Music

Faris Shafi Opens Up About His Lyrics, Idols, and Personal Life

It is pretty hard to find rappers or lyricists in the Pakistani music business that write from the heart and express their thoughts in a way that everyone can understand. Some Pakistani rappers have raised the standard for hip-hop culture, while others have rebuilt it.

Faris Shafi stands out from the rest of the pack with his classic songs and lyrics that portray the grim realities. He’s been putting out a staggering amount of music, and it’s made everyone pay attention and actually listen.

It’s safe to say that his songs include a fair amount of vulgarity, but they also contain a lot of truth. Maybe this is why it took him decades to head into the mainstream music world and the other half know who is Faris Shafi.

Faris got em all debating.

Faris Shafi recently went down for an interview and was brutally honest about his artistic career.

Faris Shafi just made his Coke Studio debut and has since released two songs to praise.
Is there a certain moment when you first began to compose music? Are you a fan of any particular kind of music?

‘I suppose the intention began very, very early,’ Faris Shafi said. As you know, mimicking stuff from other rap songs. My first exposure to hip-hop music was around the age of seven or eight, and since then I’ve been trying to find out how I can connect with it.”

The interviewer then inquired, “Which artist’s music had the most influence on you?” he said. “I’ve been trying to keep it a secret for a long time. However, it seems that this is something that everyone is curious about. Snoop Dog’s record was the first one I found.Since the name of the record is so inappropriate, I doubt I can even take the name.

Nobody under the age of 21 would have been able to enjoy any of the songs on the record, and I’m not sure how I ended up with it. Then the greats, Eminem, a lot of Tupac, and a lot of Biggie, began to emerge. That was the beginning of my exploration into the discographies of certain artists, rather than a wide variety. Even today, I’ve memorised all of their songs.
And it was those trying experiences as a kid that shaped my approach to handling situations. Even if the phrase “hip hop saved my life” is an old one, I understand precisely what it means.

Faris Shafi chuckled when the journalist raised the obvious question about the usage of foul language in his rap music. Is that so?” For me, I’m just interested in the kind of work I’d want to do. My heroes did the same for me, and it saved my life.

His social media presence is limited to Instagram, which he seldom updates. Faris Shafi is a low-profile artist. There aren’t any transcripts of any of the interviews available.

The interviewer asked, where does that come from?

For a variety of reasons, this is the case. What’s a good place to begin? Famous people were nothing new. Most people only learn about the dark side of fame after they’ve already attained it, so this wasn’t news to me.

As far as I can see, you’re going to have troubles after you get home. Fame for one’s job is something I appreciate. If the work becomes well known, I don’t want to be a part of it. Of course, I’m grateful for the recognition; after all, the job we do deserves it.
This is also reflected in the way I approach my job. If I write a song about drugs, violence, or addiction. It doesn’t imply that I’m always doing these activities. It’s difficult to get into the spoken word industry since people tend to link your words to you.

Faris wrapped off the conversation with a reference to his most recent tune, Muaziz Saarif, in answer to the last question. In your country, how did people react? In his words, seeing my sister and I together is a wonderful thing for our mother. It’s wonderful, but it’s not a surprise to me at all. A lot more could be done.

This is just the beginning. We’ve just scratched the surface here.

Music

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

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.

Also Read: Ali Sethi’s Mother Reveals She’s Not a Fan of ‘Pasoori’

Music

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

Indian music producer Yashraj Mukhate went viral by remixing Annie Khalid’s iconic 2006 pop hit Mahiya, blending it with a humorous clip of a South Asian man expressing his dislike for relatives.

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.”

Also Read: Annie Khalid – Tharki Saala (Music Video)

Music

Muhammad Ali Shehki Says Romance Is Key to Great Music

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.

Also Read: Ajay Devgn Shares Musician’s Apology to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan