After enthralling the nation, Coke Studio returns this year with season 4. This season builds on the experiences of the earlier efforts and continues to embody the musical diversity within the nation. It provides a novel perspective on the variety of music, poetry, cultures and languages that exist in our country. Speaking of the Coke Studio experience, Executive Producer Rohail Hyatt said, “Coke Studio 4 has been a captivating journey. It has been a portal to discovery, inducing our curiosity and compelling us to dwell on the uniqueness of our heritage with renewed pride and respect. Altogether, it has been a very stimulating and rewarding challenge.”
This season highlights a unique mishmash of performers from pop singers to folk singers and qawwali artists along with a diverse range of bands and a house-band, which combines the best of both Eastern and Western instrumentation for a cross-genre collaboration.
Season 4 commenced with the emerging pop artist Bilal Khan’s “To Kia Hua”. At the age of twenty-four, Bilal Khan is already being recognised as the voice of the new generation. He believes that young people all over Pakistan are facing similar struggles and he can relate to them through music. “Music for me has always been a form of expression, things I couldn’t say otherwise, I say through music,” he says.
This year’s Coke Studio line-up also includes Sajjad Ali who entered the music industry at the age of 13 years with “Master Sajjad sings Memorable Classics” and later gave numerous hits. Till date Sajjad Ali’s talent is being hailed by the entire nation. Sajjad’s Coke Studio song “KirKir” has been rated as one of the best songs of this season so far. Speaking of Coke Studio, Sajjad says, “I feel that musically and visually, Coke Studio is a true representation of our nation’s identity.” As for his own performance in Coke Studio, he feels he brings a voice, which is “more mature”.
Coke Studio this year also features an upcoming multitalented celebrity-Komal Rizvi who can sing, dance, act and host shows. Her Coke Studio song ‘Dannah pe Dannah’ has already received a warm welcome. Speaking about Coke Studio she says, “Coke Studio has done what no other platform in the entire entertainment industry in Pakistan has ever done…made us proud of our own music.” Komal’s co-performer in ‘Dannah pe Dannah’, Akhtar Chanal Zahri, who brings Brahui folk songs from the fields of Balochistan expresses his feelings, “Coke Studio has completely erased our feelings of loneliness.” He further adds, “I could never even imagine that this kind of music could be made from our folk.” Clearly Coke Studio is bridging gaps and forming exceptional alliances that create exemplary music.
Revealing about the Coke Studio experience artist Abu Mohammad, who brings the art of qawwali to the studio along with his brother Fareed Ayaz and their troupe, holds forth, “The best thing about working with Coke Studio is that there are no compromises”. Farhan Saeed of Jal band attributed Coke Studio’s success to the executive producer, “There is some magic in Rohail that brings out inspirational music from an artist. This is a wonderful setup.”
Indeed Rohail, the epicenter of vigor and vitality, must be credited for conceiving and producing this outstanding series of annual musical carnival, which carries a unique significance for each individual. As Rohail puts it, “I don’t think there can be a common experience with music. I think everybody has a unique experience.”
Don’t forget to catch up with Coke Studio Season Four’s third episode tonight which includes: Mole’s “Baageshri”, Bilal Khan’s “Lamha”, Sanam Marvi’s “Ith Naheen”, Jal’s “Panchi” and Ustaad Naseer-ud-Din Saami’s “Mundari”.
