‘Coke Studio’ released the fifth episode of Season 12 on Friday, featuring “Balma” by singer Fariha Parvez, “Heeray” by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Aima Baig, “Daachi Waaliya” by Hadiqa Kiani, and “Mram Mram” by Shamali Afghan. Fariha Pervez returns to Coke Studio after an extended hiatus with Balma, a thumri that speaks of firaaq, the pain that comes with the absence of one’s balma (lover). A genre of neem-classical music, thumri music revolves around romantic poetry and expresses the many emotions that are felt in the way of love, be it the joy of union or the sorrow of separation. On this Season, Balma’s poetry gives words to a woman’s plight, as she weeps in memory of an absentee beloved, her heart restless to be united with him. Composed in Khamaaj Thaat, the poetry of Balma comes to life in the melodies of Fariha Pervez’s voice in an ambient soundscape that shares the unique feeling of sadness that comes with separation and estrangement. “When instruments, played beautifully, come together with poetry, the union is such that it can soothe your soul,” Fariha Parvez says. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan brings the story of Heer and Ranjha to the canvas of ‘Coke Studio’ this season, with a rendition that represents new avenues both for him, musically, and for the timeless love saga that has come to us through the poetry of Waris Shah. Heer and Ranjha are a metaphor for selfless love that survives in the face of tragedy and the pain that comes from separation. In his epic poem, Waris Shah recounts how, centuries ago, Ranjha and Heer met in Punjab and their love grew in the forest and fields that surround the river Chenab. Faced with society’s ideas of caste and morality, the lovers were torn from each other only to be brought together by fate. Their love was meant to be tragic, even in union – society could not bear to see them together and, ultimately, the two lovers could only be reunited in death. The story of Heer and Ranjha has survived through centuries, recounted in poetry, music and art – a lesson depicting the strength of love. Khan Sahab brings new hues to the tale this season, with a modern rendition of the saga, featuring Aima Baig as the voice of Heer. In retelling the story with contemporary sounds and harmonies, Khan Sahib hopes that the message of Heer and Ranjha’s love will reach the young Heers and Ranjhas of today. Hadiqa Kiani continues her journey of exploration and self-discovery on Coke Studio 12 with Daachi Waaliya, a popular Punjabi tune that carries with it the unique rhythm of a camel’s gait. For Hadiqa, Daachi Waaliya is attached to memories of her first performances on stage, a song she would sing in school competitions as a child. Woven with themes of romance and loneliness, the poetry of Daachi Waaliya calls out to a camel-rider, asking him to carry the singer away with them, calling back to the story of Sassi and Punnu that has come down to us through the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. In Coke Studio’s rendition, Hadiqa joins the song with verses written by Sufi poets Waris Shah and Bulleh Shah, which ultimately speak on the nature of unconditional love. These verses hint at the spiritual undertones of Daachi Waaliya, allowing an experience that is open to searching for and creating one’s own meanings through the exploration of the piece. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan brings the story of Heer and Ranjha to the canvas of ‘Coke Studio’ this season, with a rendition that represents new avenues both for him, musically and for the timeless love saga that has come to us through the poetry of Waris Shah. Heer and Ranjha are a metaphor for selfless love that survives in the face of tragedy and the pain that comes from separation “For every adversity I face in life, music is a medicine. It has played a vital role in my sanity. I learn from music; I find peace in music. I find lessons in music, to grow in life, to create positivity in life. I seek music. I seek whatever I can get from music because it’s a huge ocean,” said Hadiqa Kiani Travelling through the fabric of culture across time and distance, is Mram Mram, a song which descends from the musical heritage of 1960’s Iran. Performed by Shamali Afghan, the song is a Pashto rendition of the Farsi song ‘Zim Zim’. While the song originated as a folk song, it was made famous in the mainstream when it was composed by Ustad Nainawaz. An irresistible melody, the song has seen many variations in both folk and contemporary colours. As the song traveled to Afghanistan, it found its way to the hearts of the Afghan people and was covered in the local language, Dari – taking on the form of a folk piece that was frequently covered. In Afghanistan, the song caught the attention of Shamali’s father Shah Wali Afghan who created the Pashto version of the song – Mram Mram. A song about a heartbroken lover in deep anguish, in this rendition, Sadiq Sameer contributes a haunting and echoing tone with the rabab, an instrument that provides this feeling throughout the composition. While the song has previously embodied a variety of genres, for this Season, the song encapsulates the core of the heartache in a softer and gentler rendition which complements the soft tones of Shamali’s voice. And to the sound of ghungroos, crystal bowls and light harmonies in the background, one is left in deep contemplation of the musical legacy of culture. “Music chooses you. It loves you and it hates you. It