Hadiqa Kiyani, the Mekaal Hasan Band, Raeth, Kaavish, Mauj and Rubberband seem to be running against time in a bid to release their albums either immediately after Eid-ul-Fitr, or within the next month or so after the end of October.
Speaking with Jafar of Kaavish about their new album`s sound and genre, Jafar says, “This album will be more of a contemporary western orchestral fused with eastern classical music. I`ve always been into desi classical music — I kinda grew up listening to A.R. Rahman and he`s played a major role in influencing my tastes in music. Also, this album has been entirely played live and caters to all ages.”
Gunkali, the name of Kaavish`s new album, is actually the name of an early morning raga which denotes a new beginning. Considering the album (due for release a month after Eid-ul-Fitr) will be a fusion — East meets West — it`s bound to be a new start for Kaavish in terms of where musical experimentation is concerned.
Raeth, on the other hand, are taking their album out in the first or the second week of January 2009. “We haven`t decided on the name of the album yet,” band member Wajih says. “But the genre is going to be a lot like on our first album — pop/rock. We`re carrying forward the same and just as the first album encompassed the theme and message of love, the second album, too, will be of a similar theme. We`ll also be releasing the Mein Chala and Wadah videos pretty soon.”
Planning to `pop` their rock album — unofficially titled In Technicolour — into the hot little oven of fresh new albums, Omran Shafique stated that Mauj will probably release it by the end of October. In addition, Awaz, one of their latest videos directed by Zeshaan Parwez, must be looked out for at all costs.
Saptak which means a musical octave is the Mekaal Hasan Band`s latest offering which, too, is due to be released locally and in stores by the end of October. Mekaal, who was in Karachi at the time to judge a national music competition, says, “Saptak is more up-tempo compared to our previous albums. It`s infused with sufiana kalam and it also carries an unplugged version of Sawan.”
Interestingly, regarding Rubberband`s to-be-released debut album titled Feedback, things have been pretty rocky. “It`s been ready for a year now,” vocalist Ahmed Ali Butt says despondently, “It depends on the record labels, there`s just no money left in the industry anymore. All the big names in the industry got sponsors, but the sales were nil. We may just end up releasing Feedback online. We`re also planning an international release as we`re in negotiation with some international labels. The tentative date for the album release is November.”
Currently, the band`s single Chal that is an edgy rock song directed by Ahmed Ali Butt (with DoP Bilal Lashari), has been doing the rounds on the local music channels. Rubberband is due to release their second video right after Eid-ul-Fitr as well to keep the buzz alive.
Contrary to what people may think, Ahmed Ali Butt is right. The local music scene, vis-Ã -vis record labels, seems to be standing on shaky ground. And that coupled with the preponderance of bomb blasts and bomb threats within the country is putting almost every artiste between a rock and a hard place as musicians simply don`t have any way of making ends meet anymore.
But local musicians suffering at the hands of Pakistani record labels isn`t a new phenomena. One has heard of countless failed deals, delayed payments, bad returns, disrespectful treatment and zilch royalties. It seems as if a lot of musicians within the country pump in more money than they actually receive — some barely even managing to break even. No wonder then the decision to go across the border in search of greener pastures. Can one blame them?
But then again, on the other hand, even the Indian music industry isn`t all that it`s made out to be. If Pakistani musicians are willing to churn out Bollywood dance numbers, they`re in for the great `ka-ching`. If not then, well, it`s back to the old drawing board.