House Band Members of Coke Studio are an integral part of this premier music show and they have contributed a lot in the musical performances of legendary stars as well as aspiring new musicians who are featured in the Studio.

Coke Studio Season4 also has some great line up of in house experience band members, these include:

• Asad Ahmed (Karavan),
• Babar Khanna,
• Louis J. Pinto a.k.a Gumby (Noori),
• Jaffer Zaidi (Kaavish),
• Javed Iqbal,
• Kamran Zafar a.k.a Mannu (Ali Azmat),
• Omran Shafique a.k.a Momo (Mauj),
• Rachel Viccaji,
• Zulfiq Ahmed Khan a.k.a Shazee,
• Sikandar Mufti (Co-Ven),
• Zoe Viccaji etc.

Following are their latest Pictures from Coke Studio Season 4, as gathered from Coke Studio Official Website:

Read more at: Coke Studio Season 4 House Band Members (Pictures)

Picture Courtesy: Coke Studio

Let me take you back to the first season of Coke Studio. Not many bigger names were there except Strings, Ali Azmat and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. There was a new band that performed a ‘Single’ at the very first season of Coke Studio. The track name was ‘Paheliyan’ by the band MAUJ and it was the band of OMRAN SHAFIQUE , who later got some huge applause and fame as a house band member of Coke Studio. And now he is very much renowned all over Pakistan for his Guitar Playing Skills and UTH RECORDS. Right?

There has been only one drummer in the house band members of the Coke Studio. The name is quite famous and the guy is also so hilarious (anyone can say that after watching him in UTH Records).

Gumby playing drums in his studio for a TV Show UTH Records | Picture Courtesy: UthRecords

Yes I am talking about Louis J. Pinto aka Gumby who is no doubt the best and successful drummer of Pakistan. Anyhow, second season saw a rock band in the studio named Noori. Noori was the band with whom Gumby had played for many years in past. Right ?

Let’s move forward.

Asad Ahmed(Karavan) playing as a Coke Studio House Band Member | Picture Courtesy:Coke Studio

There was another brilliant guitar player in the house band team of Coke Studio, Asad Ahmed . Asad belonged to an experienced and old rock band called KARAVAN. So What? Sabar please…

Let me sum up things in a very cheap poetic style :

OMRAN aya, MAUJ chaya!

Asad Ahmed bajaya, Karavan laya!

Gumby ko Noori banaya ; phir

Jaffer ko  Kaavish kyun na yaad aya???

Oh yeah you got it right. Another House band team member has managed to get his band into the Coke Studio. We have the news that ‘Bachpan’ famed Kaavish band has also got featured in the Coke Studio Season4.*CLAPPING* If you don’t know who Kaavish is ? and how did they make it to Coke Studio ? Then you are really addicted to Bollywood crap songs. (trust me, this is a disease which has spread in between 90% population of Pakistan).

Jaffer and Maaz posing for their debut album photoshoot, SMILE GUYS, You're into CS now

The band Kaavish is a highly talented act, which consists of Jaffer Zaidi and Maaz Maudood, and with the support of industry’s Gurus they came up with a very wonderful debut album called Gunkali. Faisal Rafi – the producer of Gunkali – truly produced a master piece album for the band. The only drawback with the band is, that lead vocalist doesn’t stop crying even if he is singing ‘Dekho yeh chand teray , kehtay hain yeh bhee saray’ A Big LOL

But wait let me finish that Gossip thingy:

So I was saying that Coke Studio House Band Members Rock Big Time. Don’t take them lightly! They are now a ‘Pass’ to get into the Coke Studio. All those house band members mentioned above nicely did lobbying for their related bands. There is one good news, some house band members are still left.

Tips for upcoming musicians: Hire the services of remaining Coke Studio house band members and who knows the next time you guys will be playing in Coke Studio.

We recommend this guy , you can now beg him and negotiate off course , see he’s already so sad :

Coke Studio House Band Member Baber Khana in a sad mode, just because he has no band

Read more at: House band members Rock in Coke Studio, See ‘Kaavish’ is inn!

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILAL KHAN @ STUDIO CLIX

Read more at: Pictures : 9th Lux Style Awards Red Carpet (2010)

The Sound of Hope concert at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture drew quite a crowd. Mostly very young people spread across the lawns of the school. While the crowd was an easy one, singing along to Mauj’s funky tunes and laughing at Sami Shah’s sometimes old jokes; it set a new bar for how to judge how big a star someone is.

