Who says rock ‘n’ roll is dead? All genres have a space and, in Pakistan, we have many artists who can prove that. In fact, genres are now just labels to make us feel a sense of familiarity. One man doing things his way is Khurram Waqar, colloquially known as ‘kW, while keeping the changing times in mind.
The Islamabad-based guitarist, who appeared with his band Qayaas on the country’s most contested and coveted music series, Coke Studio in season five on ‘Charkha Nolakha,’ has not slowed down even as Umair Jaswal, the vocalist of Qayaas, is now a solo artist.
Among his many accomplishments is his contribution to the Qayaas debut album on which he played all the guitars minus some solos from the iconic Sarmad Ghafoor. He also played all the bass, he tells Instep. And for rock ‘n’ roll fans, that album is a must-hear.
As Umair Jaswal moved on to acting and now a solo album, Khurram Waqar’s music group, kW and The Facedown Movement recently won the Rock Song of the year 2018 at VIMA Music Awards, held in Malaysia.
He has been associated with acts like Entity and Co-Ven, making him a veteran member of the music scene.
Khurram is back with an instrumental single, ‘I’ll Be With You’ that he recorded in his own studio. It showcases his mastery over the guitar, whether acoustic or electric. And the video is simple enough to complement the track. Inspired from the birth of his eldest son, the song reminds you just how emotive a guitar can be, when played by someone who knows what he is doing. As Khurram tells Instep about the new song, “This, in a nutshell, is me. I recorded all the music in my studio, played the guitar, bass and drums and directed the video as well.”
For old school rock and roll fans, this one will make for a good selection. Check it out. – Maheen Sabeeh
