Though the New Year usually brings with it a kind of bright sky, it has been dimmed by the recent death(s) of actor Om Puri and singing legend, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan. Even as the artist community mourns these tragic losses, it is also creating content and spaces that, as always, merit exploration.
Sikandar Ka Mandar, an indie folk rock group from Karachi, is gearing up to return with a new record this year.
MUSICMIX
A quick look at what’s coming up in the music scene.
Though the New Year usually brings with it a kind of bright sky, it has been dimmed by the recent death(s) of actor Om Puri and singing legend, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan. Even as the artist community mourns these tragic losses, it is also creating content and spaces that, as always, merit exploration.
After producing and designing the first season of Salt Soiree in 2016, Cote Rotie and Salt Arts in collaboration with the Alliance Française Karachi, is gearing up to return with a new season of the live series later this month. Having hosted 7 shows featuring a combination of musicians from Karachi and Lahore (and names like Jimmy Khan, Rachel Viccaji, Sikander Mufti, Lenny Massey, Anas Alam, Alycia Dias, Anselm Fernandes Slowspin, Alak, Ashley Clements, Clifford Lucas, Bradley, Saad Hayat, Aziz, Jasir Abro, Zain Ahsan and Raavail Sattar) last year, Salt Arts is returning with Salt Soiree 8 on January 18 of this month. It will feature the amazing Natasha Humera Ejaz alongside her band, which includes Ali Suhail and Rahail Siddique, both of whom also make up the live line up of one Umair Jaswal.
Sajjad Ali is creating waves with his new song, ‘Tamasha’ which is a collaboration between him and rapper Bohemia.
January will also see the return of Lahooti Melo with its second edition. Scheduled to take place on the 21st & 22nd of this month in Hyderabad, the festival that is inclusive by design and hopes to cater to all of Sindh’s inhabitants and beyond, will feature a series of panel discussions, conversations and scores of live performances. Spearheaded by Saif Samejo of The Sketches, the festival will be bigger than its inaugural edition and will feature international, indigenous and mainstream musicians as well as academics and culture contributors. Those expected to attend include artists like Khumariyaan, Faraz Anwar, Taimoor Salahuddin aka Mooroo, Malang Party, Shahram Azhar, Ali Hamza’s solo introspective adventure Sanwal, Arieb Azhar, actor Ayub Khoso, filmmaker Jami and many more.
Several artists like Faraz Anwar, Sounds of Kolachi and Fuzon have announced full length albums that will, in all probability, release this year.
Indie music’s wild child(s) Adil Omar and Talal Qureshi’s duo movement, Sonic Nocturnal Kinetic Movement, is also expected to make waves this year, especially after the landmark last year they had.
After making waves with its inaugural edition, Lahooti Melo is gearing up to return later this month. Spearheaded by Saif Samejo of The Sketches fame, the festival will take place in Hyderabad and will include conversations, live performances and discussions that are significant to culture and diversity.
In indie artists, we’re most excited about the return of music group Sikandar Ka Mandar. Spearheaded by Nadir Shehzad Khan, the band took to their social media account and announced that they are planning to release an album, this year. Having delivered a stellar debut album in 2013 with cult hits like ‘Jo Bhi’, ‘Hum Tum’, Yeh Woh’ and ‘Badshah’, we expect great things from this musical outfit.
Moving on, Sajjad Ali has collaborated with popular rapper Bohemia on a song called, ‘Tamasha’ which released earlier this month and is gaining viewers with every passing hour it seems, which isn’t surprising given Ali’s popularity.
Ali Zafar, the ultimate prince of pop, is also back with his anthem for the second edition of Pakistan Super League.
More importantly, Zafar has revealed that work on his fourth studio album has begun. Others who are considering releasing a body of work include artists like Umair Jaswal and Meesha Shafi.
Jaswal, in a recent interview, noted that his album is in the works and 2017 will be focused on music. Similarly, Meesha Shafi, while responding to a question about a possible album, told Instep: “You know that is something that I’m being asked a lot now. And I guess I should do it now. 2017 will be a good year for an EP is what I’m thinking.”
