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With a career spanning three decades, Faisal Kapadia\u2019s clearest memory as a musician in Pakistan\u2019s pop industry is of a time when it almost vanished.<\/p>\n
Speaking to The National<\/i>, the singer-songwriter and former member of Strings recalls how the arrival of Coke Studio<\/i><\/a> in 2008 came just in time to rescue an industry on its knees amid the country\u2019s political and security turmoil. The television programme, which became a national phenomenon, featured local artists performing eclectic new versions of their songs. <\/p>\n \u201cIf Coke Studio<\/i> wasn\u2019t there, Pakistani pop music would have probably just died,\u201d Kapadia recalls. \u201cFor maybe up to eight years it was the only engine keeping Pakistani music alive.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think people realise how bad things were, because only a few years earlier the whole scene was booming. There were music channels playing videos, record companies releasing albums and then, suddenly, it all stopped. <\/p>\n \u201cIt was like someone turned off the lights. There were bomb blasts everywhere in Pakistan, so no one from promoters to sponsors wanted to take the risk of doing any event. With India essentially stopping all communication with Pakistan, TV channels and radio also stopped airing our songs. That\u2019s when Coke Studio<\/i> came in.\u201d<\/p>\n The programme, which has now completed 15 seasons and evolved into a live concert series that included a sold-out show in Dubai\u2019s Coca-Cola Arena last year, became a lifeline for the country\u2019s musicians and helped create a new generation of stars, including Atif Aslam, Ali Sethi and Kaifi Khalil.<\/p>\n For Kapadia, who along with Strings co-member Bilal Maqsood produced Coke Studio<\/i> from 2014 to 2017, the show was more than a national institution. It also became the platform for his own return to the spotlight as a solo singer five years later, following the amicable end of Strings in 2021. <\/p>\n Released in 2022 as the finale of Coke Studio Season 14<\/i>, Phir Milenge<\/i> marked Kapadia\u2019s first performance since the band\u2019s conclusion and symbolised the show\u2019s creative reinvention under new producer Xulfi.<\/p>\n A collaboration with Karachi rap duo Young Stunners<\/a>, the song closed the season and became both a hit and a symbolic passing of the torch between generations. It also affirmed Kapadia\u2019s decision to step out on his own and paved the way for his debut solo album, Zindagi Jahaan Le Jaaye<\/i>.<\/p>\n Fresh from performing songs from that album \u2013 which maintains the melodic balladry of Strings while weaving in contemporary electronic textures \u2013 in Dubai at The Agenda, Kapadia describes the project as a creatively liberating experience.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was just me,\u201d he says. \u201cStrings was always a band and, while that was amazing, it was still about teamwork, compromise and agreeing on a collective sound. The album was my first time just being myself and not thinking about anyone else\u2019s opinion. That suits me because I\u2019m a carefree person. I don\u2019t plan ahead or think about what\u2019s next. I just go with the flow. The album feels like that.\u201d<\/p>\n Kapadia says the potent lyricism of latest single Sadiyaan<\/i> \u2013 the title means \u201cdecades\u201d in Urdu \u2013 were inspired by time spent working alongside younger Pakistani musicians. <\/p>\n \u201cIt made me realise how strong they are creatively and mentally,\u201d he says. \u201cThey\u2019re so smart and confident and basically do everything themselves. When we started Strings in the 1990s, we were weak lyrically, so we had to find poets and writers. <\/p>\n \u201cThese artists today write their own stuff and they\u2019re miles ahead of us in production and sound design. It\u2019s hard not to get inspired just seeing them work.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite his relaxed attitude, Kapadia admits the album reminded him that comfort can be dangerous for an artist. \u201cIf you took a degree 20 years ago, it doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re done learning. You have to keep practising and refreshing your skills,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n \u201cThe same goes for music. Just because you made a few hits doesn\u2019t mean you can sit back. You need to keep improving, keep growing, keep investing. That\u2019s the only way to stay alive as an artist.\u201d<\/p>\n As for the idea of a Strings reunion, Kapadia says it remains distant, though never impossible. \u201cWe ended because everything has a time. You can\u2019t hold on to something forever. Sometimes you just have to say thank you and move forward,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t completely rule out a reunion. You never know what tomorrow brings. But right now, I don\u2019t see Strings coming back and that\u2019s OK. Every end is a new beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n As for a return to Coke Studio<\/i>, Kapadia says he will always be ready if the call arrives. \u201cFor me it will be another opportunity to learn something new,\u201d he says. \u201cEach collaboration is a fresh lesson and hopefully a new friendship made. That for me is the legacy of the show.\u201d<\/p>\n A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: \u201cIslamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.