Coke Studio Season 7, with Strings attached

E-Paper | March 15, 2026

Coke Studio is due to return in September with its new season produced by renowned Pakistani rock band, Strings.

So far Asrar, Jimmy Khan, Rahma Ali, Naseer & Shahab and Usman Riaz have been confirmed as new acts for the upcoming season, while the full line up is due to be announced on August 26 in a news conference in Lahore.

After the abrupt end of Season 6, audiences are eagerly anticipating the return of the popular music platform to see whether it will reinvent itself, or tank without Rohail Hyatt on board.

Season 7 will be the first produced by Strings. The band stepped in as producers after Hyatt, who had produced all previous seasons, stepped down earlier this year.

“We’re extremely excited about producing Coke Studio,” said Bilal in a previous interview with Dawn.

“We’re going to stay true to the CS feel and continue to merge elements of folk with modern music. There are so many untapped musical treasures in Pakistan and we’re looking forward to exploring into them. At the same time, we’re hoping to bring back the oomph that has been missing from the show during the past few years. Coke Studio was spectacular up till Season 3 but after that, it lost out on its element of surprise. We plan to bring it back.”

Also read: Coke Studio — minus the secret ingredient

The band's duo, Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia revealed that the season took three months to produce and they have worked hard on each song in the hopes that none get cut.

Pakistan

Dar notes ‘alarming rise’ in Islamophobia, warns it worsens existing tensions and conflicts

Overnight strikes in Afghanistan’s Kandahar target ‘terrorist hideouts and military infrastructure’, says state media

FO rejects India’s ‘absurd and unwarranted’ statement on Pakistan’s cross-border actions in Afghanistan

Khalid

Aug 21, 2014 05:53pm

Personally I think Rohail Hayat had doen a marvelous job, ,Season 6 was just awesome, I dont think Strings will be able to match that oomph. They will make it more like CS India, with alot of rock style music and mediocre singers. Strings are OK, but CS under Rohail Hayat was just another level which im afraid wont be matched. Lets wait and see.

Recommend 0

Aug 21, 2014 06:12pm

Rohail did an outstanding job in composing music in Coke Studio. He simply gave a different angle to the music. Lets see what Strings can come up with.

Recommend 0

Rehan

Aug 21, 2014 06:25pm

I am so sick of everyone knocking CS 4-7 - are you people crazy? Some of the most memorable and most watched songs emerged during those seasons. Even last season was amazing. I think people need to get their heads examined.

Recommend 0

Saad Zafar

Aug 21, 2014 10:52pm

Can't wait for it.

Recommend 0

Ali

Aug 22, 2014 05:30am

@Rehan Agreed. 100%

Recommend 0

Adnan Khan

Aug 23, 2014 10:41am

Perhaps since Strings were a part of season 1 and 3, Bilal feels nothing worthwhile happened in season 3-6. IMO some of the best and most creative work was done later - especially in season 6. The complex integration of international musicians playing to local tunes is something that has never been attempted before and I hope Rohail pursues this direction even without his involvement with Coke Studio

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Chery Master Pakistan expands nationwide 3S dealership network: 10 operational, 20 planned by 2027

The nationwide dealership network includes 8 dealerships across six major cities, with two additional dealerships launching in the coming month, expanding the network to 10 dealerships nationwide.

Cardiogen and the molecular language of cardiac renewal: A speculative exploration

This article explores Cardiogen’s molecular characteristics, theorised mechanisms of action and its possible relevance across multiple research domains.

Master MoltyFoam’s Women’s Day initiative supports the next generation of female athletes

This year, Master MoltyFoam used the occasion to highlight the importance of support in sports by launching an initiative focused on encouraging young female athletes in Pakistan.