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Bahria Town: Pakistan’s La La Land?
Warda Malik uncovers the fantasy at the heart of the Bahria Town dream.
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How To Make A Scene: A Step by Step Guide
A mildy patronising step-by-step guide on how to revive the alternative music scene in Pakistan. No big deal.
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Objects living in a world of objects
Ayesha Malik discusses the beauty myth in Pakistani society, and how conforming to cultural standards affects all our personal relationships.
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“You can’t play music here”: in conversation with Shikari
We talk to Shikari's Bilal Baloch about busking in Karachi, and creative expression in public spaces that are continually shrinking.
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Here’s everything you need to know about E Sharp’s latest album ‘600 Saal’
Karachi band E Sharp released their second album 600 Saal, the follow-up to 2015's Bahadur Yaar Jung, last Friday 21st April. So we thought it would be a good idea to ask the band, made up of Ahmed Zawar, Anwaar Ahmed and Qumber Kazmi, exactly what their thoughts were regarding the album, and what we should…
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‘Making the floorboards shake’: In Conversation with Slowspin
‘You used to call me on my cellphone.’ It’s about halfway through our chat with Slowspin’s Zeerak Ahmed that I wonder, how did we get onto quoting Drake lyrics? But rather than ringing hotlines, Slowspin is more interested in the quiet power of the first person in music. ‘YOU used to call ME on MY…
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Here’s Wild City on 9 emerging Indian artists you should be listening to – Part 1
Wild City is an alternative music and culture platform based in India. Last month, they chatted to us about some emerging Pakistani artists, so it only made sense to get the lowdown on some of the most exciting musicians in India right now. We spoke to Dhruva Balram, head content writer at Wild City, who…
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The Unbearable Lightness of Lawn
Lahore in the summer is colonised by lawn billboards. Fifty-foot women flanking the Jinnah flyover informing us that lawn season is here. IT’S HERE, and this is only Vol 1. I think their ubiquity is supposed to elicit a Pavlovian reaction in women stuck in traffic. But behind those lawn billboards, behind every patronising reassurance…
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‘In for a penny, in for a pound’: Ali Suhail talks latest album ‘Pursuit of Irrelevance’
At this year’s Lahore Music Meet, Ali Suhail played a headline set at the Al Hamra, and also provided guitar support for Shajie and Poor Rich Boy. On the side, he’s part of indie outfit Sikandar Ka Mandar. So as a prominent figure on the alternative scene, it’s particularly exciting when Suhail announced his…
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Love Songs for Depressives: in conversation with Shorbanoor
Shehzad Noor: Yeah because this isn’t indie, this is death pop. Me: What does that mean, death pop? SN: It means really depressing stuff. Jamal Rahman: Love songs for depressives. Love songs for depressives is a pretty accurate summary of Shorbanoor, the solo outfit of Shehzad Noor, previously a member of the band ‘Poor Rich…
