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Blurring boundaries
In a year where the non-film music didn?t managed to come up with right numbers Pakistani musicians Fuzon are rocking the chart.
If you thought Adnan Sami was the only Pakistani who’d ruled the charts in recent times, take a closer look. Topping countdown shows on music channels would be Fuzon, Strings, Aaroh, Pakistani pop posterboys who’ve erased musical boundaries.
In a year where the non-film music industry hasn’t managed to come up with the right numbers (and we aren’t talking of remixes), Pakistani musicians Fuzon (Nabeel & Kamran) are rocking the chart with their maiden debut album, Fuzon.
Virgin, the Indian company that markets Fuzon is wary of giving the right figures, yet ‘it’s rocking’ (industry estimates suggest, it could be close to 15 lakh). In his good days, Daler Mehndi would touch the 25 lakh mark, says Shamir Tandon, CEO, Virgin.
Kamran Khan of Fuzon who has had a series of promotional tours and concerts in India admits that “being the top-selling act in India can be a bit overwhelming, especially when you consider that there are so many talented musicians in India. I think our music had some refreshing notes which might have appealed to people. Music clearly has no boundaries.”
Strings (Faisal Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood) returns to India two years after their Indian debut, Duur. A label change and some hits in their hometown Karachi later, Strings dished out Dhaani (Sony Music) which hit the stores last month.
Faisal, who admires Euphoria and R.D.Burman (though not necessarily in that order), confesses that “the audience in India is very discerning. Don’t be swayed by the sudden craze for remixes, it’s a passing phase. Good sounds always strike the right notes.”
Alternative rockers Aaroh (Shalum Xavier, Imran Momina and Shafqat Khan) might be still discussing last minute details for an Indian debut, but they’ve already recorded the title track for Suniel Shetty’s next production, Rakht.
And then there’s that picture-perfect Shamaila Khan who takes her first bow in O! her Indian album. Will she make an inroad into the Indian charts too? Well, last heard, she’s been flooded with offers.
