Strings () was a Pakistani pop/rock band composed of two members, plus four live band members from

Karachi Karachi (; ur, ; ; ) is the most populous city in Pakistan and 12th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 20 million. It is situated at the southern tip of the country along the Arabian Sea coast. It is the former cap ...

, Pakistan. The band was initially formed by four college students—

Bilal Maqsood Bilal Maqsood (Urdu: بلال مقصود) is a Pakistani guitarist, composer, and a founding member of Strings. He has also directed a number of music videos. For Bilal and his band Strings, success came in 1992 after the launch of the song ''S ...

(vocals and guitars),

Faisal Kapadia Strings () was a Pakistani pop/rock band composed of two members, plus four live band members from Karachi, Pakistan. The band was initially formed by four college students—Bilal Maqsood (vocals and guitars), Faisal Kapadia (vocals), Rafiq ...

(vocals), Rafiq Wazir Ali (synthesizer) and Kareem Bashir Bhoy (bass guitar)—in 1988. In 1992 the quartet disbanded, only to make a comeback with Maqsood and Kapadia in 2000. While the initial band rode the new wave of

Pakistani pop music Pakistani popular music or shortly Pakistani pop music refers to popular music forms in Pakistan. Pakistani pop is a mixture of traditional Pakistani classical music and western influences of jazz, rock and roll, hip hop and disco sung in var ...

, the later lineup ushered a revival in the Pakistani music industry. In 1990 the band signed with

EMI Records EMI Records (formerly EMI Records Ltd.) is a multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British flagship label by the music company of the same name in 1972, and launched in January 1973 as the succ ...

and released their debut album, ''

Strings String or strings may refer to: *String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...

''. Their initial experiments with synthesized sounds and rhythms were not immediately recognised, although ''Strings'' sold 20,000 copies during its first week after release. Two years later the band released their second album, '' 2'', which included the critically acclaimed single ''"Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar"''. The song was first aired on MTV Asia, and led the band to widespread fame. After the release of ''2'', the quartet disbanded to focus on their studies and careers. In 2000 Maqsood and Kapadia released ''

Duur Duur (Urdu: دور, literal English translation: "far") is the third album by the Pakistani pop band Strings, first released on 21 January 2000 and then re-released on 1 January 2002. Singles from the album were ''Duur'', ''Anjane'', and ''Aankh ...

'', which revived the band's popularity, and followed it with ''

Dhaani Dhaani (Urdu: دھانی, literal English translation: "light green") was the fourth album by the Pakistani pop band Strings, released in 2003. Singles from the album were "Mera Bichara Yaar", "Soniyae", "Chaaye Chaaye", "Pal", "Bolo Bolo", "D ...

'' in 2003. This album included the single " Najane Kyun", which was part of the soundtrack for the

Hollywood film The cinema of the United States, consisting mainly of major film studios (also known as Hollywood) along with some independent film, has had a large effect on the global film industry since the early 20th century. The dominant style of Ame ...

'' Spider-Man 2''. Following Junoon and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Strings went to India (where they found remixes of one of their early songs playing in clubs). In 2008 Strings released their fifth album, ''

Koi Aanay Wala Hai Koi Aanay Wala Hai (Urdu: کوئی آنے والا ہے, literal English translation: "someone is coming") is the fifth studio album by the Pakistani pop band Strings, released on 16 May 2008. Track listing All songs are written by Anwar Maq ...

'', with the singles ''"Yeh Hai Meri Kahani"'' and ''"Aakhri Alvida"'' (included on the soundtracks for Bollywood's '' Zinda'' and ''

Shootout at Lokhandwala ''Shootout at Lokhandwala'' is a 2007 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed and co-written by Apoorva Lakhia and co-written and co-produced by Sanjay Gupta, with Ekta Kapoor serving as producer and Suresh Nair serving as writer. B ...

''). The album was co-produced by Bollywood actor John Abraham, and was successful in Pakistan and India. Strings are recognized for their stringed rhythms and melodious, poetic songs written by

Anwar Maqsood Anwar Maqsood Hameedi (born 7 September 1939, Urdu:), popularly known as Anwar Maqsood, is a Pakistani scriptwriter, television presenter, satirist, humorist, and infrequent actor. He was well known for his drama write-ups for PTV in the late ...

