There’s a reason why efforts like Coke Studio and Uth Records are being appreciated. They present, as is their endeavour, something out of the ordinary, something unusual which made Pakistani music have its distinct identity in the ’90s and the first half of the first 21st century decade.

Let’s face it: Pakistani pop music has lost its way. It’s been a while since a groundbreaking song or album impressed audiophiles and earned commercial success. Except a couple of bands and a handful of singers, a majority of our pop stars and bands have been around for more than 15 years (some a little less) and have failed to grow music-wise.

As far as new talent goes, who can dispute the fact that our music TV channels show one new song at least every week and it just does not register? Is there something fundamentally wrong with Pakistani pop music or has something gone wrong in the last decade or so? Or was it always there and we just did not spot it?

Time to mull over the issue, which is not unimportant at all. This might define who we are in the next few years.