As soon as Noori came on stage, all the girls who lingered at the back rushed forward in a stream to join the main crowd. After that, Noori could do no wrong. Ali Noor played his part of the rockstar well, and graciously. He pointed out that this was the first time in four years that himself, Hamza and Gumby had played together. And he gave “big shout out” to Omran Shafique who was also playing with them.

“It finally feels like a concert,” commented one fan, “they’re competing with the Cheapmunks,”  remarked another as the band mixed up verses from the Black Eyed Peas’ ‘I Gotta Feeling’ and ‘Gaana No. 1′.

It didn’t matter though, as the audience went wild as soon as Noori started singing. “Holy s**t man, this kicks a**!” exclaimed Ali Noor. What added to the likeability of the band on this particular night was also the fact that they kept acknowledging the people playing with them;  Omran and Gumby. “I think I’ll have to quit guitar after seeing him play,” Noor said of Omran.

Of course though, there were people who wondered why Hamza didn’t sing and why Noori didn’t play any of their newer songs. But all of that lay forgotten as the band played its set and asked its pet question “Maza araha hai? (Are you having fun?)

Read more at: Noori the clear star at Sound of Hope

Musicians don’t retire; they stop when there’s no more music in them.It happened when Ali Azmat flew to America to play live in shows with the “Crunchy” guitarist-vocalist Omran Shafiq. And with Ali Azmat, the Bassist accompanied was ,GOOD OLD, Brian O’Connell..

Ali and Brain were in touch all the time, probably missing the “MAGIC” in their collaboration everyone witnessed in Junnon’s live performances. These people are artists. These people are musicians. They’re taking it out and trying to express it this way.People want to see musicians play things that come from their mind and heart in real time, responding to the moment. So, Omran, Ali and Brain.. its gonna be a blast…

Read more at: The Reunion: Ex-Junoon bassist Brian Connell joins Ali Azmat

Mauj’s Debut Album hit the market with Mona’s Video

By Danish Mughal

(danish@pakium.com)

Mauj Band’s most awaited debut album is finally out in the local markets, with the video of “Mona” hitting the screens. The debut album “Now in Technicolor” had already been put online for sale on Amazon last year. Fire Records – the strongest Record label in Pakistan – is releasing the album in Pakistan after almost half an year of its Online Release.

We haven’t got actual album in our hands yet but the track list of Online Album Release is as follows: (actual album might contain some bonus songs as well)

1. Khayal
2. Awaaz
3. Aye Na Aye
4. Baat Barti Gayi
5. Hasratein
6. Mona
7. Kal Kya Pata
8. Khushfehmi
9. Pyar Ka Jadoo
10. Paheliyan

Watch out the culture oriented music video of “Mona” in which Omran can be seen again in an amazing role (again surrounded by girls : p )

Read more at: Mauj’s Debut Album hit the market with Mona’s Video

Published in Dawn Images

Profile shoot

Designer: Kash Hussain
Photography: FAYYAZ AHMED
Styling: Sajid
Model: Gumby, Khalid & Omran ‘Momo’ Shafique
Fashion Editor & co-ordination: Madeeha Syed

Read more at: Profile Shoot: Gumby, Khalid Khan & Omran Shafique

Album Review: Kaavish’s Gunkali

by Danish Mughal

(danish@pakium.com)

Finally, Kaavish Band’s most awaited Album is OUT. I have got my hand on the album and just ripping to the best available quality for my pc ( and for yours too *lol* ) . The album was scheduled to hit the markets in 2008 first and now 2010 is giving us the gift of this album. Come on, lets discover this great album. I want to give you a very first glimpse of Gunkali. Later on, you will be reading more reviews by prominent & great music analysts(in which most of them will be paid, so you better enjoy this un-biased review first to know some details about the album *lol* ).

