Music

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan captivates Karachi with his nice voice

On Monday, the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi hosted a large musical concert at the YMCA Ground to celebrate the successful conclusion of the 39-day 2025 World Culture Festival. The event was exclusively open to council members and their families.

The concert was headlined by renowned international singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who captivated the audience with his powerful vocals. He opened with the devotional piece “Allah Hoo” and performed classic hits popularized by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, such as “Dum Mast Qalandar” and “Akhiyan Udeekdiyan,” moving the crowd to dance and sway along.

Council members thoroughly enjoyed the performance, turning the evening into a festive celebration. The event was attended by Chief Secretary Sindh Syed Asif Hyder Shah, while Arts Council President Muhammad Ahmed Shah welcomed all guests warmly. Thousands were in attendance, including Arts Council Vice President Munawar Saeed, Secretary Ejaz Ahmed Farooqi, Treasurer Qudsia Akbar, and numerous governing body and co-opted members.

In his address, President Muhammad Ahmed Shah described the day as feeling like Eid for the members and their families. “We specially invited Rahat Fateh Ali Khan for our community—I had also called him to perform for us 15 years ago. The Sindh Government has provided tremendous support, and without it, we could not have progressed,” he stated.

To conclude the evening, President Muhammad Ahmed Shah presented a shield to Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah in recognition of the World Culture Festival’s success, along with traditional Sindhi gifts—an Ajrak and a Sindhi cap.

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Music

Abdullah Siddiqui reveals his upcoming album, titled ‘Bad Music’

Musician and producer Abdullah Siddiqui has confirmed the release of his fifth studio album, Bad Music, scheduled to arrive on January 16, 2026.

The announcement came through a candid Instagram note, where Siddiqui framed the record as a product of prolonged emotional reckoning.

He described the album as being written under the weight of unresolved trauma and its lingering psychological aftermath.

According to Siddiqui, the material emerged during a period when he lacked the language to understand what he was experiencing.

Some songs were written immediately after the emotional rupture, while others surfaced later in a more hardened mental state.

He explained that time transformed the shock into something darker, sharper, and noticeably more jaded in tone.

Rather than recreating devastation itself, Bad Music documents the uneasy process of purging pain before it fully settles. Siddiqui characterised the album as dark without being theatrical, intentionally avoiding melodrama or sonic excess.

He described the work as capturing what he called an underbaked catharsis, where meaning is forced too early. In retrospect, Siddiqui acknowledged that the creative process itself became harmful during his most fragile moments.

“I mined my pain violently when I was at my most fragile.” He explained that what initially felt like emotional processing gradually shifted into something closer to self-punishment.

The album explores anxiety, distorted relationships, inherited emotional behaviours, and ritualised coping mechanisms developed over time.

It also interrogates the unsettling intimacy of surviving experiences that the mind cannot fully recall or articulate.

Throughout the record, Siddiqui balances sincerity with discomfort, blending darkness, humour, and sharp self-awareness.

He stressed that the discomfort was intentional, designed to mirror the unresolved state in which the songs were created.

Eventually, he said, he was forced to confront the reality that writing was no longer healing him.

Siddiqui concluded: “I wasn’t processing anymore. I was self-flagellating.”

That realisation ultimately gave the album its blunt and self-critical title, which he announced without embellishment.

He wrote: “So, my fifth album is called Bad Music.”

Music

Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan drops “Pehli Mohabbat”

Celebrated vocalist Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, heir to the legendary Patiala Gharana tradition and the voice behind timeless classics like “Yeh Honsla” and “Dastaan,” has unveiled his latest musical creation. On Thursday, he released a profoundly personal new single titled “Pehli Mohabbat.”

Demonstrating his comprehensive artistry, Khan is not only the voice behind the poignant melody but also served as the sole composer, arranger, and music producer for the track, ensuring every note bears his distinctive imprint.

The song is brought to life by a captivating music video featuring the acclaimed actress Resham, whose expressive presence adds a layer of visual narrative and grace to the project. The video’s artistic direction was helmed by Jalal Ahmed, who translates the song’s emotional core into compelling imagery.

Officially released on the international music platform Sufi Score, “Pehli Mohabbat” is now available to a global audience and is quickly garnering attention from connoisseurs of refined music, marking a significant and eagerly awaited addition to Khan’s esteemed repertoire.

Music

Ali Zafar Drops ‘Roshni’ After 15-Year Wait

After a prolonged hiatus from releasing albums, international music star Ali Zafar has finally revealed Roshni— his fourth studio album, which feels less like a comeback and more like a long-awaited artistic unveiling.

Arriving 15 years since his last full-length project, Roshnirepresents a pivotal point in Zafar’s creative journey. Its release presents the complete album alongside compelling artwork, a detailed tracklist, and a personal artist’s note, together offering an intimate look into the emotional and reflective process behind the music. This positions Roshnias one of Zafar’s most thoughtfully crafted and personal works to date.

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Spanning twelve tracks, the album is a genre-blending exploration, merging soulful melodies with Afro rhythms, Amapiano grooves, acoustic pop, and deep-house textures. It features a diverse set of collaborators — including Alistair Alvin, Talha Anjum, DJ Shahrukh, and Ali Haider — each contributing distinct flair while maintaining the project’s cohesive sound.

Tracklist – Roshni

Ruxaana
5 Star
Mamacita (ft. Alistair Alvin)
Saanvali Saloni (ft. Alistair Alvin)
Roshni
Shiddat
Be Qarari Si
Dhoondta Hoon
Tere Bin Mein
Chal Dil Mere (ft. Talha Anjum)
Mera Pyar (ft. DJ Shahrukh)
Zalim Nazron Se (ft. Ali Haider)

In his artist’s note, Zafar describes Roshnias a meditation on light and darkness — a journey through self-discovery, emotional contrasts, and the search for clarity. The album balances vulnerability with resilience, weaving raw honesty with moments of hope throughout its narrative.

Adding a visual layer to the rollout is the stylish music video for “Ruxaana,” shot in Los Angeles. Cinematic and polished, it complements the song’s groove with sleek frames and a mood-driven aesthetic.

The creative direction of Roshniwas first hinted at with the earlier release of “Zalim Nazron Se,” which gained traction online and previewed the album’s emotional depth. Now, with the full album out, Roshnistands as a bold artistic statement — one that reflects growth, self-awareness, and global ambition.

More than a return, Roshnimarks the beginning of a new chapter for Ali Zafar — defined by introspection, evolution, and a refreshed musical vision meant to resonate worldwide.