Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: May 17, 2009
A Tale of Two Cities
By Sonya Rehman and Khaver Siddiqi
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. Charles Dickens’ literary masterpiece, ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ begins with these words. Though the novel has a theme of self-sacrifice and resurrection, the starting line of the novel can be applied here in [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: April 12, 2009
By Sonya Rehman
While some critics would subscribe to the notion that the local music scene’s growth curve has tipped its way into an abyss of ambivalence, the fact of the matter is that currently, a majority aren’t really aware – nor bothered – about the breaking and entering of music acts, both old and fledgling.
These [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: October 5, 2008
By Sonya Rehman
This year – just before the curtains fall on the year 2008 – a whole new barrage of Pakistani music albums are set to be released.
Hadiqa Kiyani, the Mekaal Hasan Band, Raeth, Kaavish, Mauj and Rubberband seem to be running against time, in a bid to take out their albums either immediately after [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: September 12, 2008
By Sonya Rehman
Who would’ve thought a multinational would wind up launching a project which would bring together a variety of local musicians together – on one sole platform – to sing, dabble in musical experimentation and fuse their genres of music as one?
To me, like many others, it comes as quite a shocker really. This [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: September 4, 2008
By Sonya Rehman
Think about it; the vocalist – to the average listener and viewer – is always in the spotlight. Therefore, the vocalist’s persona always seems far more ‘tangible’ somehow, rather than the guy who holds the bass guitar, the flute, the saxophone, or the guy seated behind the drumming kit.
Audiences can be pretty one-dimensional [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: August 18, 2008
By Sonya Rehman
Simply put, Ali Azmat’s latest music video from his album ‘Klashnifolk’ has to be the coolest thing since Praline ice cream.
Directed by Zeshaan Parwez, ‘Gallan’ is one heck of a tripped out video – but in a good, fun and bizarre way of course.
Featuring Ali Azmat being accosted by three thugs namely; Omran [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: August 1, 2008
By Sonya Rehman
It all started with a dream. A dream which Saien – at the tender age of seven – could not yet comprehend the implication of. And it was this very dream, which changed young Saien’s life forever.
Seated in the Rafi Peer Workshop’s office in Lahore on a humid Saturday afternoon, Saien Zahoor – [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: June 20, 2008
By Sonya Rehman
For the first time in Pakistan, a podium for the classical music maestros has finally been provided. And we’re talking a pretty big podium here.
Launched this year by the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop (RPTW), ‘Peer Artist Management’ (PAM) brings forth a substantial goody bag for the country’s renowned (and upcoming) classical music gems [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: June 20, 2008
By Sonya Rehman
Released in 2007, in India, ‘Charkha’ – Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s debut album – has been met with standing ovations…both at home, and abroad.
Comprising of eleven soul-stirring compositions, Charkha takes its cue from the intense, Eastern-classical genre of music. But that being stated, Rahat’s sophomore effort is anything but over-powering.
Just like his renowned [...]
Posted by: Sonya Rehman on: May 16, 2008
By Sonya Rehman
What do you get when you take two Pakistani Marxists, a guitar and satirical poetry? The answer: a toe-tapping number sautéed in irony that hits close to home.
Penned by the eminent, Leftist Urdu poet, Habib Jalib, ‘Main Nay Kaha’ was written “in response to a conversation he [Jalib] had with Hafiz Jalandari during [...]
