Hadiqa Kiani is the ultimate queen of pop, an anomaly in a world that was (once) dominated by men. In an age where pop stars of the past are stuck in a rut or doing fairly uninspiring things or have moved on to other things,
Hadiqa Kiani is the ultimate queen of pop, an anomaly in a world that was (once) dominated by men. In an age where pop stars of the past are stuck in a rut or doing fairly uninspiring things or have moved on to other things, Hadiqa Kiani is showcasing artistic growth that has soul and not just shimmer, courtesy of her new project, Wajd.
Wajd not only looks like her most ambitious undertaking but also sounds like the most personal album she has put out till date. With honesty and grace, it appeared on our horizon and made us curious. The teaser, upon release, had us yearning for more. And now that the first song from the upcoming album is here, we can honestly say that the hype surrounding this particular record is really not overstating matters. It really is a knock-out of a song.
Each song from the album Wajd has been dubbed by Hadiqa as “chapter” and each chapter is accompanied by visuals that have been conceptualized, shot and directed by Abdullah Harris.
Therefore, the first song or chapter if you will is called ‘Kamlee Da Dhola’. Released on Patari and sung in Saraiki, it is a folk song that has been sung by various singers over the years including Reshma and most notably, Musarrat Nazir. Hadiqa’s rendition of the song is incredible because she sings with a mix of authority and soul.
Running just over eight minutes, ‘Kamlee Da Dhola’ is produced by Irfan Kiani and has been recorded in a single-take live studio format. The opening words belong to Baba Bulleh Shah while the opening melody is composed by Hadiqa herself. From the qawwali-laden chorus to the crisp appearance of instruments like flute, Turkish lavta, harmonium and dholak to the backing vocals, it’s a heavy production that comes together because there is a lot of thought behind it. It also feels as if Hadiqa and brother Irfan Kiani, who is the music producer, have taken their collective experience of decades and have used it to fuel this album and that revelry shows.
Speaking about the new tune, Hadiqa said in a press statement: “I was in love with this folk song as a child and used to sing it in children music competitions; this song holds a very special place in my heart and I hope my listeners can feel that as well when they hear it for the first time.”
While the full song is available to listen to and fall in love with on the music streaming site Patari, the complete video of the song that has been shot at Mian Yousuf Salahuddin’s famous Haveli Baroodkhana in the old city of Lahore and put together by the visionary Abdullah Harris, is slated to release today. Check it out, highly recommended.
–Maheen Sabeeh
