Only a few existing bands can boast of a career spanning two decades
in the Pakistan music industry. Though thick and thin, and lifetimes of
many rock bands, Strings have been a venerable force at the heart of our
modern music industry.
Similarly, Atif Aslam has set himself apart from the rest of the pack.
After a tumultuous breakup with Jal the band, he has gone on to make his
own mark in the music world — in Pakistan and beyond. Now the two
powerful entities join forces to release Ab Khud Kuch Karna Paray Ga, a
music video (or anthem) describing the current situation and
state-ofaffairs of our country.
The band wrote the song keeping in mind that it would be a
collaboration, and the only person that they had in mind was Atif Aslam.
It was his broad appeal as a musician which created the interest — and
working with the young musician proved to be worthy experience. Speaking
of collaboration, there was one more person Strings was very eager to
work with: director Jami.
Both Bilal and Faisal praise Jami’s understanding of the vision of
Strings, "Jami is a part of Strings. He understands our ideas and
tastes; and most of the time our concepts are very similar,” said Bilal.
Jami reciprocates by saying, "Strings are family, I just can’t say no to
them.” He added that they approached him with an idea about doing
something for Pakistan in terms of an anthem or a message. "We decided
to go completely basic with this video because that’s the only way the
concept could have come across. The video features powerful imagery that
we haven’t re-created — and instead got from news channels.” The video
of Ab Khud Kuch Karna Paray Ga is very simple but hard-hitting in terms
of content. The band and Atif are shot in and around Karachi buildings.
It’s kinda oldschool like that which is pretty reminiscent of the times
when music videos were just that — shot around Karachi with just the
band singing along.
The truly stirring stuff is when we see the news footage: suicide
blasts, violence, corruption, etc. Granted it may be clichéd but that is
exactly what the band wanted. "We always show the pretty side of
Pakistan in most of our music videos and never the real stuff,” said
Faisal. "I think we need to face reality and face our problems,” Bilal
added. "Strings have always been a very romanticist band, we’ve never
been politically charged — until now.” "Currently we have quite a few
problems which led to the decision of what to show and what not to show.
We didn’t want it to be overtly graphic that people would just be
turned off by it,” said Jami. "So we selected a couple of shots just to
get the message across.” And what about the message? "The video itself
doesn’t have a concept — it’s a neeyat for all of us. The band had this
idea of what it was going to be and it was pretty clear to them; we need
to do something for Pakistan and we need to do it now,” said the
director.
"The easy way out right now,” Bilal added, "would be to go abroad and make music.
We’ve done that. But now because of what’s happening here, we’re staying
right here.” However the band admits that because of the current
conditions of the music industry, it is now relying on the most powerful
medium of them all: the music video (and in part television) to spread
their music. "Our focus is music videos now. Simply because it is more
effective than churning out a 10-song album. With albums you tend to
spread yourself too thin, so we’ve decided to focus on releasing singles
— and it is better to have your attention on one project or song at one
time so that you get a better results.” Faisal Kapadia added, "Also the
current situation is very bleak. On all levels, whether it’s the music
industry or the political landscape. All we hear is people talking about
change and not actually taking that first step to change. Music videos
like these can inspire a first step in people. And it doesn’t have to be
a violent first step.” In Ab Khud Kuch Karna Paray Ga the content
featured is from actual footage which might give it an extra edge in
terms of credibility — but will it do good with the masses? The initial
response to it is mixed; some love it outright whereas others call its
rawness as mediocre.
However, Strings, Atif and Jami are very serious about this music video
and its message. Are we seeing a music revolution in the making? Only
time will tell. "We’re working on another single at the moment,” said
Bilal. "It’s going to be even bolder in terms of concept.”
