Ali Zafar launches ‘Lightingale Records’ to promote young talent of Pakistan
Ali Zafar is a celebrated artist with so many super hits songs to his credit. Not only a champ at music, but Ali has also made it into the acting world starring in ‘Teefa in Trouble’ opposite the gorgeous Maya Ali.
Being part of the Pakistani music industry for so long, Ali understands the hardships young artists face while trying to kick-start a career in music. The artist wishes to make an effort in nurturing and grooming fresh talent in the field and has thus launched ‘Lightingale Records’.
He promised to launch at least 10 artists this year through this record house, which is quite a target. Needless to say, this is a great opportunity for upcoming artists and musicians in the making to train from one of the best artists the country has.
In an interview with the singer, he revealed that he has worked with a few upcoming names such as Yashal Shahid and Urooj Fatima, and his collaboration with them had positive results for these artists in the making, in the form of greater views. This is something that encouraged him to support and groom struggling artists.
Ali Zafar believes that no one is a star unless he/she shines for others, and we couldn’t agree more! He added:
As artists or human beings in general, we are intrinsically prone to become self-indulgent or internally focused, but that is the mistake that most of us make – to think that we are it and here forever. I feel the only thing that carries on beyond our existence, is the honesty in our work and the sincerity of our intentions. An artist leaves a legacy, and surely that should not just be about him or her. In an era where we are bombarded with tools that bring out the vanity in us, I think it’s important to see the beauty and talent in others and help them achieve their goals and dreams also. Become a part of their struggle and journey and help them in any way you can.
Hoping this venture proves fruitful and Pakistan can add singers just like Ali to its already flourishing pool of singers and musicians. All the very best to Ali Zafar and his entire team!
- Published in Entertainment, Music
Bilal Ali of Kashmir the Band Joins Fawad Khan and Others for Pepsi’s PSL Anthem
With PSL 2020 just around the corner, there is another exciting news for all the anticipating fans as Bilal Ali from Kashmir the Band joins a group of popular singers for the official Pepsi PSL Anthem.
Titled “Khel Ja Dil Se”, the song has been composed and produced by Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan aka Xulfi and is sung by an ensemble group of some famous veteran and young singers, including Fawad Khan, Aima Baig, Haroon Shahid, Asfar Hussain, and Bilal Ali. The lyrics of the anthem have been written by Xulfi and Adnan Dhool.
“Getting to be a part for one of the biggest events of Pakistan is an honor in itself, and getting to share this experience with some of my favorite stars was a dream come true. “Khel Ja Dil Se” perfectly encapsulates how we feel about cricket, and I am sure everyone would be able to resonate with it,” said the excited lead vocalist Bilal Ali, of Kashmir the Band.
The teasers for the song are set to release later today on media platforms. The anthem has been brought by Pepsi that has managed to gather some of the biggest and loved names of the industry for this anthem.
- Published in Entertainment, Music
Abdullah Qureshi Drops New Single “Baat Adhuri” on Valentine’s Day
Singer and song-writer Abdullah Qureshi has dropped a romantic new love tune on Valentine’s Day titled “Baat Adhuri”, accompanied by a heartfelt music video.
Composed and written by the versatile singer himself, the music video has been directed by Saad Hashmi and produced by Musa Javaid and Waqas Naeem. Apart from the grand orchestral sound and pulsating beat, this Valentine’s Day special song will touch your hearts with its lyrics. The track encapsulates the journey of an unsuccessful love story, about a boy who loves a girl, proposes her, but doesn’t get an answer, hence leaving the “Baat Adhuri.”
Talking about the release of this new single, the singer said, “Baat Adhuri is the perfect fit for this Valentine’s Day as it underlines the feeling of going through unrequited love- something most people can relate to.”
The song has been released on all media platforms and marks as the first single release from the singer in 2020.
Abdullah Qureshi gained popularity when he started out playing for underground rock and metal bands in Islamabad, and eventually started his own YouTube channel. He has some hit singles to his name, including ‘Kali Santro,’ ‘Laapata,’ ‘Awaz Do,’ ‘Daastan,’ and more.
About Abdullah Qureshi:
The singer, songwriter, and composer began his musical career with covers and renditions on YouTube and gained immense popularity with his powerful vocals. The star soon took center stage with his concerts and performances nationwide and abroad. Apart from his hit original “Awaz Do”, from Nescafe Basement season 4, Qureshi has continued his success story with singles including Daastan, Gaai Aasman, Kali Santro, Laapata, and Aaja.
