From an upcoming debut album of the same name, with ‘Blue Butterfly’, Danyal Zafar flies solo with a song that hinges on blues, rhythm and soul through the eyes of a young man in love.
Danyal Zafar, who last collaborated with Ali Zafar on Teefa in Trouble as a lyricist and guitarist for the soundtrack of the film and had a hand in the hugely successful TFT’s writing credit(s) as well, has struck out on his own.
He first appeared in the limelight when he co-sang a track called ‘Muntazir’ with Momina Mustehsan in Coke Studio’s 10th season and played guitars on one of Ali Zafar’s tracks but now it seems Danyal is finally going out on his own, sans the shadow of older brother.
Having released an English-language song called ‘Blue Butterfly,’ which is lyrically love-tinged and musically part rhythm and blues/part soul, it does show the musical capabilities of Zafar, particularly as a young artist entering the industry. The sound, for instance, is as far away from older brother Ali Zafar as it gets. But the lyrics are somewhat weak. Too straight-forward for its own good, in this time and age, when we have a number of artists writing in English, the wordings may be the song’s one and only weakness.
Keeping up with the times, ‘Blue Butterfly’ is accompanied with imagery that goes with the song and features Danyal within a quagmire of a blue butterfly, which fits with the song.
The song, off his debut album of the same name, according to a press statement “combines elements of R&B & Soul” and is meant to be an ode to the last girl he loved. The album was created, noted the press statement, with Danyal in moments of isolation and lockdown as well as having experienced heartbreak, abandonment, solitude, and acceptance, all of which will reflect in his upcoming album. Emotions seem to be running high, but the sound is what is surprising.
Danyal Zafar is inspired by artists such as Frank Ocean and John Mayer.
Speaking about his new single, Danyal said in a statement, “Blue [B]utterfly was the emoji-symbol of love in my last relationship. You can say that this is my ‘last calling’ to her. A yearn. A box full of cherished memories that I haven’t let go of yet. And I don’t know if I ever can. See, sometimes, you move on but without ever getting over...”
Written, composed and produced by Danyal Zafar, the album consists of 8 original tracks, written during the course of six months. It’s good to see Danyal Zafar invest in an album, which will further negate the belief that artists don’t make albums anymore.
A source suggests the video for ‘Blue Butterfly’ is in the pipeline and was shot in Los Angeles, telling the story of two lovers. It is scheduled to release by mid-November.
Until then, find the song on multiple music platforms such as Apple Music, Spotify, Google Music, Deezer, SoundCloud, Amazon Music and Tidal, it should appeal to the young demographic, both at home and abroad - at minimum.
