Atif Aslam is a big believer in keeping his many, many fans guessing. 2021 has been one rollercoaster ride and it’s far from over. Maintaining a strong consistency, he dropped the all-star ‘Raat’ with intelligent direction by Yasir Jaswal. The music video featured stars like Gohar Rasheed, Mansha Pasha, Syra Yousuf, Kiran Malik and Khalid Malik apart from Atif himself, who played various roles. In an interview with Instep, he explained how night means different things to different people and Atif wanted to showcase that.

Atif also dropped ‘Rafta Rafta’ by Tarish Music with the music video featuring the dynamic Sajal Ali. In approximately one month ‘Rafta Rafta’ picked up 13 million views on YouTube alone. A beautiful cover of Madam Noor Jehan’s ‘Dil Jalane Ki Baat’ was also released this year via SufiScore.

As music was released, the pop star confessed in the same interview with Instep that he had a desire to pursue acting. With determination, Atif landed a major acting role in a TV serial called Sang-e-Mah. “Yes, I am doing a drama serial and I need your blessings,” he wrote to fans on Instagram. “You have always showered me with your love, and I hope you do the same this time.”

While the TV series makes its debut, Atif Aslam has dropped another surprise: a music video with the country’s most popular female actor - Mahira Khan. Dropping two teasers of the video (at the time of writing this piece) in which strains of Atif’s voice reflect why he is still considered one of the best singers in South Asia, the very short teaser doesn’t describe the narrative of the music video but does an effective job of making one curious. Atif Aslam last worked with Mahira Khan a decade ago in Shoaib Mansoor’s film, Bol. Back then, while Mahira Khan made her cinematic debut with the project, Atif lent his voice to the soundtrack and star-power to the socially thematic film by performing in a small role. Now as his drive for acting continues, it looks like the upcoming song called ‘Ajnabi’ will be a lot different. Other credits for the song include Asim Raza and Ahsan Pervaiz Mehdi, with the former directing the music video and the latter producing the music, we believe. Nonetheless, it’ll be interesting to see how ‘Ajnabi’ fares against the mammoth hit ‘Hona Tha Pyaar’ from Bol.

Asad Ahmed gears up to release new album; drops new single

Pakistani guitar maverick Asad Ahmed has a career full of dynamic achievements. From his role in pioneering pop bands such as Vital Signs and Awaz to Karavan and several years with Coke Studio as part of the house-band, Asad has quite a few accomplishments to boast of. But in addition to sessions and contributing to the likes of Haroon’s music albums among other things, Asad Ahmed has been pursuing a regular, cohesive solo career as well. To that end he has released three records: Rebirth, Severe Cuts and Ascension.

Not looking to go into oblivion, Asad Ahmed is now dropping his fourth solo album with the first single called ‘The Funk of 1000 Years’ releasing this past week. “It is part of the first two singles that will release before the album comes out,” confirmed Asad to Instep. “The album will feature eight studio tracks and two live tracks that were recorded before Covid-19 at a live show I did at the PACC. I chose this song (as the first release) because it’s something fans have always wanted from me. It’s the hard and heavy track they expect from me. Most guitar players want to hear that kind of stuff. So, it’s very much me.”

He added: “The new album takes on many different sonic ambitions; as you get older you don’t want to play heavy metal all the time. It has something for everyone. I’ve also flirted with electronica on one track.”

The upcoming album is scheduled to release later this year. The second single that will precede the album is a slower, moody track called ‘Longing’, set in Raag Aiman. “It’s a sweet sounding raag and it’s my own take on it.”

Asad Ahmed’s upcoming singles and full-length LP is yet another sign that more and more artists are making music – veterans and youngsters - at a time when perception is the opposite. –Artwork by Asad Ahmed

Baluch Twins fly high

Baluch Twins - who made their debut on Nescafe Basement 5 in formidable fashion - have become an unstoppable force. Since then they have performed at the all-star Super Salt 2019 gig by Salt Arts and appeared on Braadri Broadcast on more than one occasion. In 2021 they’ve earned nominations in the category of Singer of the Year and Song of the Year at the upcoming edition of the Lux Style Awards.

Baluch Twins featuring Adil and Asim Baluch have released several covers available on YouTube but it’s their Big Foot Music track, ‘Tazhn Teehar’ and ‘Chakiwara Song’ by Braadri Broadcast that’s lent them sizzling credibility. The boys from Karachi’s Lyari district pack a wallop in their originals such as ‘Tazhn Teehar‘ (which earned them two LSA nods) and ‘Chakiwara Song’.

Since the release of the nominations, the Baluch Twins took to YouTube and released a video showcasing their grace and gratitude over being nominated and urged fans to vote for them during a video that runs just a little over 1 minute.

“For a Baluchi song to come forward in such fashion and to be nominated among many big names in itself feels like an achievement,” they said and we agree. They added: “Keep up the support that you’ve always shown us.”

In their YouTube video, the lads have shared that ‘Tazhn Teehar’ is a Baluchi ghazal and they were grateful to Big Foot Music as they shared: “Hamad Khan and Sohaib Lari @Bigfoot for giving life to this beautiful Baluchi Ghazal.”

It has to be said that this particular nomination is inclusive and it is good to see artists being gracious instead of pulling each other down as has been the case nearly every year.