A lmost a little too quietly, the second season of Velo Sound Station (VSS) has kicked off online. While the inaugural season launched sometime in November 2020, season two took two-and-a-half years to come to life.

There’s been a change in leadership as well. Former Strings bandmate Bilal Maqsood singlehandedly produced the first season, which was ground-breaking when it came out in how the songs were treated and how the visuals of each performance were also creatively crafted.

The current, second season has been executive produced by Rohail Hyatt, former Vital Signs bandmate and founder and long-time producer of another highly successful music programme, Coke Studio. Kamal Khan and Zeeshan Parwez are the video directors of VSS this season with Kamal Khan also wearing the producer’s hat on this project.

At the time of writing this article, VSS season two had only released two songs: Nakhray by Umair Jaswal that sees him embody a completely different Electronic Dance Music (EDM) avatar, and Natasha Noorani’s Chamkeela that is slowly but surely finding its place on the (radio) airwaves.

Natasha Noorani’s ode to womanhood in Chamkeela is one for the ages

This infectious track was composed by Natasha Noorani and produced by Check Box Media. It’s been written by Natasha Noorani, Zeerak Ahmed and Maanu.

Chamkeela opens with a percussive bass following the beat of the tabla that’s placed at a tad too low a volume. But if you listen carefully with your headphones, you’ll hear it. You’ll miss it if you’re listening to the song in your car with the hum of traffic outside. The beats that build up in intensity as Chamkeela progresses are very reminiscent of the dholak being played and are what makes this song so fun and dance-able.

In the song, Noorani talks about shedding her fears and inhibitions, and exploring both the good and the bad, the light and the dark, and finding strength in her own light. It’s about finding yourself, healing and lighting that spark that is deep within.

In terms of messaging, it reminds one of Katy Perry’s Firework. That Noorani’s own song is called Chamkeela, with the video seeing her enveloped in glitter and gold dust, is an amazing coincidence.

According to the artist, “This song is an ode to the incredible women in my life — my mother, sisters, khalas, phuppos and aunties who have served as beacons of strength and empathy. To every energetic dholki in my house, where the women have taken over and created a mahaul [environment] of celebration. Every chamcha [spoon], matka [pot], clap and double-clap is embedded in my being, a cherished ancestral map.”

All of Natasha Noorani’s songs thus far have been easy to sing along to, incredibly catchy and embody elements of retro-pop, where elements from sounds from before are mixed with modern beats to give it that nostalgic-yet-contemporary feel or vibe. Chamkeela is no different. There’s the introduction of the shehnai towards the end that gives the song that contemporary desi feel, and is the song’s strongest section in terms of music. That’s the sound that stays with you long after the song has stopped playing.

Chamkeela isn’t just a song that glitters lightly, it shines. And it shines bright.

Published in Dawn, ICON, May 28th, 2023