Exclusive Coverage for KoolMuzone by Mobeen Ansari

An ETZ event.

Performers: Farhan Khan, Rapsterados, Zuj, Qayaas and Ali Azmat

The gallery is too large to appear on Front Page {Read More…}

Artists: Ali Azmat, Qayaas, Rapsterados, Farhan Khan, Saturn and Zuj

Venue: Lok Virsa, Islamabad

Date: 13th Feb ‘10

Time: 8:00 PM

Tickets available at Hi-voltz, Illusions, Papa Sallis, Cinepax, Bombeat, Lok Virsa and CJ

By Maheen Sabeeh

Pakistan, if the ‘50s were all about the queen of melody Nur Jehan, in the ‘60s and ‘70s a newer sound came into our filmi music with names like Ahmed Rushdi, Bangladeshi singing sensation Runa Laila and Sohail Rana ruling the soundboard. The turn for modern pop arrived in the ‘80s when Alamgir first introduced electric synthesizers to Pakistani pop and dekha na tha became an anthem for a new generation and heralded a whole new sound. The wave of disco pop gained steam with Mohammad Ali Shyhaki and reached its zenith with the magic of Nazia and Zoheb Hasan. We were all Disco deewane, so what if it was the Zia era and prohibition was heavily enforced? {Read More…}

By

Sara Khalid

Note: This review focuses primarily on performances and how they looked over television. It doesn’t cover the the venue mishaps and other events.

The show started with an Aag Alive lounge. The lounge started off with the Aagmentary which basically took a look at the history of Pakistani pop music from Ahmed Ruhshdi to Junoon, it was actually quite interesting for any Pakistani pop music fan. After the Aagmentary segment the VJs showed glimpses of the actual concert. They also showed the Behind the Scenes of Aag Alive, all of this was put together really well but after a while the Aag Alive lounge got extremely boring especially the clips in between the actual show…no one really cares about these actors etc. and their interviews, the people watching on TV or online are only interested in the PERFORMANCES not these lame interviews! They were HORRIBLE! Especially the last one with the old man Ali Muhammad Mir who passed very rude comments about Atif Aslam, Annie, and singers in general (he was suppose to be imitating Musharaf apparently)…

Now lets get to the actual performances. {Read More…}

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Courtesy: Aadeez, Kaiser Abbas, Samira Ahmed, Omair Muhammad, Faisal Sabir & Hamza Tariq

Performers: Atif Aslam, Ali Azmat, Amanat Ali, Call, Fuzon, Annie Khalid, Noori & Hadiqa Kiani

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Rock ‘em shock ‘em:

Maheen Sabeeh
Karachi

Deciphering the numbers

The music winners at Lux Style Awards ‘09 indeed came as a surprise. Who would’ve thought that Najam Shiraz would walk away with Song of the Year over Ali Azmat, Shehzad Roy, Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan and Zeb and Haniya? But he did.

In reality, the toughest competition for Najam’s ‘Khwabon Key Rishtey’ was neither Ali Azmat nor Strings. As it turns out, it was Shehzad Roy’s ‘Laga Reh’. The reason one can state this as fact, more than just an observation is because of the numbers that each category generated. In other words, thefinal result list (by the Lux Style Awards) given to the press validates these claims. Instep Today takes a closer look at the votes…

Best Music Album

As far as music awards go, this is the most prestigious and coveted trophy. And last year saw some incredibly tough albums go up against each other. Ali Azmat returned with Klashinfolk. Leaving behind the sonic effects that were the driving force behind his solo debut record Social Circus, Ali opted for a raw, fierce rock sound that was neither redundant nor monotonous. Klashinfolk really was the second coming of Ali Azmat. {Read More…}

Sadaf Fayyaz speaks to upcoming musician, singer, song writer and producer Zeeshan Hayat of “Feedback”, about his latest song “Aankhon Mein” and explores some interesting facts regarding his music.

Q1. Tell us something about your background and education.

Zeeshan: I have done my B.com from Islamia College and hold a fine arts degree too. Besides music, I am an interior decorator too and have worked on some official projects as well. Basically I am Urdu-speaking. I have my own café in Defence too. Besides this, I have also worked as sound engineer. I have my own studio too. {Read More…}

A couple of months ago, I wrote a column in praise of certain Pakistani pop stars and bands, arguing that there are a fair number of songs that display political consciousness and a related sense of responsibility. I referred to such songs as Junoon’s ‘Talaash’, Shahzad Roy’s ‘Lagay Raho’ and ‘Kismet Apnay Haath Main’, Noori’s ‘Merey Log’ and Laal’s rendition of Habib Jalib’s ‘Main Nay Uss Say Yeh Kaha.’

I find now that that argument was all very well – as far as it went. Such is the manner in which we are bound by our long-cherished prejudices and mental chains that it took a report by the New York Times’ Adam B. Ellick to show me what I had completely failed to notice: the music acts’ total refusal to either touch upon the topic of the Taliban, or to even acknowledge them as a concern. {Read More…}