LAHORE: Like every year, the winter season calls for a ‘Music Meet’ where people get together to celebrate music. Thus, the fourth edition of Lahore Music Meet (LMM) started on Saturday at Alhamra Arts Council in Lahore.
Unlike the previous editions, this edition failed to attract foot goers to the festival. From what it looked like, it was more of a disappointing start rather than an exciting weekend ahead. From Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy missing her flight for her session to half empty walkways outdoor, it was shocking to see this start to the much-hyped event.
However, there was an interesting session that took place in the Art Gallery at Alhamra Arts Council titled ‘Mausiqi Mulaqat’ organised by the Citizens Archive of Pakistan (CAP) under the LMM umbrella.
Not only that, Patari Tabeer Live performance by Abid Brohi and Lyaari Underground Band was also organised. The hall was jam-packed for their performance as the band performed some of their most viral songs that went up on social media. From ‘Gucci Gang’ to ‘The Sibbi song’ the boys from Lyaari managed to keep the energy of the audience to the max as they tapped their toes and sang along to the songs.
Moving on to the ‘Mausiqi Mulaqat’ session; it was a fairly interesting concept brought together by CAP to bridge the gap between the generations by creating a dialogue with the most enjoyed medium ‘MUSIC’.
While talking to Pakistan Today, CAP’s General Manager Hiba Ali said, “This activity was specially curated for LMM,” adding that the idea is to exchange music between different generations.
There were people from different age ranges from 50s-70s, 80s-90s and the younger generations in their 20s and 30s. The activity started with the participants warming up to each other and then they exchanged their playlists; the seniors heard the music that the youth listens to and vice versa.
“This activity gave the seniors a chance to listen to new music and the youth to listen to music from the 1930s, 1940s and so on,” said Hiba. “There were beautiful conversations that went on in here as the participants exchanged their views about the music,” she added.
With LMM and such activities, the people get a chance to promote the music culture in the country.
Pakistan Today exclusively spoke to two participants who shared their thoughts about the activity. One participant Fayaz Ahmed Ash’ar, who is a record collector, told us that he had been collecting music in all forms whether it’s a record disc, cassette, DVD, film etc. from 1902 -1980. “I have all songs collected from the very first on of 1902 to Noor Jehan’s first song. From Akhtar Bano’s songs to the Punjabi National Anthem that was sung in favour of the Indians, I have all those in my collections,” Fayaz told Pakistan Today.
“In my lifetime I have not met a person who could beat my collections, but I’d definitely like to meet one,” he added.
Fayaz’s opinion about the session, that the idea to introduce the younger generations to the old music is something new, and a very interesting step taken to ‘appreciate the most beautiful way of dialogue’.
“The participant I was seated with heard my collection and loved it and I think it gave them a chance to listen to meaningful music that was created back in the days, which made you sway to the tune, unlike today’s music that just wants you to tap your feet or dance to the beat. This, I feel, is the difference between good and bad music,” he said.
“Music has a very powerful impact on the people and the society. If you want to bring about change or make a revolutionary movement, music can help you change the dialogue, slowly but eventually,” he concluded.
Another participant, who is a writer namely Zahid Shamsi, was very impressed by the initiative taken by CAP to overcome the communication gap between generations. “They have chosen the most beautiful and sophisticated way to bridge the gap between generations and understand each other, which is music,” Zahid said.
“Music for me is every rhythmic movement which makes the earth rotate and everything that happens on the earth is because of these rhythmic notes,” he added.
Shamsi went on to say that through this session, he realised that there is a lot of work that needs to be done to change the mentality of the society. He added, “For that, the different generations of our society need to come together and make the world a better place, and music is the best way to do it.”
According to Zahid Shamsi, the medium of music is very important as it spreads the message of love and that is what one needs to live life peacefully.
Talking about the music that he was made to listen to by the youth, he said, “I was so impressed to see that the youth does not listen to anything meaningless. All that I heard was so beautiful and just like all forms of art that is there enhancing the beauty of nature, music is doing that too.”
Finally, he mentioned that music is everywhere and people experience it in their everyday life.
The session ended as people looked around the museum where the work of artists was displayed.
