Oh, take the time to waste a moment/Oh, face it where the lines are broken/Oh, name a price to all that’s living/Oh, never ask to be forgiven” – ‘Waste a Moment’ by Kings of Leon

In musical vernacular, not every song is layered with feminist ideology, whether nuanced or an an in-your-face effort. But when done right, music can give expression to the experience of being a woman, or just being human, in this world.

The future is about accepting and respecting every iteration of gender identity and recognizing the complex issues and concerns that accompany each identity. As larger debates about gender politics rage on in the country, we present to you tracks that can be the soundtrack to this rising roar.

Artist: Strings
Song: ‘Dhaani’
Director: Jami

Long before breaking up or Coke Studio’s birth, the now former group Strings released a music video for ‘Dhaani’ backed by a good pop song. The entire music video showcased a world run by women. Directed by Jamshed ‘Jami’ Raza, the music video from the album of the same name appeared at a time when making such music videos was not the in-thing. From women riding vespas to being mechanics to being in jobs that have always been seen as a man’s trade, the appearance of Zeba Bakhtiar lends it credibility and a thumbs-up in a sense. The music video shows the band going through these spaces as well as being in the studio. Check out the music video because while you watch it, your anxiety will disappear even if it’s just for a few minutes and the audio-visual combination will go easy on you in a larger sense, akin to a dreamy experience minus toxic environments and relationships we are surrounded by.

Artist: Zeb and Haniya
Song: ‘Rona Chor Diya’
Platform: Coke Studio 2

From their one and only album, Chup, Zeb (Bangash) and Haniya (Aslam) dropped the excellent music video for ‘Aitebaar’ - directed by Saqib Malik and featuring Omar Rahim and Joshinder Chaggar. With oscillating emotions shown in creative choreography performing arts format, it was an impressive debut music video. However, ‘Rona Chor Diya’ didn’t get its own music video until Coke Studio arrived. The duo rightfully earned an opportunity to present several of their original songs from this album on the platform in its second season. Among them was ‘Rona Chor Diya’. In an interview years later, Haniya Aslam confirmed that this was in fact the most feminist song on their album - co-written by Haniya Aslam and Bilal Sami with whom she would go on to collaborate in years to come. The song caters to the idea that the crying has been left behind even in days of yearning and a heart at loss. In multiple listening session, it also pushed forward the idea of embracing a brand-new day. It is not a meandering song but one that is inspiring and uplifting because it imparts the idea of finding strength from within and even the outer world sans tears for heartbreak. Penned beautifully, Zeb and Haniya did perform this song on Coke Studio’s groundbreaking second season (collaborating with Javed Bashir) and it is a beautiful feminist anthem, whether you prefer the Coke Studio version or the album version or both.

Artist: Bumbu Sauce
Song: ‘My Punjabi Love For You’
Director: Adnan Malik

Traipsing somewhere between rock, punk and grunge, Bumbu Sauce, an independent band from Islamabad, has a terrific EP called Bistee Proof to their credit. Among songs, it includes fan favourites such as ‘Mojambo’, ‘Bunnanyn(za)’, ‘My Punjabi Love For You’ and ‘Jiggernaut’. Though these songs released years ago, each packs a wallop of grunge-punk rock that goes straight to the heart and memory. The music video for ‘My Punjabi Love For You’, directed by Adnan Malik, is where Bumbu Sauce go all out. To put it in a nutshell, it feels less like a music video and more like a short film with an almost definitive theme. Aaminah Sheikh features as the damsel in distress, a woman caught between devil and the deep blue sea. Villainy ensues, she is abandoned and wonders where and how to go forward after a series of betrayals. It leads to a version of her that is taught to fight by an elderly man and she transforms into a woman who who can, shall we say, kick ass. The camerawork in particular and the vocals will also surprise you. Watch how the damsel in distress narrative is turned on its head. The music video features other actors but this is Aaminah Sheikh’s show, made special by the transformation. – Artwork by Sami Shah

Song: ‘Madam’
Artist: Jimmy Khan ft. Lucky Khan and
Nirmal Chaudry
Director: Sana Jafri
Produced by Zain Ahsan

The Pakistani patriarchy ensures that either every other gender bows down to the narrative that appeals to the cis-het male sensibility, or is made to feel less-than. This structure is more apparent now than ever, perhaps because it is being pointed out by equal-rights activists.