- Published in Entertainment, Music
‘Strings’ tug at our Heartstrings at Soul Fest as they Call Their Little Fans on Stage
Strings recently took the stage at Soul Fest in Karachi in front of the eager crowd. The musicians also called two of their little fans on stage to perform with them, and it was truly a heartfelt moment.
The famous band has recently released the last single from their 30-year anniversary album marking as another milestone in their iconic musical careers. As they took on the stage to perform for their excited fans, two little fans caught their eye and were called up on stage to sing along with the musicians. The 11-year-old and 5-year-old were enthusiastically singing along to classic hits like Duur, Sir Kiye Ye Pahar, Najane Kyun, Anjaane, and recent hits like Raat Shabnami, and Sajni. When the five-year-old sang along to “Sajni”, the crowd was ecstatic listening in on this stirring moment.
The internationally acclaimed pop-rock band Strings has existed in the Pakistani musical scene for the past 30 years and their relevance has not yet halted as theirs still remain one of the greatest musical stories in Pakistan.
- Published in Entertainment, Music
Hamza Akram Qawwal and Brother’s ‘Karde Karam’ is Mellow yet Expressive
The social power of music is immense, and Hamza Akram Qawwal and Brothers, Taimoor AKram, and Abdul Akram are slowly becoming an embodiment of the fact. With his latest single, Karde Karam, he offers a beautiful fusion of eastern style vocals and western music. The melody is gentle, yet his poignant vocals give it strength and expression. Part of the Acoustic Station Season 1, Karde Karam, will surely make a strong impression on music lovers across the globe.
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Hamza has done complete justice with Hazrat Shamshuddin Tabrezi’s kalam. These beautiful lines merited reverence. The music and vocals are entirely focused on elevating the poet’s thoughts and messages rather than just being another part of the whole orchestra.
Hamza’s vocals, as usual, are highly impressive. The transition from low to high gives power to the song. When the pitch is mellow and quiet, you can perhaps sing along, but when he hits those high notes, it would be tough to follow. Not many are as gifted as this man is.
During the musical transitions, Lenny Massey on the Clarinet, and Zulqernain in the Piccollo flute shine. Together they give the song a new and unique dimension, which we don’t get to hear, especially in Qawalli styled songs. It’s groovy and harmonious, fitting right with the tonality of the whole song. Others including Alfred D’mello on drums, Sameer Ahmed Bakhtiari on Bass, Alex Shabaz on Piano, Joshua Amjad on Matka, and Kashan Admani on Acoustic Guitars play their role diligently without ever going overboard.
The video is unassuming and focuses on the different artists delivering this magic. It goes well with the overall tone of the song. There is nothing extravagant or overtly elaborate about this song. Yet it is beautiful in terms of sound and visuals. Hamza Akram Qawal, Taimoor Akram, and Abdul Akram have given us something to keep our hearts warm in this cold weather.
- Published in Entertainment, Music
Abdullah Qureshi Drops Music Video for the Romantic New Single “Aaja”
Having made a name for himself with several singles, the YouTube famed artist has delivered another promising track that has been written and composed by the talented singer himself. “Aaja” is produced by Saad Sultan, and the video is directed by the talented Saad Hashmi, featuring Shahmeera Sohail and the musician himself.
Talking about the release of his song, the excited singer said, “Aaja is a song that I started writing almost two years ago, and I don’t know why but I couldn’t complete the lyrics to it back then, so I put it aside for a while. Although it has very simple lyrics now, but somehow it was very difficult for this specific melody to sound smooth with anything that I wrote back then. So I was waiting for the right words, and eventually, with the help of a few friends, Taimur Rehman and Ahmad Mehdi, I finally managed to jot down the words and put the song together.”
The song has been receiving great responses from the fans, as Abdullah Qureshi continues an exceptionally generous flow of tunes keeping his supporters on the edge of their seats for more music.
Abdullah Qureshi gained popularity when he started out playing for underground rock and metal bands in Islamabad, and eventually started his own YouTube channel. He has some hit singles to his name, including ‘Kali Santro,’ ‘Laapata,’ ‘Awaz Do,’ ‘Daastan,’ and more.
- Published in Entertainment, Music
DREAM STATION PRODUCTIONS TO LAUNCH ‘ACOUSTIC STATION’
Karachi, 21st November 2019: Musician and producer, Kashan Admani is scheduled to launch season 1 of ‘Acoustic Station’ unplugged in the studio under the label of his production house Dream Station Productions. The first episode will be released on 11th December 2019.
