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    AN EXPERIENCE OF DISCOVERY

    Written by: Shehrbano Saiyid
    Posted on: July 15, 2012 | | 中文

    “When books on Pakistan’s history are drafted a hundred years from now, it is quite possible that Coke Studio will go down as a cultural milestone – a game changer that, culturally, socially and maybe even politically, redefined our nation.” So says Bilal Khan, a solo artist who featured in Season 4 of Coke Studio, the music project that took the country by storm with its debut in June 2008. Now in its fifth year, Coke Studio has not only projected Pakistani music at the international level, but has also proven that there exists a receptive market for its unique sound. The core of the series is fusion music, and a significant achievement of the program lies in presenting it in a way that has only been attempted in countries in the Middle East and Asia, albeit with varying degrees of success.

    The program was the brainchild of Rohail Hyat, a member of one of Pakistan’s earliest and most successful pop/rock bands, Vital Signs. Having begun as a personal exploration of eastern music, it developed into a venture that aims at pulling ancient musical and poetic traditions of the subcontinent from obscurity and carrying them to a larger audience, so that they may be recognized and preserved. For Rohail Hyat himself, Coke Studio is an experience of discovery. “We’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more to explore in terms of languages and philosophy.” He hopes that it will inspire young minds in particular to explore their heritage and develop an appreciation for their artistic inheritance.

    Coke Studio taps into a vast reservoir of latent talent as well as established potential in Pakistan.  The artists that were featured in the last few seasons reflect a rich culture of music and poetry, deeply rooted in our society, which spans centuries of history and evolution. It journeys into the heart of classical music, introducing genres that have ancient roots. And Urdu is not the only language celebrated in Coke Studio. Over the years it has featured songs in the regional Dari, Balochi and Punjabi, while reviving languages like Brahvi, Siraiki, Braj and Marwari, to name a  few.

    Each season brings out new talent while simultaneously showcasing the more established maestros of qawwali and classical music. Season 2 featured Punjabi folk musician Saeen Zahoor collaborating with Noorie, a local pop/rock band from Lahore, on a song composed to the kalaam (poetry) “Aik Alif”, written by the Punjabi sufi (Muslim mystic) poet Baba Bulleh Shah in the 18th century. In addition to providing a platform to sufi music performed by artists from across Pakistan, Coke Studio has also trained the spotlight on traditional folk music from all the provinces, the classical music of the sub-continent, as well as the modern western rock and pop underground bands that have surfaced over the past few years and bought dynamic new music to the fore. Working with such a wide assortment of influences produces a fresh fusion sound that presents historic and classical traditions in a way that appeals to the modern youth.

    In Season 4, Coke Studio plunged ever further into the depths of Pakistani folk music and the classical music of the subcontinent, exploring the diversity of music, poetry, cultures and languages within Pakistan. Akhtar Chanal Zahri performs “Daanah Pe Daanah,” a Balochi song he wrote himself and sang with music diva Komal Rezvi. Bilal Khan proves himself a rising new star. He debuted on Coke Studio with his haunting melodies, “To Kia Hua” and “Lamha”. His inclusion in the lineup for season 4 demonstrated how Coke Studio has the power to define an artist in today’s music industry. Bilal Khan says “A country, while travelling through one of its darkest periods, had a show that emerged to give hope in the most uncertain of times.”

    Coke Studio shows that Pakistan has among the most inspiring musicians and musical traditions in the world: traditions that need to be preserved by incorporating them with today’s tastes and sound through a transfusion of modern elements. Folk artists from around the country are given recognition and a wider audience to their music and poetry. The unembellished, natural sound of these hidden talents is refined with state of the art production equipment and the talented ministering of producer Rohail Hyat. The resultant product is a sophisticated piece that conveys a smooth feel, without compromising any of the raw energy of the folk performances.

    Besides classical, folk and sufi musical traditions, Coke Studio also brings out modern rock and pop bands that found an outlet in Pakistan’s underground music scene, performing at restaurants and private gatherings and promoting their albums through videos on local music channels. Bands such as Kavish, Mizraab and Jal have produced refined compositions that demonstrate the complex talent for song-writing in Pakistani music tradition.

    Coke Studio comes out with a new season consisting of five episodes every summer. The months from September through January are spent going through an assortment of demos and tracks from musicians around the country. The project never comes up with original songs. The point is to re-work existing songs with new ideas, collaborations and a vast reservoir of music provided by the Coke Studio house band. A range of Eastern and Western musicians team up with the producers to rework music taken from rich cultural tradition and develop a distinct Coke Studio sound. The band works out new arrangements, each part being performed on a different instrument, and prepares the music to the vocals recorded by the artists. Once the new arrangements have been prepared and practiced, the artists and the house band rehearse together to prepare for the final recording sessions. It is this final audio and video recording that is produced, distributed and aired. The recordings are filmed with elaborate video equipment on a large and tastefully decorated set, producing elegantly filmed live performances.

    Coke Studio has now taken on the challenge of changing a production and conceptual format that is in its 5th year.

    This project is a journey that is still on the road, focusing on reaching wider audiences and working on bigger, international collaborations. With the introduction of Coke Studio in India, it is planned to expand the project to the Middle East and produce more collaborations with diverse musical influences. Above all it is a platform for Pakistani music from all ends of the spectrum and an experimental production that is constantly working to create new sounds and bring Pakistani musical heritage on the world stage.

    (Coke Studio Website: http://www.cokestudio.com.pk/)
     


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021