What’s better than one creative powerhouse? Three! Shehnai combines the talents of Rameez Khalid, Kainat Masood, and Amaizy (Aizad Hashmi).
By Graeme Smith
Khalid and Masood share vocals on the track while Amaizy fine tunes things as an engineer-turned-producer.
The result is a well-polished track with plenty of heart.
Shehnai opens slow and soulful, with Khalid delivering the first verse. His distinctive style oozes with an instant charm; even those who may not consider themselves fans of Eastern music will be seduced.
From there, things build with bold layers of instrumentation. Masood joins in the chorus before taking on the second verse. It showcases her melancholy-tinged voice – the pair give us plenty of light and shadow throughout.
A sense of romance runs through every note, a rich complex version of love. The combination of Eastern and Western styles is intoxicating and feels like an expansive edition to the world of pop.
Classically trained at the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), Khalid brings experience to the trio thanks to a career that has spanned singles, soundtracks, commercial campaigns, and film music. He’s perhaps most known for his collaboration on Kuch To Hua Hai for the film Heer Maan Ja, performed alongside Aima Baig.
Masood, by contrast, is a relative newcomer. 25-years-old and based in Islamabad, she brings a background in soul, RnB, and a mix of Western and Pakistani pop traditions. Her voice contrasting with Khalid’s makes the track what it is. Unbelievably, Shehnai is her first ever studio recording.
Last but not least, Amaizy has built from his traditional engineering background to step into the role of producer and proves a creative force for Shehnai. He’s cut his teeth running live shows on the contemporary Pakistani scene and that hard-earned experience comes through on the single’s slickness.
Shehnai feels unique in the sense that the three are equal partners on the collaboration, each bringing an essential element to the mix. If you want to keep up to date with all three, then you can below.
Rameez Khalid – Instagram, Facebook
Kainat Masood – Instagram
I must confess to not knowing a lot about the Pakistani music scene, but Shehnai makes me want to delve into it more. I love the pure beauty and approachability of the track, and how it expresses strong emotion, even when the lyrics are indecipherable to my English ear.
The single is out now, and you can listen to it below.
Supported by Musosoup #SustainableCurator