elevates you and it also strikes you down. Music is alive. It is an energy. It becomes your friend and leads you. When music becomes your friend, then you are a king,” said Shamali Afghan. After an extended break in her career, the songstress with a nightingale’s voice, Fariha Pervez returns to Coke Studio with music that showcases her melodious vocal range. As a product of both immense talent and sheer perseverance, she has received several awards for her singing prowess, such as the Special Award for Achievements in Music in 2015. While she began with both acting and anchoring at a young age at PTV, it was in music that Fariha found her true calling. With the massive acclaim that her song Patang Baaz received from her debut album, Nice & Naughty, Fariha found herself on the path of what has now become a prolific career in music. To date, Fariha has released seven albums that have offered numerous hit songs. Through the years, Fariha has ventured into many a genre, however her foundation has been set in Eastern Classical training under Master Feroze Gill of the Gwalior Gharana. It is through the training received from him that she has been able to hone her craft and has become well-known for her finesse in renditions of various popular and famous ghazals. This season Coke Studio welcomes back the tradition of qawwali with the iconic Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. A protégé of none other than Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Khan Sahab represents a 600-year-old legacy of musical heritage. Born into this tradition, Khan Sahab knew from a very young age that his connection to music was a spiritual one and would lead to a lifelong pursuit. Chosen by Ustad Nusrat as his heir, Khan Sahab took the helm of his family’s qawwali legacy and has since then gone on to sing thousands of songs at home and abroad. He has received an honorary degree (Doctor of Music) from Oxford University, has been awarded the Sitaara-e-Imtiaz in 2015, while his song – Zaroori Tha – was the first non-film music video to reach 200 million views on YouTube in 2007. Khan Sahab’s musical repertoire has expanded across a diverse range, including contemporary styles of music from Bollywood to Sufi qawwali but as always, he aims to share the gift that music has given him with the world. Through qawwali, he aims to spread the message of brotherhood, peace and love. Khan Sahab’s aim is always to present his family’s musical traditions and keep the genre of qawwali alive with care, honesty and accuracy. It is through the authenticity of this practice that his music continues to touch fans all over the world. Aima began to discover her voice as a young girl, in the privacy of her bedroom, singing along to karaoke versions of her favourite pop songs. While Aima’s secret remained undiscovered in the mainstream media for much of her life, she is now considered to be one of Pakistan’s leading female vocalists. She won a Lux Style Award in the category of Best Female Singer in Film for Kalabaaz Dil, a song she sang for Lahore Se Aagey in 2017. The following year, she won yet again in the same category. In 2019, Aima was awarded the highly coveted Tamgha-e-Fakhr-e-Imtiaz for her contribution to the arts. Aima is regarded as a versatile singer with a mastery in many genres including romantic, sad and upbeat songs and while her vocals possess a western texture, she has demonstrated her vocal range by singing in Seraiki, Punjabi and Urdu effortlessly. To date, Aima has worked on numerous films and dramas as a playback singer including Jawani Phir Nahin Aani 2, Na Maloom Afraad and, more recently, Parey Hut Love. As an artist, she has performed alongside top names in Pakistan’s music industry including Shuja Haider during the PSL Final Opening Ceremony. Returning to Coke Studio this season is the ever-transforming artist, Hadiqa Kiani, as she continues her ongoing journey of inner discovery. Hadiqa’s musical journey began as a child when she was recognized for her skill at the Pakistan National Council of Arts, where she began her training. Since then, Hadiqa has formed a lifelong relationship with music, a craft that has been an expression of her soul, a part of her life and her inner self. She started singing professionally in 1995 and has released songs that cross genres and languages. Known for her versatility, Hadiqa has sung western compositions and ballads with as much gusto as she has sung Sufi and folk pieces. In 2017, Hadiqa released Wajd, an album that was particularly close to her heart, one that signifies new avenues for the artist as she begins to explore the full spectrum of the mystical realm of Sufi music. Joining ‘Coke Studio’ for the first time is Shamali Afghan, a student of eastern classical singing, who brings with him music that carries stories of Diaspora life and change. One of the voices heard in Pakistan in the 1980’s belonged to his father- the leading Afghani singer Shah Wali, who established himself as an iconic artist, and represented the then freshly war-stricken Afghanistan. Shamali continues in his father’s footsteps by carrying on the legacy of his culture’s musical heritage. He began singing in his late teens, by learning the craft under the tutelage of his father, and has been pursuing music for ten years now. He has seen his career grow with appearances on television shows, multiple concert performances and self-funded music videos; his most recent music video being Za Kana, which can be found on YouTube.