Music

Recovering of Sindhi culture

Charged with the goal to change the image of Sindhi people across the country, two university students started producing music in 2003 in order to convey a message to the wider public. They eventually formed a band, The Sketches, which essentially focuses on Sufi-pop music.

The band rose to prominence through “Coke Studio 4” with their song “Mand Waai” which was well received — evident by the feedback they received from the Sindhi population. The song, which is a kalaam by legendary Sindhi scholar Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, has gone viral on social networking site Facebook.

“A number of people have commented on our songs and they sound happy, confused and astounded that the message of peace and harmony that we wanted to convey through Sufi poetry is finally being heard,” added Samejo.

Inspired by various Sufi poets and local bands like Junoon and Vital Signs, The Sketches comprise Saif Samejo and Naeem Shah as vocalist and guitarist respectively.

Their journey was a long and tedious one due to the initial resentment that The Sketches faced. “Our fellows in university had anti-state tendencies and they kept blaming the army and the state for our miserable position. It took us a lot of time to explain that if they really cared then they should start doing something concrete rather than just nagging,” Samejo told The Express Tribune.

Once the band decided to produce music solely for the purpose of recreating the Sindhi identity, they received a number of threats for doing something unorthodox. “Comrades threatened us but since we were from influential families, nothing really changed,” said Samejo.

They released their debut album in February 2010 by the name of Dastkari — meaning ‘one’s own creation’. The album — which contains songs in Sindhi, Saraiki and Urdu — comprises of ballads, alternative rock, Sufi and folk music.

They even produced a video “Kaanton Ki Dewaar”, which showed individuals holding placards with messages that they wanted to broadcast. The video presented a child with a football saying “I want to be Zidane” and another person had a placard saying “I changed my religion and now I am a human”.

Music for a cause

Although Samejo and Shah come from different professions, with the former working in the marketing department of the Sindhi newspaper Kaavish and the latter being a sculptor by profession, what unites them is their passion for music.

However, despite having stable carriers, Samjeo believes that a lot is yet to be done in terms of educating the masses about their culture. “For instance, many associate the practice of karo kari with the Sindhi culture. You pick up any Sindhi folk tale and you’ll find that women have always been choosing there own spouses and the concept of karo kari has in fact been imported from the Arabian and Iranian cultures. People can only be educated about that through their own poetry and music,” explains Samejo.

Adding to that, Samejo also said that it is due to the dismal state of present day Sindhi music that the behavior of people is not changing towards society. “Rock music came to Europe as a reaction to wars and now it’s our turn to start making good music before all the Sindhi channels kill whatever remains of the original Sindhi culture.”

Currently, The Sketches are working on their second album which is still in its recording phase.

Apart from that, the band also plans to get the cultural ministry on board and create a platform through which talented youngsters can be paid for learning and mastering the art of traditional instruments.

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