still echoes my ears to soul. I often cry emotionally listening to this Kalaam.”

We couldn’t have described the song, presented by The Sketches, any better. Check it out.

Atif Aslam talks to BBC Asian Network

It’s not a secret that Atif Aslam has acting aspirations. It reflects in several of his music videos in recent times including the newest production, ‘Rafta Rafta’ featuring actor Sajal Aly. Speaking to BBC Asian Network, the singer-songwriter, lyricist and composer, spoke on several subjects including ‘Rafta Rafta’. When asked about the response to the song featuring Sajal Aly, Atif commented, “It’s great; I don’t believe in numbers but it’s trending.”

He further reiterated how the newest song from the pop giant has received great response from not just Pakistan but from across the globe including Bangladesh and India and he was grateful to all his fans.

Atif fans should check out the full video online where he speaks about working with the record label Tarish Music via which ‘Rafta Rafta’ has been released and how the collaboration with a relatively new record label came together. He also noted that “we must encourage new labels”.

Answering a question about how theatrical the music video of ‘Rafta Rafta’ is, Atif noted how we look at international music videos of such stature “I wanted to showcase the beauty of Pakistan,” began Atif. “We’ve seen these international videos looking very grand and niche; the landscape is huge. I wanted to introduce my fans to the beauty of Pakistan.” Shot in Gilgit-Baltistan, according to Atif, ‘Rafta ‘Rafta’ doesn’t look like a music video shot in Pakistan. “I wanted to go for a vacation as well since it’s been a longtime,” he added, killing two birds with one stone.

When asked how challenging it was working with one of Pakistan’s finest actors, Sajal Aly, Atif noted, “It was brilliant and I want to thank her for being a part of this [music] video.”

Natasha Noorani’s latest collaboration
is a smash hit

After releasing her debut EP Munaasib (2018), Natasha Noorani is gearing up to release her second solo EP Ronak (tentatively) later this year. To that end, Natasha has made a stunning effort and released a music video called ‘Choro’ from Ronak.

Though known on a national level for the smash hit ‘Baby, Baby’ from Velo Sound Station (2020) and co-founding music symposium Lahore Music Meet, Natasha is among the most versatile artists working in the country. But solo work is one facet of the multidisciplinary Natasha Noorani’s musical curriculum vitae. She also has juicy collaborative music to her name including Biryani Brothers (with Zahra Paracha) that has culminated in at least two songs. Natasha has also collaborated with Shorbanoor, Strings and Gentle Robot as well as for cinema.

Another dynamic collaboration that is unlike Natasha’s solo music is ‘Saazishein’ by KiliHippie x Natasha Noorani. The song is just not another merger of two artists. Notes the YouTube text below the video: “Saazishein is a collaboration between Kenyan KiliHippie and Pakistani Natasha Noorani. After meeting in Berlin through the Goethe Talent Program, the two artists decided to collaborate across continents. The result is a modern, international sound that merges inspirations from global hip-hop, neo-soul, and South Asian vocal melodies. The song’s reflective lyrical imagery is laid on top of a levitating synth track; anchored through subtle, but sharp percussion. Noorani’s pensive lyrics speak of oscillating between rebellion and defeat. KiliHippie’s production is appropriately meditative, but uplifting.”

We dig! You may want to check it out as well. Independent artists are at the edge of pushing musical ideas further than ever before and this song certainly qualifies.