Lahore Music Meet: Karachi musicians weigh in on the forum

With the Lahore Music Meet (LMM) kicking off tomorrow, here are four musicians representing Karachi's music scene at an event that's dubbed the first of its kind in Pakistan.

Meet the musicians:

Omran Shafique, known by his association with Mauj and Coke Studio, has been a part of the industry far longer than most. Omran is currently the lead guitarist for Ali Azmat's band as well as Chaand Taara Orchestra and his recent venture is a band called Raahi with Gumby and Sameer Ahmed.

Sara Haider has the potential to bridge the gap between indie and mainstream music in Pakistan. She started off as the lead vocalist for local band Teeen and starred as one of the main characters in the Pakistani version of the musical Grease. She went on to become a backing vocalists at Coke Studio. She also stunned fashionistas after walking the ramp for FnKasia at TDAP2015.

Ali Suhail, a musician from Karachi who has been playing in the underground scene for nine years or so, is the front-man of a somewhat renowned Karachi band Jumbo Jutt and has two solo albums to his name—Words From Boxes and Journal Entries with the third one on the verge of being released.

Haamid Rahim, more commonly known as Dynoman, is the co-founder of Karachi's indie-electronic music label Forever South, which is a collective of some of Karachi's immensely talented electronic musicians. It was because of Forever South that electronic music became such a crucial part of Karachi's local music scene. Dynoman along with Rudoh have worked day and night in the past to provide their audience with albums and merchandise, making sure the 'forever' in Forever South is reinforced.

This is the first time an event is happening solely for music, how does it feel to be a part of something like this?

Omran Shafique (OS): As musicians, we tend to spend a lot of our time thinking about music. This feels like a natural extension to that discussion. We involve more people into the conversation. It is great step towards raising awareness and appreciation for our music industry.

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Sara Haider (SH): It feels amazing, props to Natasha Noorani and Zahra Paracha and everyone involved in this. It’s like the KLF and LLF for music. Both LLF and KLF represent the literary side of our culture in that you get a sense of art as well. I feel like where literature has gotten that boost, music has not. This [Lahore Music Meet] establishes music as a part of that cultural expression. There isn’t really a country wide musical community where people meet and share ideas and see who the new musicians are or who the established ones are like LLF does for new and old writers. I’m really happy its not just restricted to performances, there will be lectures and workshops as well which gives it that sense of being more than just entertainment, it is an art to be learned and studied and that’s really awesome.

Ali Suhail (AS): It feels good to be a part of it definitely. I didn't really think I'm the grade of musician to be part of something that's turning out to be as revolutionary as everyone is saying it is. I just figured it's another event in the stream of revivalist events that try their luck to make a change in this country's outlook towards art and culture. But now that I'm going to be a part of it, intellectually and as a performer, it feels pretty decent.

Haamid Rahim (HR): I feel very honored to be a part of this even because it brings together musicians from all over the spectrum. I particularly like the fact that they have invited many people working in the industry to talk about their experiences and promote our music industry!

What are you looking forward to the most at the event?

OS: Looking forward to meeting all the great artists and musicians, and hopefully getting to interact with audience members.

SH: Well they are flying a whole bunch of us in like Omran, Gumby, Ahsan Bari and others and there are going to be musicians there from Islamabad and Lahore as well and I’m excited to meet all the people I’ve met in different cities together in one space. The literature festivals give you that forum for journalists and writers but there's never been one united forum for musicians, it sounds exciting. I’m looking forward to the performances, its going to be fun to be part of the audience after a while.

AS: I'm looking forward to running into musician friends from the other side [Lahore] the most honestly, I miss those guys and I really respect what they do so that'll be fun. Also looking forward to the Rohail Hyatt session, that should be enlightening. But yeah, music, friends, good times… I don't really have a precedent to expect anything honestly…hopefully it'll be fun.

HR: I am looking forward to hearing Shehzad Noor's talk about music education and seeing how people react to learning electronic music via Ableton Live. Also looking forward to Pappu Saeen's story telling session.

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What will you be discussing in your panel?

OS: I will be discussing corporate sponsorship and how it relates to music in Pakistan, along with some other distinguished guests.

SH: I haven’t been told exactly, but the panel is about women in the music industry and how to navigate the industry as a woman and what it feels to be a woman in the Pakistani music industry. I am also conducting a workshop with Ahsan Bari on music composition.

AS: Well… the title says "life doesn't move in binaries" I don't know what that means really... I don't know what I'll say there. There'll be people there who have more to say than I do and are more outspoken than I am. I don't know if I'll be taking much part in the discussion. But I will be politely sitting amongst smart people with things to say!

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HR: I will be conducting a workshop on electronic music by giving an introduction to a program called Ableton Live. It will explain how music can be made using synthesis, drum machines and how the program can be used to record any original work. For aspiring artists and home-studio recorders it will be a very strong tool to use! I will also be giving a performance after Tollcrane, who is also representing Forever South at the event with me.

Do you feel events like this will help people in Pakistan take music seriously?

OS: Well, it certainly can't hurt. There are already many people who do take it seriously, but culturally we seem to be confused about it. Hopefully events like this will clear up the confusion.

SH: I think that’s the goal, just establishing a music community is such an important first step for musicians to find the right audience to cater to and I’m shocked something like that hasn’t happened before. Creating that space where people can identify as musicians in Pakistan and create that identity as a professional musician is a necessary step in creating a serious music community and having that diversity in which audiences can actually meet musicians.

AS: Honestly, at this point I don't know, I hope so…perhaps if these events become a regular thing then maybe Pakistan as a whole? Maybe not. But at least some people will start understanding music and the plight behind the music that musicians undertake. I hope they do…eventually they should though right?

HR: Yes because it covers a variety of topics pertaining to the industry. Talks on topics such as new ways to distribute and corporate patronage of music in Pakistan is a great step in the right direction. Also the chance to see so many different musicians perform will show people that music is still alive and kicking in Pakistan.

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What do you feel you will gain as a musician by being part of the meet?

OS: My understanding of music (and life) is constantly evolving and, hopefully, expanding. And this is another way to further my understanding.

SH: For me specifically, since I’m just coming out of college and have just decided to do this [music] for the rest of my life, it’s going to solidify that goal and meeting other people that have been doing this for their whole lives. For me its not about personal gains or fortune, that’s not as entitling as the idea that you’re going to be a part of something bigger and this feels like its bigger than one musician or one band, its all these people sharing their experiences. Its nice to know you’re not alone in your struggles.

AS: A new perspective hopefully, just an outside point of view. It’s not just music but it's the people behind the music speaking their mind, so that's gotta be enlightening on a human level as well as on a musician level. So hopefully anything and everything you experience leads to some form of growth. So growth is what i'll be looking for… let's see.

HR: I feel that given the exposure size of the event people will see how much unearthed talent/music is being made in Pakistan. The best case then would be for everyone attending/who hears about it to support all the artists present, bringing together the scattered music scene!