Selecting artists who have released music in its various hues this year, or is a live act like no other, or a producer, everyone qualifies if they have made a mark. Here is Instep’s effort to recap those who made a slightly more significant impression than others, their signature sounds and why you should be listening to them through December into January.
‘Mastery’ – Adil Omar
After releasing Transcendence, his feature length album with singles accompanied by music videos, you’d think Adil Omar would slow down the pace but if anything, he has increased it with plans to unveil a second feature length album in 2020. The first song off the album, ‘Mastery’ comes with its own music video that draws you in but if you take your focus away from the music video, ‘Mastery’ as a sound landscape is Adil Omar building on Transcendence and therefore has a lot to it. Adil Omar as an artist puts himself out there, gut and soul, a dark side that so many do not explore on camera and no better example than ‘Mastery’. Not many have the courage to do that in the way Omar does it, which is just one reason to check it out if you haven’t already.
‘Anthem of Shabana’ – E Sharp
Yes, technically the song released a while back but then so did this band with at least two studio albums but only true E Sharp fans even know that. Its introduction to a national audience came this year when the ‘Anthem of Shabana’ was played by the band on Pepsi Battle of the Bands with Meesha Shafi singing along and Faisal Kapadia and Fawad Khan grooving to it. It doesn’t happen often on PBOTB. It’s one of the most playful songs in E Sharp’s extensive repertoire and one of the grooviest songs to enter national consciousness this year amidst tales of broken hearts and so on. It should be on your playlist.
Ahsan Bari, producer Paanch
Paanch, a project initiated by Wajiha Ather Naqvi, Ahsan Bari and Babar Shaikh has culminated in a mixtape ft. Mughal-e-Funk, Chand Tara Orchestra, Sounds of Kolachi, Jimmy Khan and Natasha Baig – all of whom have provided original songs for it. Paanch has been produced by Ahsan Bari, known as the force behind Sounds of Kolachi. As Bari had noted, the coming year would see more of Ahsan Bari Music and it looks like he is living up to his word. You only have to head to the many of the listening platforms and while you’re singing, we must tip our hat to Ahsan Bari for managing to keep the soundscape and music of each artist intact while playing producer.
‘Late Night’ – Shamoon Ismail
2019 is the year when Shamoon Ismail has truly broken on the scene because now we’re truly aware of his following beyond Punjab. At Super Salt 2019, his fans were singing the set with him, which goes to show just how aware they are of his music. However, it isn’t his following but his last music video, ‘Late Night’ from his 2019 album, Back Up Plan that puts Shamoon on this list. The music video, for one thing, complements the song beautifully and is reflective of the real Shamoon Ismail out on the night in an old car. The video ends with a gun in his hand, which could mean anything and that mystery was Shamoon’s point all along. You can make any interpretation but you won’t decode the real mystery until Shamoon reveals it. It’s a quiet and rebellious music video that does well to publicise Back Up Plan, the second EP Shamoon put out this year after Magic. You’ve probably already downloaded this!
‘Ishq Laga Mann Laga’ – The Sketches
The first album from The Sketches in years, titled Saanjhi with the first major release being the absolutely beautiful (both sonically and visually) ‘Ishq Laga Mann Laga’, the record comes out on December 20 and is a celebration of Sindhi folk music and culture as well as various elements of nature, from birds to clouds to all the things we take for granted. The Sketches, like several other bands, have signed with Rearts to release the album and if there’s one album you should look out for, it is Saanjhi.
‘Laapata’ – Abdullah Qureshi
Abdullah Qureshi’s major breakthrough single may have been ‘Kali Santro’ and though he has several high profile singles to his credit, it is ‘Laapata’, an animated gem - endorsed by the likes of Zeeshan Parwez - as a song visually and sung beautifully that has us curious about Abdullah and what more he has to offer.
The ambient song with its layers of darkness lyrically has to be given some kind of acknowledgement. And yes, the guitar solo works.
‘Dil Ki Khair’ – Ali Sethi
Though Ali Sethi has appeared in a multitude of videos, from his own work with Noah Georgeson to Coke Studio, it is ‘Dil Ki Khair’ that stands atop everything else because not only is it a great song, it has a masterful music video behind it.
As Ali Sethi told Instep, “For ‘Dil Ki Khair’ I wanted a broody salsa vibe, a frolic-amid-despair quality that I often encounter in upscale Lahori neighbourhoods.”
‘Raat Shabnami’ by Strings
It looks like Strings saved the best for last. After seven music videos and seven new songs, they released their slickest song ‘Raat Shabnami’ with an even slicker video by Yasir Jaswal. The song, more than anything, is a sure-shot sign that Strings – after six studio albums counting 30 (Tees) are not going anywhere and understand the changing sound of the era. You’re not a true desi pop fan until you have this on your system.
