he year was 1980 when Nazia and Zoheb Hassan, a sister-brother duo popped up on the music scene and released an album called Disco Deewane. This was not a Sohail Rana production though they did appear on his show when they were younger. Nonetheless, this was something else.

Produced by Indian producer Biddu, irrespective of how disco was being perceived in the West, the siblings revolutionized pop music. There were other artists who had come before them such as Alamgir (to name just one) but no one had given Pakistan such a strong, disco-pop record.

Disco Deewane was their debut album and they followed it up with other records, before other pop acts came along with catchy pop melodies like Vital Signs and so on.

Disco Deewane came at a time when the political reality of the country was stifling and they gave the young and the restless something to cherish.

Sadly, Nazia Hassan passed away in London on August 13, 2000. But her legacy lives on. And not only does it live on, remixes of songs she sang are still being made.

The brother and sister’s music, at least during their earlier albums, backed by futuristic music videos emerged as a unique, memorable and timeless music outfit.

The late Nazia Hassan’s voice became transcendent to a point that even today, artists from the country and outside of it, continue to pay homage to her. Not everyone is successful but some have done justice. Meesha Shafi’s version of ‘Boom Boom’ from Velo Sound Station-Volume 1 was so dynamic that even Zoheb Hassan gave it his seal of approval.

When the French DJ duo, FDVM, toured Pakistan, they had the audience rooting for them and singing along as they played FDVM tribute edit of ‘Disco Deewane’ at their shows.

But some also made unbearable versions.

One of our favorite artists, Hasan Raheem, botched ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ by Nazia Hassan that was featured in a Hindi film called Qurbani and fetched her a Filmfare Award. Another effort botched it in such significant fashion that by comparison, Hasan Raheem’s take on the song, doesn’t feel like such a gut punch. Enter Action Hero, a Hindi film that used auto-tune and made a horrifying mess along the way with an over-the-top music video to go along with it.

All that said, a version of ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ that has caught our attention and endorsement is by Farooq Got Audio. Titled ‘Aap Jaisa Koi – Trap Mix’, it doesn’t touch Nazia Hassan’s beautiful, transcendent vocals but it is the treatment that is most compelling. If you don’t know what trap music means, here is a song that can serve as an introduction.

Released earlier this month as a single with a running time of 2 minutes 23 seconds, it is a great example of how to use original vocals and layer it with a soundscape that doesn’t make a listener run for the hills. The more you listen, the more you realize how a classic like ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ can be weaved in this era of music, when done right.

If you google what trap music is, you will be lost so look for the right source. For instance, Berklee Online, which is the online school of Berklee College of Music in Boston.

According to them, “Trap is characterized by busy hi-hats, heavy sub-bass, gritty, and super rhythmic snares, and deep 808 kick drums. It employs several layers of monophonic ideas and a melodic accompaniment expressed with synthesizers” and while this might sound overwhelming, it is exactly the right description of trap music.

This trap version of ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ is so cool that you might scroll through Farooq Got Audio’s discography and realize that there are other trap mixes and remixes. If you do choose to go down that rabbit hole, it will not be a disappointing experience. But remember, nothing can match the original. If you keep an open mind though, Farooq Got Audio has plenty of surprises in store for you, dear listener.