Music

Meet Pakistan’s Malang Party

Written by: Asif Akhtar

Some of the freshest sounds to come out of Pakistan recently, have been churned out by the promising new band, Malang Party, from Islamabad. As one of the harbingers of what might be considered a new wave of music in Pakistan alongside acts like rock ’n roll band Bumbu Suace and the indie alternative band Poor Rich Boy, Malang Party have played their part in smashing the worn out mold of Sufi rock and classical fusion. “Our music is a mixture of traditional and progressive sounds,” says Zeeshan Mansoor, Malang Party’s 35-year-old dreadlocked guitarist and singer, who was in the U.S. recently to play sessions for touring folk musician Arieb Azhar from Islamabad. We caught up with Mansoor, who was on his way to the 30th Street Guitar Store in NYC to check out some analog effects pedals. “We try to experiment musically by trying these traditional desi grooves with different arrangements,” adds Mansoor.

The name Malang, not to be confused with the Indonesian city but refers to a traveling dervish, fits perfectly. All three members of the band traveled the world before bringing their diverse musical experiences together in Islamabad in 2011. “I was in Newcastle studying music performance for the last two years, so I was in three different bands at a time,” 26-year-old drummer Ibrahim Akram tells us. The band’s 22-year-old bassist Zain Ali, who has lived in the U.K. and Australia also credits his sound to the shows he’s been to. “All the live shows I have seen have created this sonic mess in my head,” says Ali.

The band is vehement about being neither genre-specific nor political, even though their songs carry strong political messages. “We don’t fit in a single genre, so you can’t really call us a funk band, a rock band, a reggae band or anything like that,” says Mansoor. The result is an energetic stage presence with their vibrant mix of funk, rock, reggae and traditional folk. “If you really want to know what we sound like, you have to hear us live,” says Akram.

Highly charged songs such as “Barah Meel” and “G.P.O.,” with blunt and often acerbic Urdu lyrics tend to remain open to interpretation. While “Barah Meel” is about leading a reclusive life away from civilization, “G.P.O” is based around clever wordplay implying “Jee Piyo,” an anthem for barflies that also alludes to the General Post Office riots in Lahore. Most songs hint at grudging backlashes and mass frustrations, both political and economic. “We’re not trying to be a political band, we’re just trying to say it how it is – our politics is the politics of reality. That’s why our album is called Load Shedding”, says Mansoor referring to their first studio album that has been named after the common term for regular power outages in Pakistan. The band released their breakthrough track “Dil Jalay” in March with a music video that went viral and have just finished recording Load Shedding, which is currently being mastered for release in August.

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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

Music

Abrarul Haq Drops New Song Celebrating Victory Over India

Celebrities across Pakistan are actively paying tribute to the armed forces for their successful defence operations, fuelling a wave of patriotic fervour across the nation.

Singer Abrarul Haq joined the celebrations by releasing a special song dedicated to the victory.

Through powerful lyrics, the track tells how the Pakistani Armed Forces thwarted India’s so-called “Operation Sindoor.”

Abrar highlights the spiritual strength of a Muslim warrior, portraying inner faith as a battlefield force.

He also symbolically mentions “serving tea to the enemy,” a phrase tied to past military encounters.

Abrar shared the song on his official YouTube channel, though the full music video is yet to be released.

Fans praised the song as a morale booster, with one commenting, “Pak Forces deserve this kind of tribute after an amazing victory,” and another adding, “The song is beautiful, and Abrarul Haq sang it with full enthusiasm and zeal.”

Also Read: Abrarul Haq Criticizes Young Artists Extravagant Demands in Music Industry