, Bilal's father. He has been writing lyrics for the band since its re-formation, with Kapadia the lead vocalist. Bilal Maqsood composes, plays guitar and occasionally sings. Strings' live performances are augmented by Adeel Ali on lead guitar, Shakir Khan on bass guitar, Haider Ali on keyboards and Aahad Nayani on drums. The band have sold over 25 million albums worldwide. In April 2013 Strings joined

Meesha Shafi Meesha Shafi ( ur, ) is a Pakistani-born Canadian singer, actress and model.Ali Azmat,

Shahzad Hasan Shahzad Hasan (also known as Shahi Hasan), is a Pakistani musician, record producer, occasional actor, bass guitarist, backing vocalist and music industry executive. Co-founding the pop and rock band, Vital Signs, with keyboardist Rohail Hyatt ...

and Alamgir as judges on the vocal-talent show ''Cornetto Music Icons'', aired on

ARY Digital ''ARY Digital'' ( ur, ) is a Pakistani pay television network available in Pakistan, the Middle East, North America and Europe. The ARY Group of companies is a Dubai-based holding company founded by a Pakistani businessman, Abdul Razzak Yaqoob ...

. Strings produced and directed music reality series, ''

Coke Studio Pakistan ''Coke Studio'' ( ur, ) is a Pakistani television programme and international music franchise which features studio-recorded music performances by established and emerging artists. It is the longest-running annual television music show in Pakis ...

'' from 2013-2017. Faisal Kapadia

History

Quartet (1988–1992)

Pop music became more popular in Pakistan during the late 1980s, with new artists emerging in the scene. Shalimar Television Network (STN), one of two channels in the country—the other was the

Pakistan Television Corporation Pakistan Television Corporation ( ur, ; reporting name: PTV) is the Pakistani state-owned broadcaster. Pakistan entered the television broadcasting age in 1964, with a pilot television station established at Lahore. Background Historical co ...

(PTV)—launched a show entitled ''Music Channel Charts'' to showcase new talent. In Karachi, however, fans of singers such as

Nazia and Zoheb Nazia and Zoheb () were a Pakistani pop duo from Karachi, Sindh formed in 1980. The group consisted of two siblings, Nazia Hassan and Zohaib Hassan, Zoheb Hassan (collectively known as ''Hassans'' or ''The Hassans'' or ''Hazan''), who were a s ...

, Alamgir and

Ali Shehki ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar, عَلِيّ بْن أَبِي طَالِب; 600 – 661 CE) was the last of four Rightly Guided Caliphs to rule Islam (r. 656 – 661) immediately after the death of Muhammad, and he was the first Shia Imam ...

were eager to hear the new wave of Pakistani pop music. In 1988, at the

Government College of Commerce & Economics Government College of Commerce & Economics, ( ur, ) founded as the Basant Singh Asumal College of Commerce & Economics, is an institution of commerce education in the city of Karachi. It is located on Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road, opposite Bagh-e-Ji ...

, four classmates (Bilal Maqsood, Faisal Kapadia, Rafiq Wazir Ali and Kareem Bashir Bhoy) formed a band. They called themselves Strings after the host of their college farewell party asked for their name while they were being announced on stage. The band played songs with lyrics influenced by Maqsood's father, Anwar Maqsood. In 1990, with help from Mansoor Bukhari (head of the EMI Group in Pakistan), the band released ''Strings'' on EMI.

Breakup (1992)

In 1992 the band and the Shalimar Recording Company released a follow-up album, ''2''. Maqsood, realising that Strings needed more exposure, directed a video for ''"Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar"''. It was played on STN during their hour-long show; with little competition Maqsood's directorial début was a success, making the song a nationwide hit. The band had a string of hits, touring and enjoying the lifestyle of post-1980s pop stars. However, their fame was short-lived and the quartet broke up. Soon afterwards, though, their ''"Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar"'' video aired on MTV Asia and sparked international fame. After Strings disbanded, Maqsood attended art school and later became a creative director at an advertising agency. Kapadia went to

Houston, Texas Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...

to continue his business studies; Ali and Bhoy continued their education.

