Music

Bilal Maqsood makes a musical comeback with the new track ‘O’re Saajna’

Bilal Maqsood has made his official return to music with the release of the romantic single, ‘O’re Saajna,’a heartfelt and notable comeback after a long hiatus. The project arrives with a distinctive music video inspired by his children’s puppet series, Pakkay Dost.

Prior to the drop, Maqsood previewed the track on Instagram, sharing behind-the-scenes moments.

In a candid social media post, the artist reflected on his creative motivation: “Wanted to start making songs again. Thought I’d begin with one called ‘O’re Saajna.’ But honestly didn’t feel like doing the whole acting shaacting this time. So I figured, why not just become my own muppet instead?” He noted how effectively the puppet version of himself expressed the song’s emotional core.

Musically, ‘O’re Saajna’is a gentle, melodic ballad built around soft acoustic guitar lines—a sound that echoes the timeless style of his earlier work as a co-founder of the band Strings, known for classics like ‘Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar,’ ‘Sohniyae,’and ‘Anjaane.’

The video continues this nostalgic yet playful tone, following a muppet named “BM” as he reminisces about a lost love—also portrayed as a puppet—set against the scenic Karachi coastline and urban streets. The release also ties into Maqsood’s broader advocacy for the Urdu language, which he promotes through content aimed at younger audiences.

While many parents on social media have praised his educational work, Maqsood clarified that this song is meant to be enjoyed by adults as well, uniting his dual creative passions for music and Urdu in a single artistic expression.

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Music

Ali Zafar’s latest release inspires creative explosion

A surge of digital creativity has followed the release of Ali Zafar’s album ‘Roshni,’ as a wave of content creators join an online video contest inspired by its tracks.

Launched weeks after the album’s debut, the competition called for submissions of visual art based on songs from the project, offering cash prizes of Rs250,000, Rs75,000, and Rs50,000. In response, social media feeds have been flooded with entries, a significant number showcasing AI-generated imagery and experimental narratives that capture varied personal interpretations of the album’s themes.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Zafar said the project was intended to inspire positivity and artistic expression. “The idea behind ‘Roshni’ was to spread light, and seeing it spark such incredible creativity among fans truly leaves me in awe,” he said.

In response to the growing number of submissions, organisers introduced an additional category the ‘Public Choice Award’ allowing audiences to vote for their favourite entry. There is also increasing anticipation around a possible awards ceremony hosted by Lightingale Records.

The Lightingale Records platform is aimed at supporting emerging talent. The event is expected to bring finalists together, where Zafar may personally present the awards.

Ali Zafar remains one of Pakistan’s most recognizable crossover stars. He built early fame through music before successfully entering films. In Bollywood, he appeared in projects such as ‘Tere Bin Laden’, ‘Mere Brother Ki Dulhan’, ‘London Paris New York’, ‘Chashme Baddoor’, and ‘Dear Zindagi’. In Pakistan, his comeback film ‘Teefa in Trouble’ became a commercial success and helped revive local box office excitement.

Ali Zafar’s latest initiative highlights the evolving relationship between music and digital creativity, with ‘Roshni’ acting as a catalyst for cross-border artistic collaboration.

Music

Hasan Raheem and The PropheC release ‘Ek Nishani’

Singer Hasan Raheem is finally releasing a long-awaited collaboration with Indo-Canadian artist The PropheC. Their new track, “Ek Nishani,” is set to drop this Friday.

Raheem recently teased the release on social media, giving fans a first glimpse of the music video.

The trailer opens with a woman dragging a coffin across the desert, creating a dark and emotional mood. Raheem and The PropheC are then seen standing in the barren landscape, while later shots show The PropheC sitting alone on a chair inside a dimly lit room.

A short snippet of the song also plays in the teaser.

Raheem recently released his song Bewajah and has remained one of Pakistan’s most loved young voices.

Known for his smooth vocals and modern sound, he has built a strong fan following over the years.

The PropheC, on the other hand, is known for his soulful Punjabi tracks and polished production style.

With both singers bringing different sounds to the table, fans are expecting Ek Nishani to be one of the standout releases of the week.

Music

Talha Anjum tops Spotify Pakistan charts for 5th straight year

Spotify Pakistan has named Talha Anjum the most-streamed artist in the country for the last five consecutive years, a streak that signals a broader transformation in Pakistan’s music industry—where independent hip-hop has firmly entered the mainstream.

Just yesterday, Spotify Pakistan released the list of top artists in an Instagram post, showing Talha Anjum at the top, followed by Atif Aslam, Umair, Hasan Raheem, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Talhah Yunus, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Abdul Hannan, Maanu, and Asim Azhar.

As one half of the Young Stunners, alongside Talhah Yunus, Anjum has consistently delivered music that blends both sharp lyricism with themes of identity, ambition and social commentary. Over the years, he has delivered several standout tracks including Gumaan, Afsanay, Baaz, Downers at Dusk, and Laam. He also released his single 2AM in London this year.

The music-streaming platform released a rewind of the last five years, including a large artist community engagement for Pakistani musicians as well as streams of over 140 artists in the past year.

The statistics reveal that mainstream pop figures like Atif Aslam and musical icons including Nusrat and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan continued to command massive audiences, while Anjum represented a newer wave that thrives on digital platforms and youth-driven culture.

The platform also unveiled the top Pakistani tracks of the past five years, highlighting major hits including Jhol, Pal Pal, Wishes, Bikhra, Maand, Tu hai kahan, Iraaday, Kahani Suno, Nahi Milta, and Pasoori, all of which have played a key role in shaping Pakistan’s recent music landscape and global streaming presence.