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Catching up with EP: Chapter 2

From their powerhouse music to strong vocals and intense lyrics, EP really knew how to drive concerts into a loud, frantic, head-banging frenzy back in the day. When they broke up after delivering the hugely popular album Irtiqa, they left a trail of disappointed fans eager for more. Seven years later, EP has decided to regroup with two members less. The band now consists of Fawad Khan on rhythm guitar and vocals, Ahmed Ali Butt on the keyboard and vocals, Hassaan Khalid on bass, Salman Albert on lead guitar and Waqar Khan on the drums. Instep met up with the newly configured band a day after their Aazadi concert in Karachi…

What made the five of you decide to revive EP again?

Hassaan Khalid: Even after EP disbanded, we were all still in touch with each other. Ahmed was part of a new band called Rubberband and was working on different TV projects. Fawad was modeling and working on his solo album and had acted in a movie and on TV. Waqar and Salman were session players for different bands. I was studying in the UK for my MBA degree. Even though we were doing other things, we still had EP in our minds and once we were all in the same city, we discussed things out and finally decided to get the band back together. We’re all still working on other projects but EP is our first priority.

EP broke up earlier due to individual differences. How are you going to get past them now?

Fawad Khan: This time we have discussed everything at length. Earlier, sometimes decisions would be made without consulting half the band members. That’s when the conflicts arose. A time came when we couldn’t even sit together to discuss matters, much less work on a new album. Now, we try to legalize and document everything. More importantly, all decisions are now based on mutual consent. Every member of EP has a say and if we don’t agree on something, we keep hashing it out between us until a decision is reached!

What has the response to your comeback been like?

Waqar Khan: It has been amazing. I honestly hadn’t expected such an enthusiastic response. Our first concert was in March this year at LUMS and from the first song on, everybody was singing along.

Fawad: In fact, I think our fan following has increased. In the interim period while EP had disbanded, we all worked on different projects. Ahmed had his work on television and his band, Rubberband. I acted in a movie and modeled and acted on TV. I think we became more well-known. When EP regrouped, more people knew about us and were curious to know what we sounded like.

Your teenage fans must have grown up. Do you think you’ll miss out on that popularity?

Fawad: We can’t tell for sure. Let’s see when the album comes out.

Waqar: Our old fans are still there, though they may not be teenagers any more. Maybe there are fewer kids in the audience now.

Ahmed Ali Butt: No, no, they’re all still there. You can’t tell Waqar, because you’re right in the back with your drums!

Judging from the present situation in Pakistan, do you feel that a career in music is unreliable?

Fawad: It is very unreliable. Not only is the economy unstable, concerts are few and far in between because of the constant fear of terrorism. We all have back-up careers. I moonlight between acting, modeling and composing jingles for advertisements. Ahmed acts, directs, produces and models. Hassaan runs a student-based magazine called Student Blog which goes out to 60 campuses in Pakistan, he is manager of communications for the Service Sales Corporation and also runs a consultancy for students wishing to study abroad. Waqar works at Telenor and Salman sessions for a number of bands.

What’s the difference between EP then and now?

Ahmed: When we started out, we were friends having fun together and making music. But once money got involved, we realized our potential and are now going about things in a more methodical way.

Waqar: Also, while we were apart, we learnt more about music. We are more mature in our field now and our sound is more diverse.

Would you consider fusing your music with folk tunes, a la Coke Studio?

Fawad: Why not? In our upcoming album, we plan to incorporate ethnic percussions and instruments in our music.

Ahmed: What I don’t like about Coke Studio is that all the artistes in it are trying to sound like classical singers. If you’re a pop singer, you should stay that way. If I used folk music in an EP song, I would do it my way, without changing my sound drastically.

Do you feel that it is important for a band to gain recognition in India in order to make it big in Pakistan?

Ahmed: Maybe it is important for a band that is insecure about its fan base in Pakistan. Thankfully, EP has a strong fan-following, so I wouldn’t regard going into Bollywood crucial for us.

Instep: When is the new album coming out?
Waqar: The album’s going to take some time but we hope to release our first video sometime around Eid.

With the release of just one album in seven years, you still have loyal fans. What do you think makes EP stand out?

Fawad: I think our band sends out a sense of optimisim. Even though Pakistan is going through a difficult time, we decided to make a comeback. It shows that we aren’t afraid of taking on challenges.

Ahmed: EP is probably the loudest band in Pakistan. Except for a few TV appearances, we have always performed live in concerts. We put so much effort into our concerts and it shows. Where else in Pakistan do you see the whole band head banging along with the crowd? Sometimes, we bump our heads into our guitars in the process, but our fans are worth it!

– Fawad, Ahmed and Waqar were talking to
Maliha Rehman (courtesy Instep Magazine)

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5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. tehreem

    September 20, 2009 at 9:36 am

    we will always b thre for u guys.

