This highly stylised bombshell of a song dropped on Women’s Day. Meesha Shafi’s latest number, Rajkumari, pays homage to the queens of the world. The outliers. The risk takers. The radicals. The ones who stand defiant and strong. Where existing itself is a rebellion.

Rajkumari is an electropop number produced by Abdullah Siddiqui, with whom Meesha has collaborated often, most notably on Magenta Cyan from Abdullah’s album Heterotopia and the popular, funky number Hot Mango Chutney Sauce by Meesha.

The song starts with Meesha singing the opening lyrics of this story of rebellion, while the music catches up: Suno ek kahani/ Taqdeeron ki aaj/ Ik maharani/ Ne ucchaal diye sub taj

[Listen to this story/ Of fate/ There was once a queen/Who threw off all crowns]

Meesha Shafi’s Rajkumari pays homage to the queens of the world on Women’s Day while Moaziz Sarif shows a glimpse of the powerhouse collaboration Meesha and her brother Faris Shafi are capable of doing

They are followed by these lines, indicating that the queen stood alone and followed her heart: Tu ne ek na maani/ Torray reet riwaj/ Apni munn maani/ Teray aagay jhukay ga samaaj

[You listened to no one/ Broke the shackles of tradition/ Did what you wanted/ Society will bow before you]

The chorus goes: Rajkumari, Rajkumari/ Nikli ghar se palloo phaink ke sub pe bhaari/ Rajkumari, Rajkumari/ Teri adaa pe dil haar gayee dunya saree

[Queen, O’Queen/ She threw her scarf that weighed heavily on everyone/ Queen, O’Queen/ The world falls for your airs]

Having listened to Meesha’s music since the very, very early days of her career, it’s hard not to notice how beautifully developed her vocals are at this point. It’s such a pleasure to hear her enunciate different words, adding a lilt beautifully when needed. Overall, Rajkumari is a somewhat light, listenable, hummable track that leaves you feeling inspired.

A week before Rajkumari came out, Meesha released another bombshell with Coke Studio called Moaziz Saarif, with her brother, the very accomplished rap artist with a massive cult following, Faris Shafi. This is a collaboration for the ages, much-awaited, much-requested and it does not disappoint.

I was there when they were filming the video for this. Briefly speaking to Meesha while she was in hair and make-up, I asked her how the experience was, finally working with her younger brother. “Oh, he was so annoying!” she chuckled, a gleeful glint in her eyes.

I had glimpsed Faris earlier that day in his casuals outside the cafeteria. His exit from the dressing room, hair slicked back and all dressed up in formals, elicited cheers from where I was standing with some of the crew. His face immediately broke into a big smile and he exclaimed, “This is what I’m talking about!” with an almost childlike excitement as he bounced off to the set. Needless to say, the energy on set was very promising.

In the control room, I had visual access to a screen showing the filming but not to the audio. I was reliant on the sounds that were wafting through, which really wasn’t enough as some instrumentation is directly plugged in.

After a couple of takes, I felt a tap on my shoulder and looked up to see Xulfi, the producer for the whole series, offer me his headphones. He was watching the footage via an iPad held by his associate producer, Abdullah Siddiqui.

My ears were instantly hit with the rich sound of this groovy, bass-heavy, amalgamation of sounds that lent the song an easy-listening, club-like atmosphere, like electro-jazz.

Faris kick-starts the song rapping about reflections on his own experiences: being cautioned not to be outspoken, yet applauded for it, pointing out hypocrisy, and he’s beyond tired of talking about the same things over and over again, plus being unafraid to celebrate the ‘master artist’ that he is.

We hear a sound in the distance, it’s Meesha crooning Sun Le [Listen]. And now the microphone must be handed to her.

She immediately launches into rapping in Punjabi, seemingly effortlessly. Most notably, Meesha’s Punjabi rapping is accompanied by the tabla beating in the same rhythm as her delivery of the lyrics. In a display of confidence and celebration of herself, much like her brother’s but in her own way, she raps about her own little rebellion. Staying true to herself, celebrating the tempest that she is.

Moaziz Sarif shows a mere glimpse of the powerhouse collaboration the siblings are capable of doing. That’s the hope, nay, belief. And it only leaves one wanting for more.

Published in Dawn, ICON, March 13th, 2022