“5 minutes with Strings” – Hani Taha Salim, Instep Today, The News.



MusicMix
5 minutes with Strings

Hani Taha Salim
Karachi

The environment for music has changed. While one-off gigs will always take place, the whole ‘concept’ of tours is slowly taking a backseat. More musicians make news performing across the border than locally. It maybe security reasons and the fear it brings out in everyone these days. These are, as they say, testing times. But if there is one band that always manages to shine a light on music amidst the daily chaos that surrounds us, it is Strings. In between music videos, recently concluded Pakistan tour and high profile performances (such as the recent one at Frieha Altaf’s Catwalk Production 20th anniversary show where Strings belted out Vital Signs tune with former VS bassman Shahi Hasan), Strings have signed on as brand ambassador for Etihad Airways.

Now on the break and preparing for shows across America, Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia of Strings talk to Instep Today about brand Pakistan, tours and what’s next…

Instep Today: Tell us about your recently concluded Pakistan tour?

Strings: Yes, the shows are finally over. We did around 15 concerts in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad including Bhurban. We performed at LUMS and IBA, Foundation Public School and Lahore Grammar, Royal Rodale… the whole tour was amazing. The crowd was full of energy, excited and it was absolutely amazing.

Instep Today: How was the turnout considering the current political climate?

Strings: We were surprised. But we believe that arts and culture should thrive. Everyday we read about bomb blasts, whether it is Peshawar or any other place. It is disheartening but there is a need to move on. We realised that the only way to combat is by strength. We need to do more live shows. People did come out for these shows and they want to.

Instep Today: Tell us about your collaboration with Etihad Airways? How does it affect brand Strings?

Strings: Etihad is a premium brand and it’s always good to be associated with a large quality brand. Music and travel are very closely related in the sense that one is always listening to music while travelling and the fact that as a band we perform abroad extensively and not just in places like the UAE, America and England, but in places like Norway, Nepal and South Africa. The outreach that we will now get with a travel partner like Etihad is going to be huge. As is to perform in front of fans, wherever these fans may be. There are always places that we wish we could go to but are unable to. With Etihad we will be able to reach out to smaller communities that we otherwise don’t get an opportunity to do so due to logistics.

Instep Today: How does the Strings-Etihad alliance contribute to building Pakistan as a brand?

Strings: Building ‘Pakistan’ as a brand is important and whenever we travel abroad, we are representing the country and are brand ambassador’s for the country’s image. If we had tied up with a brand in Pakistan it would just restrict our brand building within the country. Creating an alliance with a global brand like Etihad allows us to take Pakistan and our culture global to smaller and bigger communities abroad. That is the only way that perception will change; through this people to people interaction. 

Instep Today: What’s in the pipeline…

Strings: We have just shot a video with Atif Aslam and were judges at a national songs competition called Azmay Alee Shaan. We normally don’t judge any of the music programmes but this show was different since it focused on music and song writing. It’s a special show since its inciting a passion for Pakistan and making an active effort at cultivating song writers who are vital to the growth of the music industry.

Instep Today: Several musicians/bands have steered into production. Will Strings follow suit?

Strings: We like to focus on one thing at a time and don’t want to deviate into production. Your hunger for your art goes away if you think of surviving. Our priority has always been to perform. Money comes, one shouldn’t worry about that.

Instep Today: What’s the song that is most requested amongst audiences abroad?

Strings: ‘Sar Ki Yeh Pahar’ is a huge song. The type of response and reaction that we get for it is mesmerizing to this day.

Instep Today: How can musicians play a role in building up Pakistan as a brand?

Strings: Pakistani musicians are getting considerable international recognition and fame. Atif Aslam, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Shafqat Amanat Ali have played a tremendous role in taking Pakistan global. The goal now is to not only focus on the world but to focus within the country where we are suffering due to constant political and security tensions. It’s also important to get new voices and new people into the industry and give existing new entrants their due recognition. Established musicians like us still manage to survive by doing concerts abroad; it’s the fresh talent that suffers. People have to stop being so scared and make the effort of going out of their home to revive the culture of going to a concert. We took an initiative by doing a local tour of targeting colleges and performing about 16 concerts and hope that we can continue the trend.