Music

Strings’ electrifying music rocks Karachi

Pop rock band Strings, comprising of Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia, dazzled the people of Karachi, with their exhilarating concert at the garden area of Beach Luxury Hotel on November 25.

The evening was definitely an ode to the people of Karachi, mostly youngsters and university students, who turned up in large numbers. This concert was the last leg of their Gillette Style Gurus tour after the band had already performed in Lahore and Islamabad.

The pop rock band, who walked to the stage completely charged, performed live for the young students present amongst the audience. “Strings live in action are absolutely fantastic, loved the energy, ambience and patriotism that Strings’ songs portrays. It was a rocking night,” said fan Faryal Siddiqui who was present at the concert.

The band, known for its strong poetic lyrics, kicked off the event with “Koi Aane Wala Hai” which was followed by “Najane Kyun” (Spider Man 2’s soundtrack), “Uski Zulfein Khuli” and the political “Ab Khud Kuch Kerna Parega.” An interesting point in the concert was when Strings reached the climax of “Zinda Hoon” (from the Bollywood film Zinda) and the microphone stopped working for a bit, however, the singing duo were so well-tuned that they never let the music die and delivered the song perfectly.

Before they moved on to “Titliyan”, Kapadia requested the stage lights to be switched off and asked the crowd to put their hands up in the air while holding their cell phones. The band performed the song while their fans swayed holding their lit cell phones and then released balloons up in the air.

Following this was “Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar”, a song that in Kapadia’s words, ‘gave Strings their identity’ more than two decades ago. Maqsood, who generally remains on the guitar, sang the melody with such precision that it took the audience back many years to when the song was released. The singing duo then moved on to “Mera Bichra Yaar” followed by “Duur”, which was thoroughly enjoyed even by the older ladies in the audience who were spotted singing along. The band also performed “Dhaani”, “Sohniyeh”, “Mein Tou Dekhoonga” and their World Cup hit number “Hai Koi Hum Jaisa” during the one-and-a-half hour concert.

Just minutes after Strings left the stage, a fan sent them a text message asking how they felt after performing in Karachi. To that, Kapadia replied; “It was electrifying, loved the people of Karachi. It’s good to see them getting out of their homes and having some fun.”

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