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    Standing Tall: A Conversation with Towers

    Written by: Nayha Jehangir Khan
    Posted on: January 25, 2022 | | 中文

    Members of the Towers band. (L to R) Ashir Bhatti, Bilal Baloch, Changez Basir

    A metropolis like Karachi has propelled many musicians like Aamir Zaki, Sajjad Ali, Bilal Maqsood & Faisal Kapadia into prominence. Towers is a fresh and exciting music project hailing from Karachi, with members Bilal Baloch, Ashir Bhatti and Changez Basir. My first impression of Towers' music is that it was experimental and crossed into multiple genres. Their sound is harmonious and uplifting, with a creative process that is collaborative and spontaneous. We sat down for an in-depth discussion on their journey into music, live performances, recent song releases and future plans.

    Their debut track “Andhere Mein”, was uploaded to their Youtube channel two years ago, which was followed by a live performance at Lahore Music Meet (LMM) in February 2020. Bilal described the journey of the song that has traveled with him from his college years in Canada to other countries, where he performed the song as a recurring acoustic guitar tune that eventually manifested into a Towers song. Daniyal Ahmed can be heard playing Bansuri (flute), with the song, “Here Right Now”. The storytelling in the songs that Towers have performed on their shows like Live at True Brew, and Morph at Al Hamra Theater in Lahore, convey life experiences, social realities and deep emotional reflections. Their second release “Filhaal”, in which they collaborate with Jamal Rehman, we see Towers take flight with a colorful mix of riffs, drums, keys and bass lines that are smooth and jovial.

    Changez Basir

    Each member has a different listening history of the music they enjoy. Having known each other for over 15 years, Changez had a love for rock music and heavy metal, while Ashir and Bilal grew up on hip hop. Over the many years of their friendship, they shared what they loved with each other, using that foundation as a relationship to form Towers. Bilal is on vocals and guitars, Ashir is on vocals and drums, while Changez is on bass. The trio's individual melodic ideas are then brought into the studio. Towers have been making waves in the current music scene with live performances, where their audiences can be seen on their feet dancing and singing with their songs.

    Bilal Baloch

    While the second wave of the pandemic hit the country, Towers were working on their next song remotely with Jamal Rehman, titled “Seedhi Baat”. Passionate to keep creating and delivering their music, they wrote the song within a day and traveled to Lahore to record it together. They strongly believe in the power of songwriting and music composition, always keeping one eye directed inwards on how to express their message with sincerity and love, while putting down a distillation of each musical idea. Open to new themes, staying experimental and surprising each other with reengineered samples, experimenting with arrangements and observing their audience's reaction, Towers are forever evolving their sound.

    The name of the music project came from the time the trio were jamming together at Bilal’s house near Seaview in Karachi, where the tallest building rapidly coming up was the Dolmen Towers. Metaphorically internalizing this metropolis that was constantly in their view while creating music, they recognized that there is a message hidden in this encounter. Towers saw that they too were building themselves through a “brick by brick” philosophy that everyone else can also grow taller like a tower, when striving in the busy hustle-bustle of the city. Over the years growing up in Karachi, each member has faced challenges dealing with their social environment, politics and the community. Amplified by their chaotic infrastructures that have controlled their sense of mobility and identity, reflecting on their own sense of self through their music and self-expression in an attempt to keep deconstructing and evolving. Their ability to view themselves as outsiders and connect with others outside the mainstream community, has been a source of inspiration for the band.

    Ashir Bhatti

    Ready to release new singles and collaborative projects in the coming months, Towers can be found on all streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and their own Youtube channel. We can soon expect an EP (extended play, shorter than a full album) produced in collaboration with Zahra Paracha that is being processed and finalized. They plan to perform in March as soon as it is safe enough for the public to gather again.

    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCozCyl1KngtXM_i8Dz_ZGng
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/towers.tv/
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3RtQy4G1wwfnhyegf4czBO
    Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/towers/1533272542

    Music Videos:

    Filhaal: https://youtu.be/WMYArMpds4U
    Seedhi Baat: https://youtu.be/gfjGHX5TdVY
    Andhere Mein: https://youtu.be/oR7HJIPKESY
    Shola: https://youtu.be/gEYRU5Z_kPs


    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