Two artists who have crossed the 100 million mark on Coke Studio as well as one of the most promising production houses, Khoosat Films (which is helmed by Sarmad Khoosat), and terrific actor Sarwat Gilani have joined hands with the United States Embassy for a noble goal.

As we’re learning, another subvariant of Cov-Sars-2 has been reported abroad and the health ministry is taking strict measures when screening passengers entering the country. This also means that individuals who’ve been vaccinated must get booster shots.

However, when stepping out, you will find less and less people wearing masks or following guidelines anymore. A reminder has arrived in the form of this collaboration and you have to hand it to this team for giving us a beautiful song.

With melody composed by Nimra Gillani and Ali Hamdani, music produced by the talented Varqa Faraid and Shamsher Rana, and lyrics by Mohammad Hanif, it features Sarwat Gilani with a narrative-based video directed by Sarmad Khoosat.

Apart from being one of the strongest songs we’ve heard from Atif Aslam, if the song’s mission was to raise awareness about getting booster shots and not embracing the idea that Covid-19 is over, it did so with flying colours.

You do not see and hear this kind of collaboration everyday so check it out. As a bonus, it finds Atif at his very best while Shae Gill, still finding her voice, gives just as strong a performance as his co-singer.

For the sake of the music and what the narrative is about, watch the video and get booster shots for the time of Covid-19 is not over just yet.

-Atif Aslam and Shae Gill photos via Coke Studio 14

Maanu releases ‘Kehti Sahi’ featuring Towers

Love him or hate him, you must applaud Maanu for being one of the most consistent artists within the music industry. Prior to releasing ‘Pyaar Hai Asli’ with Hasan Raheem and Talal Qureshi, he released a bunch of solo and collaborative singles that went under the radar. Among them is a collaboration with Towers for a song called ‘Kehti Hai’. Off the songs between ‘Pyaar Hai Asli’ and his solo numbers, it’s this song that caught our attention the most.

Produced by Maanu and co-composed by Towers and Maanu, the song finds him admitting to human frailty, relationships, and an abyss that looks back at you.

Directed at a beach by Zain Peerzada, the video isn’t elaborate but still has an appeal to it. The kind of sincerity within the lyrics and the chill vibe without any unnecessary music that can lend a song a noisy theme, the music is complementary to the words being sung and rapped.

The track is from Maanu’s album, Sakuna Matata. He has released - including ‘Kehti Sahi’ - six tracks from the album. Check them out to hear the sonic structure carved by Maanu.