  2. Rameexgfx

    October 29, 2009 at 7:00 am

    EP please come back 🙄

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Music

Ali Sethi’s Album ‘Love Language’ Set for August 1 Release

Ali Sethi

Music fans, mark your calendars: after catapulting into 2025 with singles Maya and Tera Sitam, Pakistani-American singer Ali Sethi is on the brink of releasing his long-awaited upcoming album Love Language, slated for release on August 1.

Love Language, my first full length studio album, is out on August 1,” penned the musician in a simple caption in an Instagram post on Thursday as he credited the artwork and photography underneath. “A ragamala rendezvous. I made it for me and you.”

Accompanying the message were three photos from the upcoming album’s cover art. While Ali didn’t lean into Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend shock tactics, there’s no denying that one colour in his carousel demands attention: red. Shiny red leather gloves, a red lace-like shirt, and a jewelled red headpiece draped across Ali’s face – all work in tandem to seize the spotlight.

The red leather gloves are worn by Ali himself – never one to shy away from experimentation – alongside yet another oversized piece of jewellery, too large to be a ring, stretched across the fingers of his left hand. Against a muted blue backdrop, this striking red motif becomes part of his signature: it’s the font colour for his name, the album title, and the names of the new tracks. In case you missed them, Ali’s red-gloved hand points directly at the swirling list of songs featured in the second photo of the carousel.

Fans will be delighted to learn that Love Language comprises sixteen songs, (including the already released Maya and Tera Sitam). When Ali delivers on August 1, here are the eclectically named Love Language tracks you can expect to add to his catalogue: O Balama (Censored Love Song), Hanera, Rocket Launcher [ft Maanu], Nursery Rhyme (Interlude), Lovely Bukhaar, Jhatka in Jaunpuri (Interlude), Hymn 4 Him (Ghoomray), Villain, Bridegroom, Jadugarni, Kaava, Horizon, Subho Shaam [ft Natania], and Escape From Jhaptaal.

The final photo shows Ali gazing pensively at something just out of frame, one red-gloved arm poised as if ready for action, the chains of red jewels still draped dramatically across his face. If there’s any man who knows how to make a statement, it’s him. And with the post already racking up over 2,000 likes from eager followers within just seven hours, it is clear that this crimson-splashed statement is one his fans have been waiting for.

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Annie Khalid’s Hit ‘Mahiya’ Remixed by Indian Producer

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Known for turning viral dialogues into catchy tunes, Mukhate paired the man’s blunt response with playful lyrics like: “Meri bua ki bhabi ke beti ki shaadi mein kyun jaon, mahiya, ke hoon mein pareshaan, mahiya.” The video quickly gained over 12 million views on Instagram.

Pakistani celebrities including Mawra Hocane and Zoya Nasir praised the remix, and Annie Khalid herself responded with laughter and enthusiasm. Mukhate, calling her “The OG,” celebrated the interaction. Khalid’s Mahiya was a breakthrough hit that defined mid-2000s Pakistani pop and opened doors for women in the industry.

Who is Annie Khalid 

Annie Khalid was born to a Kashmiri father and a Yemeni mother in Lahore on 27 March 1987. When she was just six months old, her family moved from Pakistan to the United Kingdom, first settling in East London and later relocating to Essex.

Annie Khalid launched her music career with the single “Mahiya,” which became a massive hit in Pakistan after its 2005 release. Indian filmmakers later featured the song in the film Awarapan.

On 25 November 2010, she released her UK debut single “Be My Baby,” accompanied by a remix from British DJ Judge Jules. After meeting the English–Norwegian boy band A1 at a charity event, Khalid collaborated with them on the single “Just 3 Words” and joined their tour, performing across Norway and the UK. In 2011, the Pakistan Media Awards nominated her for Best Female Singer.

In September 2013, Khalid teamed up with Beenie Man to release the single “Boom Boom Danze.”

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Muhammad Ali Shehki Says Romance Is Key to Great Music

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In an interview with Imran Ashraf, veteran musician Mohammed Ali Shehki revealed that romance—real or imagined—is central to his musical process, and urged other artists to embrace the same mindset.

He admitted to envisioning a muse while performing, saying, “An artist has to be in love all the time, whether it’s your wife, girlfriend, or someone from your imagination.”

Tapping into that romantic energy, Shehki performed his hit Pyar Kiya Mein Ne Dil Diya, then reflected on his rise to fame in the 1970s. “There was a lot of craze in that era. Now, with so many singers, no one knows who’s who. Back then, it was just a few of us—actually, just two,” he said, referencing himself and Alamgir.

Shehki recounted how makeup artist Lily Raza, who shared his Irani heritage, helped him break into the entertainment industry. Before his big break, he performed in hotels and eventually landed a spot on a show hosted by Tara Ghanshyam. When Ghanshyam fell ill, Shehki was asked to perform their duet solo.

“I thought I’d lost the opportunity,” he recalled. “But Ghazanfar Ali sahab told me, ‘You’ll sing this solo without any complaints.’ So I did, and the song became a superhit.”

Shehki, also known for acting in films like Dekh Tamasha and Choron Ka Badshah, credited that moment as the turning point in his career.

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