Daily Times

KARACHI: The multi-producer ‘Coke Studio’ season 9 has reached its final stages and the second last episode is set to go on air today (Saturday).

Episode 6 of this season reveals an amazing line-up of performers including Saeen Zahoor and Sanam Marvi, Damia Farooq and Basit Ali, Momina Mustehsan and Asim Azhar, and Rizwan Butt and Sara Haider. Sanam Marvi and Saeen Zahoor were last seen performing together on the ‘Coke Studio’ platform in 2013 in season 6. Their powerful vocals create an intoxicating sense of euphoria that lifts their tracks to new sonic heights.

The episode will be featuring four songs, including “Lagi Bina” by Sanam Marvi and Saeen Zahoor, “Anokha Laadla” by Damia Farooq and Basit Ali, “Tera Woh Pyaar’ by Asim Azhar and Momina Mustehsan, and “Meri Meri” by Rizwan Butt and Sara Haider.

The first song of the episode establishes the bars of nostalgia with a sense of familiarity with in the first few seconds with the classic tune, “Anokha Laadla” — fueled by Damia Farooq’s subtle and effortless vocals. That is, until in a split second the track pauses before a psychedelic riff transforms the original arrangement of the track, and the vocals of Basit Ali cut through distinctive and strong. Written by Raees Farough and originally composed by Ashiq Ali, the transformed duet has a renewed edge comprising an upbeat drumbeat, fuzzy guitar twangs, a brilliant sitar solo – adeptly delivering a tune with a powerful soul comprising a timeless, moving melody.

The second song can be best described as sublime, beautiful, and soul stirring; “Tera Woh Pyaar” and “Nawazishein” performed by Momina Mustehsan with Asim Azhar. The romantic ballads, both originally sung by Shuja Haider, features him as the music director, calling the shots in a track that truly delivers from the heart. The soft piano and the subtle sound of the sitar create a fitting atmosphere for Momina’s soft vocals, sung with utmost grace, as Asim croons over cinematic violins about the love story, packed full of emotions. Midway through the duration, as the track gathers momentum, it brings together elements of the Pakistani pop scene of the bygone era, and takes you to a dreamy place whilst celebrating romance and leaving one smitten.

The third song is a rendition of a kalaam by Bulleh Shah. “Meri Meri” instantly becomes a track that is more than just moody atmospheric sounds of a Sufi melody featuring the irresistible voices of Rizwan Butt with Sara Haider. Introduced by a steady guitar that pulls you in, Rizwan’s vocals demand attention and translate the emotion quiet firmly. The pulse of the track throbs and maneuvers through country western and Sufi style, imbedded with an interval that explores the Irish music arrangement. Amidst the incredible blues guitar playing, Sara’s voice perfectly fits the template of the sound adding a distinctly surreal edge to a track carrying abundance of energy and personality.

The last song of this episode, combing the vocal prowess of fabled Saeen Zahoor with Sanam Marvi’s raw, melodic voice in an ethereal kalaam by Waris Shah – “Lagi Bina” grows on you from the onset driven by a melody that grips one and never loosens throughout the duration of the track. A fusion of Sindhi and Punjabi folk style, music director Jaffer Zaidi has created a sound where the contrasting vocals merge with striking instrumentation of the house-band while maintaining the emotion of the lyrics at the forefront.