As someone who’s been obsessively tracking every beat drop, controversy, and TikTok trend, here’s my take on what’s been actually happening in our soundscape—from Coke Studio’s evolution to the chaotic rise of viral hits.
Coke Studio: Still King, But Who’s Really Running the Show?
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Over the past few years, Coke Studio, for instance in Season 14, was… quite fine. Some tracks were brilliant (Ali Sethi and Arooj Aftab), while others missed the mark (why auto-tune Abida Parveen?).
But as someone who still remembers the highs of those good old days when we had Season 8, I’d say that Season 15 felt like a lacklustre letdown. I mean, stuff like “Chal Chaliye?” Cute, but why did it sound like a Pepsi Battle of the Bands reject? “Turri Jandi” had the energy of a shaadi band warming up at 2 AM. And “Piya Piya Calling”? Sweet concept, but the execution? Let’s just say even auto-tune has its limits.
A few gems, sure—but too many tracks felt like they were trying to be profound while accidentally becoming background music for uncle-aunties who don’t particularly care what is playing. I mean no offence to them, but I’m supposed to be reviewing the music here, right?
Verdict: Coke Studio remains iconic, but it’s no longer the only player in town.
The Indie Explosion: Bedroom Artists and Viral Weirdness
Four years ago, if you told me a guy singing about chai in his pajamas would get 10 million views, I’d have laughed. But here we are.
Remember when Jal and Strings were the only bands your older brother listened to? Well, in recent years, we’ve decided to dig up the past
Artists like Hasan Raheem and Abdullah Siddiqui went from Instagram covers to sold-out shows, while Talal Qureshi and Natasha Noorani dropped experimental tracks that made us rethink Pakistani electronica. Then there were the TikTok-fueled oddities—like the “Ghalat Fehmi” girl and those bizarre bhangra remixes—that somehow became cultural moments.
Verdict: Indie artists are thriving, even if half their fame comes from ironic memes.
The Messy Revival of 1990s Nostalgia
Remember when Jal and Strings were the only bands your older brother listened to? Well, in recent years, we’ve decided to dig up the past.
Jal’s comeback tour had millennials sobbing to Aadat live, Atif Aslam finally starting dropped new albums after years of silence, and Noori returned with more soulful rock. The biggest shocker? A Vital Signs “Dil Dil Pakistan” remix for PSL that divided the nation—some called it sacrilege, others (me) called it a bop.
Verdict: Nostalgia sells, but please stop autotuning the classics.
The TikTok-ification of Everything (RIP, Subtlety)
Let’s be real: TikTok owns our music scene now.
“Pasoori” dance challenges took over the internet, random 15-second hooks went viral overnight, and underground artists blew up thanks to a single lucky Reels edit. It’s chaotic, unpredictable, and sometimes exhausting—but undeniably entertaining.
Verdict: Is it good for music? Meh. Is it hilarious? Absolutely.
Where Are the Women? (OK But...)
For every Arooj Aftab (Grammy queen) or Meesha Shafi (still iconic), there’s a glaring gap.
On the bright side, artists like Zoe Viccaji and Momina Mustehsan are holding their own, and young female producers like Tara Mahmood are breaking into a male-dominated industry. But festival line-ups still feature the token woman, and online harassment remains a problem.
Verdict: The talent is there—we just need to listen.
Final Take: Is Pakistan’s Music Scene Thriving or Just Surviving?
The good news? We’re diversifying—folk, electronica, rap, even punk are getting love. The bad news? Mainstream platforms still play it too safe.
But the best news is this: we’re loud, unapologetic, and finally owning our sound. So turn up that Hasan Raheem track, ignore the haters, and dance like no one’s watching. This is our era—and it’s just getting started.