Is Local Music Making A Comeback?
Despite with no major live concerts happening, local music is making a comeback, with lot of new creative ideas being introduced in the industry. With projects like Coke Studio, Guitar School in Lahore, Uth Records and LUMS Music Festival the music scene is gradually picking up momentum — many musicians are getting international offers to showcase their talent in the absence of major international concerts in Pakistan.
Zebunnisa Bangash (Zeb and Haniya), who studied Economics and History of Art and has been singing since age eight feels that investing in music is about how the music business works, and the industry is growing because now the corporations are supporting it. It explains the value that companies add, helping artists to realise a talent that would typically go unrecognised and get to an audience they would otherwise not reach. She said,
“Local music was always around though never acknowledged. But now, it is flourishing as corporations have started promoting it.”
Haroon Rashid, the British-born Pakistani pop singer, who has achieved a lot of commercial success in the industry believes that the local media is responsible for the downfall of the Pakistani music industry as they are promoting Bollywood music more than their own. He said,
“No, it’s not because Pakistani media is not supporting it. Shamefully, local media is running Indian music, cannibalising their own industry.”
Ayesha Omar, the 30 year-old actress, model, singer, former MTV Pakistan VJ and painter, gives Coke Studio (produced by Rohail Hyatt) all the credit for projecting the Pakistani music at international level and making the music business in Pakistan, profitable. According to her, Coke Studio is the reason behind the comeback of local music. She said,
“What Coke Studio has done to project local music is commendable. Pakistani music is now gaining recognition abroad.”
Zeeshan Parwez is a Pakistani music artist who has also directed many famous music TV shows like On The Fringe, Coke Studio and Uth Records. According to Zeeshan, who has studied music production and synthesis, the local music is making a comeback because of the improvements in the production qualities. He said,
“Yes, it is actually in the form of new productions. They take an old folk song, hype it or revamp it into a good crisp production.”
[Thanks Express Tribune for snippets of interviews]
