Turhan James has collaborated with popular indie musicians of our times to create what is his first solo song. The credits list behind the song is huge but the sweetest is how Turhan James gave a shout-out to his mother, Frieha Altaf and said below his YouTube video: “Shout-out to my mom for always believing in me.”

He may have given a shout-out to mom but the Ottawa, Canada-bred music producer is doing things his way by working with independent artists who’re the voice of the present generation, such as Zain Peerzada and Luke Azariah directing the music video of the song, which features Maanu and is called ‘Saaye’. Composed in entirety by TJ, with lyrics and vocals by Maanu, if the mission was to create an emotional love ballad, paradoxically melancholic and uplifting, it has been accomplished. Watch the music video and listen to the song to understand this dichotomy.

Styled by Rastah, said Turhan about the music video, “I think the song stands out as the production, vocals and lyrics are a perfect blend of electronic and organic elements with a beautiful mix of sad and happy. In ‘Saaye’ ft. Maanu, elements of synth and pop are mixed with electronic elements to create a hybrid electro sonic landscape.

“The song takes you on an emotional rollercoaster,” he added, “but by the end the listener feels whole and at ease. A listener can relate to the video as an audio-visual experience of something they may be going through and know that by the end, everything will be okay. We want people to feel some sort of comfort once they are done listening.”

Turhan James was the support opening act for DJ/Producer Martin Garrix in Dubai in 2021. He has also played the Solis festival in Pakistan and opened for FDVM at a Salt Art show pre-pandemic.

His previous hits include ‘LA’, ‘Normal Life’, ‘Chasing Serotonin’ and ‘Feel Alive’.

PSL 7: Abdullah Siddiqui on working with Atif Aslam

At the rate the prodigious whizkid on the music block, Abdullah Siddiqui is working as a producer with artists, or as an artist himself within the fractured music industry, he just might surpass peers and predecessors.

From his slam dunk performance on Nescafe Basement to working with Meesha Shafi, Fawad Khan, Abdullah has - over the course of three to four years - found a space for ideas that most people take years to find.

He is rolling out his fifth album in 2022 and in addition to his multiple roles in Coke Studio 14, he single-handedly helmed the Pakistan Super League (PSL) anthem.

Between Coke Studio and his multiple albums, Abdullah has worked with artists such as Aima Baig, Shamoon Ismail, Asim Azhar, Maanu before landing the gig of associate music producer and featured artist for Coke Studio 14.

However, his big solo project was helming the Pakistan Super League (PSL) anthem (‘Agay Dekh’) during which he had a chance to once again work with Atif (with whom he had worked on Coke Studio 14 by then) and Aima Baig (who featured on the song ‘Be Myself’ on his 2020 album, Heterotopia).

A pre-existing relationship was already in place, but this was cricket fervour-meets-new-age electronic music that would blast in the stadium(s) with its own context.

Speaking to Instep about PSL, currently being played, Abdullah noted, “Last time I made an anthem for Peshawar Zalmi, it had that big stadium feel but it was very dark and cinematic. I wanted to keep that flavour while still being upbeat and very infectious.”

True to his word, Abdullah did manage to pull it off.

Speaking about Atif Aslam, whom he had worked with on Coke Studio before PSL’s ‘Agay Dekh’, Abdullah observed, “It was different because this was my first [directional] mainstream project because even at Coke Studio, I was working under Xulfi’s guidance, so he took the lead there and this was the first time I had the responsibility of designing the music. Getting those performances out of them, and the lyrics to suit their cadence, it was an interesting challenge. Atif was very involved in the song writing process.”

“Watching them on set, they have undeniable energy, and it was great working with them because they’re such great performers. They’re very animated; popstars in the true sense.”

Speaking about how Atif is adaptable, Abdullah noted, “Atif is chameleonic in how he adopts new genres and owns them completely; he’s masterful at reinventing himself.”