“Somewhere in the desert/there’s a forest, and an acre before us/But I don’t know where to begin.”
– ‘Death with Dignity’ by
Sufjan Stevens

immy Khan has a very diverse catalogue in terms of music. He has covered songs with great flair as well but his original work has always been far more compelling. A number of soundtracks for different films and appearances in multiple Coke Studio seasons, Khan is now a music industry insider. He has dabbled in almost all measures where music is required.

Like many musicians, Jimmy Khan retreated during Covid lockdowns and wrote songs for his new EP once they eased. As Jimmy Khan told Instep, “These songs, amongst others, were written and composed during my travels to the North of Pakistan after the lockdown. They poured out of me as an expression of the difficult time spent imprisoned, personally and socially, in grief and sickness.”

Of the three songs released as part of his 2023 EP Shukar, the third and final track, ‘Shukar Hai’ was dropped by the artist on Independence Day and it is as beautiful as its predecessors.

With Shukar, Khan has gone through his own process of self-discovery, each song carrying a strong emotion and a non-typical sound, courtesy of those who played on the EP. Haniya Aslam keeps the production pristine, and all three songs carry a distinctive sound without being obscure or sounding reminiscent of Khan’s earlier works.

The EP has an indie character with percussion, gentle guitars and how the crescendo is achieved in each song.

In Shukar, what you will find on a production scale is a sincere effort and a larger understanding of staying true to what the artist requires. There are no thrashing guitars or pounding bass or drums, etc. An almost soothing production, every song including ‘Shukar’ carries the narrative of the artist musically and one that isn’t about pandering to the electronic music trend that has oversaturated the music ecosystem. The EP is like a breath of fresh air.

“Shukar is born out of my journey of self-discovery; out of questions and thoughts relegated to the back-burner, and which decided to make their way to the surface, asking to be heard and validated. Shukar is about acceptance. Acceptance of self, of circumstances, of the reality that we actually have very limited control of. It embodies the meaning of the word Shukar, or, gratitude. Gratitude for life, for our relationship with ourselves and others, and for the challenges and blessings that come with it. Shukar should leave the listeners hopeful, I hope.” – Jimmy Khan on his latest EP

‘Shukar Hai’ as a song carries those markers but as you listen to the words, it is also about a reflective Jimmy Khan. If ‘Ghar’ was the sincere opening track, ‘Jeenay Kay Mazay’ offer a playful vibe, ‘Shukar Hai’ is about gratitude above all but also offers an expression of longing, isolation, and acceptance and within that musical structure, Khan is addressing his personal life and admitting why distance is best and thinks of it as a blessing if you read between the lines. He sings about how it was meant to be and is a good thing, too.

The overarching theme of this EP seems to be gratitude or thankfulness, irrespective of the negativity and the grey cloud of fear we tend to live under. Khan reminds us that it’s okay to feel gratitude for what you do have rather than hankering for what you don’t. It is about individual growth as well as artistic growth. In sonic terms, the growth is palpable with Khan working with Haniya Aslam. It is also an exploration of something new that is embedded in each song with ‘Shukar Hai’ being a strong example.

In a conversation with Instep, Jimmy Khan shared what the EP is about. He stated, “This new EP Shukar is born out of my journey of self-discovery; out of questions and thoughts relegated to the back-burner, and which decided to make their way to the surface, asking to be heard and validated. Shukar is about acceptance. Acceptance of self, of circumstances, of the reality that we actually have very limited control of. It embodies the meaning of the word Shukar, or, gratitude.

Gratitude for life, for our relationship with ourselves and others, and for the challenges and blessings that come with it. Shukar should leave the listeners hopeful, I hope,” he said.

All of his thoughts are sprinkled on each of the three songs with the musicians, producer and the artist working together in harmony, and it reflects in the collective EP. His characteristic manner of singing is still present but the compositions and the writings are more mature than his previous, playful works. Find the song and the EP on multiple music platforms – now!