In an era of electronic music, the Dream Station Productions’ Acoustic Station is a web series aimed at reviving and providing Pakistani audience the experience of an acoustic ensemble recorded live in the studio. The unplugged series will feature established acts and also provide a platform for upcoming musicians to showcase their work. Acoustic Station will have a total of 14 episodes featuring renowned and budding musicians. The platform will primarily showcase original music with most arrangements inclining towards jazz and blues.
Each session will be based on an unplugged format recorded in the studio. When asked about the concept behind Acoustic Station and what listeners can expect, the founder and CEO of Dream Station Productions, Kashan Admani comments, “the idea is to give the listener a quality recording of the acoustic instruments and sounds with interesting arrangements. Since Dream Station Productions is the only acoustically perfect studio facility in Pakistan, the quality of the recordings made are at par with any international standard recording space. The listeners will experience instruments they may have never heard before or paid attention to. The main concept behind creating this platform is to bridge the gap between our younger musicians who are often times picked up by smaller platforms and the more established musicians who are usually a part of the bigger platforms. I would like to extend my gratitude to the Pakistani music fraternity for supporting Acoustic Station.”
The first season of Acoustic Station comprises of 14 episodes which will be released on every Wednesday on Dream Station Productions’ Youtube channel. Details of participating artists will be revealed at a later date.
ABOUT DREAM STATION PRODUCTIONS
Launched in 2005, Dream Station Productions is the brain child of musician and producer Kashan Admani. Providing exceptional aesthetics, acoustic engineering and sound design from international consultants makes Dream Station Productions at par with some of the best international recording facilities. The studio is also widely recognized as a platform supporting new talent entering the music industry.
- Published in Entertainment, Music
Hamza Akram Qawwal and Brothers Received High Honor from the Governor of Maryland for their Services in the State
[November 26, 2019] Pakistan’s acclaimed Qawwali Stars; Hamza Akram Qawwal and Brothers Taimoor Akram and Abdul Akram, have received the citation certificate by the Governor of Maryland for their outstanding services in the State.
The award-winning ensemble has been on their 6th American tour, hitting the stage in major cities as a part of their “Sufi Qawwali US Tour”. Covering major venues and garnering critical acclaim, they have been at the receiving end of praises for their contributions for the entertainment scene in the State, representing Pakistan in front of an international audience. The citation certificate from the Governor of Maryland adds another achievement in the list of accolades to their names.
The group is all set to hit Dubai for their next tour des tination from 1st December till 8th December. The grandsons of the revered Munshi Raziuddin are acclaimed worldwide for their riveting interpretations of qawwali.
- Published in Entertainment, Music
Hamza Akram Qawwal and Brothers Become the First Ever Pakistanis to Have Performed at the Stanford Memorial Church!
[Karachi: November 18, 2019] The famous contemporary qawwali group Hamza Akram Qawwal and Brothers performed at the Stanford Communion Church in California, celebrating the Milad of Prophet SAW.
This tour marks as their 6th American tour in the past 2 years. Making the country proud and honoring the birth of the Prophet SAW in the beautiful church of Stanford university, Hamza Akram along with Taimoor Akram and Abdul Akram delivered a magical performance in front of an international audience.
Talking about the experience, Hamza Akram said, “We feel extremely lucky and grateful to be a part of this grand celebration and to be able to honor the Milad of the Prophet SAW at this beautiful church. The love we received from the audience here is unlike anything, and it’s a proud moment for us to be able to represent Pakistan at an international level.”
The award-winning group is all set to hit the stage on Los Angeles next. The brothers are covering 9 to 10 major cities across America as a part of their Sufi Qawwali US tour that would be reaching its end by November 30.
Hamza Akram Qawwal & Brothers; the grandsons of the revered Munshi Raziuddin have several accolades to their names and are acclaimed worldwide for their riveting interpretations of qawwali. Having several international performances and tours to their credit, the brothers have been taking the oldest form of Sufi music to places.
- Published in Entertainment, Music
Ali Zafar Wins Hearts With Quetta Teen Singing ‘ Laila O Laila ‘
Ali Zafar releases a video of the song ‘Lila o Lila’, with a 12-year-old singer from Baluchistan. Urooj Fatima a fan of Ali Zafar expressed her desire to sing with him, welcoming her wish the “Teefa in trouble” Star announced to make a video with Urooj. And today the young singer’s wish is fulfilled.
“Today marks the debut of a very talented young singer, the 12-year-old Urooj Fatima from the beautiful Baluchistan. Watch this to understand why you should always follow your heart and dreams,” Ali zafar Twitted.
- Published in Entertainment, Music