February 10, 2008

The duo talk about (finally) getting a record deal

They’re the duo that got everyone swinging to their hit single, Chup released on radio a couple of years back. Just when one thought they’d never make a proper appearance in the music scene, they, on the suggestion of a couple of friends already working in the industry itself, they go ahead and record their album featuring some of the best musicians in the industry sometime last year.

For the past year or so, they’ve been generating quite a buzz. With a tremendous dearth of female musicians already in the local music industry, Zeb and Haniya easily stood out, and everyone, especially those in the foreign media, wanted to know what they were all about. They’ve been doing small gigs now and then, learning to deal with publicity and more recently, finally signed a record deal.

Images talks to the duo about getting signed and how they’ve been dealing with their new-found popularity.

Your album was recorded and mastered sometime last year, why did it take so long to sign up with a record label for its release?

Haniya: The bulk of the recording was finished a few months ago. We’ve been tweaking the tracks with Mekaal since. Next, the tracks have to be sent for mastering. That is expected to happen in the next couple of weeks. These things take time. We gave Fire a copy of the mixed tracks as soon as we ourselves got working copies. Fire’s internal processes and the negotiations took a little time also. But it’s finally done.

When do you plan to release the album?

Haniya: If all goes according to the planned timeline, we’re looking at a launch anywhere between April and May.

As a band, Zeb and Haniya seemed to have exploded into popularity, how have you guys been dealing with it and has success changed you guys at all?

Haniya: I don’t think so. The media coverage still feels a bit strange, considering the album has not even out yet. But we’re keeping ourselves too busy to worry about these things.

Zeb: It intensifies the pressure at times but apart from that I agree with Haniya.

Zeb and Haniya have had some of the best musicians collaborate on this album, however rumours have been circulating about there being a falling out between Zeb and Haniya and the dummer and guitarist featured on the album, already. What would you say to that?

Zeb: Not to my knowledge. During the recording, we fostered a great working relationship with everyone who was featured on the album. Once the recording was over everyone dispersed to do their own projects.

All the musicians who have played on our album are very successful names in the industry and usually involved with more than one project at a time.

What can be expect from Zeb and Haniya in the near future? Is the promised Saqib Malik video finally happening?

Haniya: Absolutely. We hope to start shooting in March. I’m too excited about getting to work with Saqib Malik.