At such a time, when an independent musician like Jimmy Khan dropped ‘Madam’ ft. Lucky Khan and Nirmal Chaudry with the mission to reflect “a day in the in the life of transgender community” without making larger claims, it was a masterstroke. Some profound moments in the music video will make you realize just how those that differ than you live a much harder world. Featuring Jimmy Khan, Zain Ahsan, Moin Khan, Azad Bahadur Masih, Saad Deebaj Syed, Mustafa Ali, Ahmed Mustafa, Ali Ahmed Khan, Ghulam Murtaza, Daniyal Nasir, Sarmed Aftab Jadran, Hamza Arshad, Aayan Arif and Bhola Bhai, the music video sees several musicians playing roles of how individuals behave with this marginalized community but their moments with each other and the complete sonic change makes it even more arresting. Just when you don’t expect a song like this from Khan, he throws a curveball that makes you wonder about even your own behaviour.

Song: ‘Maa Behn Ka Danda’
Artist: Garam Anday
Director: Anam Abbas

Just as Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Alright’ became the unofficial anthem for Black Lives Matters movement, Garam Anday’s ‘Maa Behn Ka Danda’ is the anthem booming during Aurat March. It wasn’t something the Garam Anday gang planned but simply serendipitous given how the song came into being. The lyrics were the result of some truths and some satire; it combined conversations between Anam Abbas, Areeb Kishwar (the official band members) as well as a slew of others who’d get together and these lines would be penned in a notebook including everything from jokes to profanity. It was whittled down to what would be the lyrical content including lines also being discussed over messaging. If Areeb is the musician, Anam Abbas is the director and can tell stories. With the song produced by Haniya Aslam, they had a quality song, but the music video bordered on perilous subjects. Existent in myopic Pakistan, we don’t like to talk about them. This group does. So, the music video threw in an image of being stared at by a man or an image of the late Qandeel Baloch or a shot of the late Khadim Hussain Rizvi running on the television set and a mixture of truth, fantastical and comical. The song put the group on the map and we hope to hear more punk-laden audio-visual stories from them.

Song: ‘Amrit’
Artist: Meesha Shafi
Platform: Velo Sound Station (Season One)

Since 2018, Meesha Shafi has gone from being a great cover artist to one who is shaping her own narrative in music. What does she want to say? ‘Mein’ was both profound and personal, but each song has been powerful, textured and meaningful. She rapped on ‘Na Tutteya Ve’ and elevated the song and her cover of ‘Boom Boom’ – original by Nazia Hasan – took her to another stratosphere. ‘Hot Mango Chutney Sauce’ with its collaboration with Swineryy and the end-message of consent was sharp and necessary in these times. ‘Leela’ was a conversation between a girl and the moon; mysterious at first, and as it reaches the crescendo, you realize Meesha has stories to tell. With every song Meesha Shafi enters a new musical multiverse. But as far as female empowerment goes, her potent, hits-you-in-the-gut song is ‘Amrit’ which appeared on the short-lived first season of Velo Sound Station. ‘Amrit’ depicts fighting back when the world is breaking you down. From being chained with eyes in a black blind to being straitjacketed, Meesha finds her way and breaks free via a deeper inner strength. What follows is how she performs and dances to her heart’s content. The song’s audio is just as powerful. In a word, it is about liberation. That liberation is palpable in the VSS audio-music landscape.

Song: ‘Main Irada’
Artists: Haniya Aslam, Rachel Viccaji, Shamu Bai, Ariana and Amrina, Wajiha Ather Naqvi and Mehr Qadir
Platform: Coke Studio 11

During Coke Studio 11 (produced by Ali Hamza and Zohaib Kazi), ‘Main Irada’ was released as the first song from Coke Studio to feature an equal number of men and women performing on the floor. As Haniya - who co-wrote the song with Bilal Sami, composed and co-sang it - had told Instep when the song released, the idea behind it was that it should speak to every Pakistani woman in some way. Apart from the male musicians on the floor, it featured Haniya Aslam, Rachel Viccaji, Shamu Bai, Ariana and Amrina, Wajiha Ather Naqvi and Mehr Qadir.

Also check out the following artists: Wooly and the Uke, Mai Dhai Band, Lahooti Live Sessions, Rushk, Justin Bibis, Eva B, Natasha Noorani, Slowspin, Zahra Paracha and Haniya Aslam.