Coke Studio’s Episode 4 will present a series of musical excursions from various regions across the country. The sessions will reveal the cultural significance of music to an ethnic identity, featuring songs in six regional languages: Sindhi, Balochi, Brahvi, Punjabi, Siraiki and Braj, in addition to our national language, Urdu. From obscure, indigenous song-craft to the more widely recognizable genres of music, these languages and dialects convey the spirit and essence of a region and express the unique cultural characteristics of a people.
Featuring in Episode 4 is the band, Sketches with their rendition of “Mandh Waai” – a modern day tribute to the revered Sindhi poet, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai which faithfully adheres to the repetitive refrain aspect characteristic of Waai and keeps the focus on the poetry with the simplicity of its acoustic arrangement.
Folk legend Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi returns to Coke Studio in Episode 4 with “Pyaar Naal” which epitomizes the eloquence of Siraiki. Indeed Coke Studio has enveloped the essence of this romantic number by enhancing the mood through the appropriate choice of instruments including the accordion, played by House Band member Jaffer Zaidi and the mandolin by guest musician Amir Azhar.
Akhtar Chanal Zahri also features again on the sets of Coke Studio in Episode 4, bringing with him the vibrant rhythms of Balochistan with “Nar Bait”, a traditional Balochi Brahvi folk song. This ancient indigenous style of music employs vocal accents in conjunction with percussive elements to enhance the rhythmic pattern of the groove.
Episode 4 also features a tribute to folk singer Reshma as rendered by artist Komal Rizvi with “Lambi Judaai”. Coke Studio has reinvented the popular classic by presenting the nostalgic melody against a backdrop of rich chordal elements to take on the quality of a ballad from the ‘50’s where Rizvi builds on the emotions and expressions of the lyrics.
The Coke Studio sessions will culminate with a collaborative number by maestros Sajjad Ali and Sanam Marvi with “Rung Laaga” sung in Braj and Punjabi. The song centers on the symbolic significance of colour in a cultural context. This Coke Studio version will musically present an alternative perspective to the conventional symbolism by using an uncharacteristically somber musical arrangement to dramatic effect.
With the airing of Episode 4, the Coke Studio journey continues – pushing the known boundaries of experimental fusion – the musical explorations of the imprints and impressions of a myriad of influences reveal an ever-widening vista of cultural diversity and the exciting promise of potential discoveries! Be part of this experience on 03 July 2011 06:00 PM and onwards on television channels, radio stations and online, across Pakistan, with the final episode to air on 17 July 011!