\u201d It further defines it as \u201cinciting hatred or violence against Muslims\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Engine:\u00a0<\/strong>Duel electric motors AiFlux<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0renewables,\u00a0oil\u00a0and\u00a0gas<\/p>\n DevisionX<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0manufacturing<\/p>\n Event\u00a0Gates<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0security\u00a0and\u00a0manufacturing<\/p>\n Farmdar<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0agriculture<\/p>\n Farmin<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0smart\u00a0cities<\/p>\n Greener\u00a0Crop<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0agriculture<\/p>\n Ipera.ai<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0space\u00a0digitisation<\/p>\n Lune\u00a0Technologies<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0fibre-optics<\/p>\n Monak<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0delivery<\/p>\n NutzenTech<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0environment<\/p>\n Nybl<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0machine\u00a0learning<\/p>\n Occicor<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0shelf\u00a0management<\/p>\n Olymon\u00a0Solutions<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0smart\u00a0automation<\/p>\n Pivony<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0user-generated\u00a0data<\/p>\n PowerDev<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0energy\u00a0big\u00a0data<\/p>\n Sav<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0finance<\/p>\n Searover<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0renewables<\/p>\n Swftbox<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0delivery<\/p>\n Trade\u00a0Capital\u00a0Partners<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0FinTech<\/p>\n Valorafutbol<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0sports\u00a0and\u00a0entertainment<\/p>\n Workfam<\/strong> \u2013\u00a0employee\u00a0engagement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n %3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mozn%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohammed%20Alhussein%2C%20Khaled%20Al%20Ghoneim%2C%20Abdullah%20Alsaeed%20and%20Malik%20Alyousef%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Riyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Shorooq%20Partners%2C%20VentureSouq%2C%20Sukna%20Ventures%20and%20others%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Director: <\/strong>Elie Semaan<\/p>\n Starring: <\/strong>Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla<\/p>\n Rating: <\/strong>3\/5<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n %3Cp%3EGoalkeepers%3A%20Thibaut%20Courtois%2C%20Simon%20Mignolet%2C%20Koen%20Casteels%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDefenders%3A%20Jan%20Vertonghen%2C%20Toby%20Alderweireld%2C%20Leander%20Dendoncker%2C%20Zeno%20Debast%2C%20Arthur%20Theate%2C%20Wout%20Faes%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMidfielders%3A%20Hans%20Vanaken%2C%20Axel%20Witsel%2C%20Youri%20Tielemans%2C%20Amadou%20Onana%2C%20Kevin%20De%20Bruyne%2C%20Yannick%20Carrasco%2C%20Thorgan%20Hazard%2C%20Timothy%20Castagne%2C%20Thomas%20Meunier%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EForwards%3A%20Romelu%20Lukaku%2C%20Michy%20Batshuayi%2C%20Lo%C3%AFs%20Openda%2C%20Charles%20De%20Ketelaere%2C%20Eden%20Hazard%2C%20Jeremy%20Doku%2C%20Dries%20Mertens%2C%20Leandro%20Trossard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n<\/div>\n %3Cp%3E5pm%3A%20Al%20Shamkha%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(Turf)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3E5.30pm%3A%20Khalifa%20City%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3E6pm%3A%20Masdar%20City%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%0D%3Cbr%3E6.30pm%3A%20Wathba%20Stallions%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(T)%202%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3E7pm%3A%20Emirates%20Championship%20%E2%80%93%20Group%201%20(PA)%20Dh1%2C000%2C000%20(T)%202%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3E7.30pm%3A%20Shakbout%20City%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%202%2C400m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send “thenational” to the following numbers:<\/p>\n 2289 – Dh10<\/p>\n 2252 – Dh50<\/p>\n 6025 – Dh20<\/p>\n 6027 – Dh100<\/p>\n 6026 – Dh200<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Directed by: Michael Fimognari<\/p>\n Starring:\u00a0Lana Condor and Noah Centineo<\/p>\n Two stars<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views<\/p>\n 19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views<\/p>\n 19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all<\/p>\n Source: YouGov<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Starring: <\/strong>Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett<\/p>\n Directors: <\/strong>Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina<\/p>\n Rating: <\/strong>4\/5<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The flights<\/strong><\/p>\n Flydubai<\/a> operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.<\/p>\n The stay<\/strong><\/p>\n Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi\/en\/accommodation\/hotel-levi-panorama<\/a><\/p>\nIslamophobia definition <\/h5>\n
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