The album starts with the track “Dekho yeh Chand Taray” which is a melodious yet rocking track because you hear guitaring of Omran & drumming of Gumby in it.I personally loved this track. Gumby did the drumming for the each & every track of the album and I am surprised to know that for one track he is credited as a guitarist as well :S (Gumby bhai ab khud band bana ker na beth jana) . Another amazing fact i want to share is that the former band member Raheel is not mentioned or credited for any track. (to bhai kis liye rakha tha usay band mein itna arsay )

Anyhow, I should stop joking now & come to the actual band members Jaffer Zaidi & Maaz Maudood. Jaffer is really very strong on his vocals and you will find his voice more mature,stable & professional this time. Kaavish’s Gunkali is more inclined towards Classical genre and most of the tracks are very unique in its nature. This album is very different in a way because from the last few months we have been listening more Rock,Soft Rock and Pop Music Albums. This stuff is definitely released for a Change!!! Lets wait & see how this album makes its space.

Let me talk about Maaz Maudood who has done vocals, backing vocals, guitaring and has also written lyrics for some tracks. But, after reading the credits on the album cover & listening to the complete album I observed that Jaffer’s lead role is definitely dominating (though it shoud be) but Maaz’s contribution couldn’t be come on front. Nothing to worry about as it happens and i learnt from the Movie Rock on that Lead Vocalist is the front men of the band and he is given the most attention. This is the only problem which sometimes create problem & ultimately Break-Up *lol* just sharing a thought. Dont have any bad intention towards the band. May they live & continue their work forever (lo bus)

You can also find some compositions & lyrics by our great legend Nayyara Noor in the album. If you remember She has done a track “ek aur jahan mumkin hai” with his son Jaffer Zaidi as well. Its just awesome track and a must download (request us for the track if you want)

Some Predictions about Gunkali:

The band came into the scene with its track bachpan & its very powerful conceptual video. After that there was a very lively track released by them and video also appeared of it & the track was “Choti Khushiyan” which is unfortunately not included in this album. After that another video of a slow track “Tere Pyar Mein” released and I couldn’t watch the complete video as of yet.

This album will be more popular among the serious music listeners. Kaavish has not yet attracted the masses (though they hit the mainstream with Bachpan’s video, but i guess they had been faded away). But their new video “Moray Sayyan” again features some prominent actors like Faisal Qureshi & Samina Pirzida ( the concept is again very “conceptual” as it is very difficult to understand the video in the first go)

One thing is for sure Kaavish is not here to target Youth who are crazy about similar young musicians. Young guys & girls are listening more Rock & Soft Rock music these days, this album might not attract them because space is already filled with Atif Aslam,Hadiqa Kiyani, Jal, Call & Roxen. If it attracts the young music listeners between age group of 16-25 , it can be the most successful album of the year. But, you might have got the idea that its a serious album with some sweet, melodious & classical songs.We will have to wait & see whether it breaks the ice or not.Its a fact that Despite the contribution by Rock Duo Omran & Gumby in the album, it still dominates with a classical touch.

I rate the album 8/10 for the first go. Now i will check how & whether it works on me in the upcoming days or not.

Check out complete album promo here:

Good News for Downloaders : The Album has already started sharing on torrents, so go & get your copy if you are not in Pakistan.

For Pakistani Music Listeners : I would ask you to please buy the album & support the artist. I also dont support every artist and you may get an idea from the fact that Kaavish’s Gunkali is the 3rd album I bought in my life *buhahahaha – bhai can’t afford it*.  So please if you can afford BUY THE ALBUM.

Read more at: Exclusive Album Review: Kaavish’s Gunkali

Download Audio : I Wanna Be Ronaldo

Download Video: I Wanna Be Ronaldo

Watch Video

Read more at: Download Audio & Video : I Wanna Be Ronaldo (Jingle) – Omran Shafique

Updated : This song ‘Jaan Jaye’ by KOSTAL has been featured in a WALL’s CORNETTO SONG ADVERTISMENT and getting aired on various TV Channels these days. We are sharing it again on frequent requests we received for this song.

About Kostal :

KOSTAL is Producer/Songwriter/Musician Taha Malik and Songwriter/Guitarist/Singer Omran Shafique based in Houston, TX. Omran also tours with Ali Azmat of Junoon, who have been dubbed the U2 of Asia by the New York Times, worldwide. Taha has produced and collaborated with artists such as Stereo Nation, RDB, Sukhbir, Kaysha, Najam Sheraz, Vee(Hunterz) and others. Omran and Taha are now recording and finishing their debut album as KOSTAL, which is due for release in late 2009.

Watch Official Music Video :

Download Audio : Jaan Jaye

Download Video : Jaan Jaye

Read more at: Kostal – Jaan Jaye featured in Wall’s Cornetto Advertisement (Download Mp3)