Comeback (1999–2002)

In the nearly eight years since Strings were famous, their reputation had faded. Bilal Maqsood continued his work as creative director at an advertising firm, involving Kapadia in the creative process as well; the latter worked in the marketing department of a production unit in the same company. Both had married and were fathers. Although they had given up music, they still loved it. The new millennium saw another shakeup in the

Pakistani music The Music of Pakistan ( ur, , lit=pákistáni mosíqi) includes diverse elements ranging from music from various parts of South Asia as well as Central Asian, Middle Eastern, and modern-day Western popular music influences. With these multiple ...

industry and they were interested in participating. Since Ali and Bhoy were unavailable, Maqsood and Kapadia decided to re-form Strings by themselves; this meant giving up their day jobs. They recorded "

", asking their friend Jamshed (Jami) Mehmood to direct a video. However, Pakistan banned Indian television channels on its

cable network Networking cables are networking hardware used to connect one network device to other network devices or to connect two or more computers to share devices such as printers or scanners. Different types of network cables, such as coaxial cable, opt ...

. Non-government television networks filled the void, and new music channels were introduced in the country. The video for "Duur" was distributed to all stations, and its success marked the band's comeback. Although Strings were successful in Pakistan, they were unaware that a remixed version of "Sar Kiye Yeh Pahaar" was being played in Indian clubs and had established their reputation. When their new video was played on Indian music channels, "Duur" became a hit across the border. In January 2002 they reissued ''

'' on the Magnasound label, which had launched pop stars Baba Sehgal and Remo Fernandes.

Revival (2003–2006)

The realization that Pakistani pop music had a

cult following A cult following refers to a group of fans who are highly dedicated to some person, idea, object, movement, or work, often an artist, in particular a performing artist, or an artwork in some medium. The lattermost is often called a cult classic. ...

in India encouraged its artists, and local

channels hosted collaborations with their Indian counterparts. Strings played with bands such as the New Delhi-based

Euphoria Euphoria ( ) is the experience (or affect) of pleasure or excitement and intense feelings of well-being and happiness. Certain natural rewards and social activities, such as aerobic exercise, laughter, listening to or making music and da ...

Samsung The Samsung Group (or simply Samsung) ( ko, 삼성 ) is a South Korean multinational manufacturing conglomerate headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea. It comprises numerous affiliated businesses, most of them united under the ...

invited Strings to collaborate with Euphoria; they recorded ''"Jheet Lo Dil"'', Strings' cross-border breakthrough. The hit became the official song for the

Indian cricket team The India men's national cricket team, also known as Team India or the Men in Blue, represents India in men's international cricket. It is governed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and is a Full Member of the International ...

's tour of Pakistan. After the success of their third album and ''"Jheet Lo Dil"'', Strings toured India with

Channel V Channel '' ("V" standing for the letter, not the Roman numeral "5") is a Chinese and former Asian pay television musical network originally launched by Star TV Hong Kong (now Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific). It was part of the unit of Disney ...

. The band were warmly received by Indian audiences, and lined up singers Hariharan and

Sagarika Sagarika Mukherjee (born 4 September 1970), also known as Saag, is an Indian singer and actress. She sings mainly in Hindi, Assamese and Bengali language songs but has also sung in Tamil and Telugu languages. She is the daughter of singer an ...

for their fourth album. Strings appeared on Channel V's television show ''Jammin'', performing "Pal" from their upcoming fourth album with Sagarika. The song was written and recorded in audio and video over a three-day period. The band then recorded the single ''"Bolo Bolo"'', later re-recording the track with Hariharan. Both collaborations were eagerly awaited and critically acclaimed. Strings played an unplugged set at the Hard Rock Cafe in

Dubai Dubai (, ; ar, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates.The Government and Politics of ...

, which added to their fame beyond the subcontinent. The band were approached by

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

, who released their fourth album (''Dhaani'') on 1 September 2003. In June 2004 Strings released the music video of the title track, ''"Dhaani"'', directed by Jamshed Mehmood. The band were then approached by Columbia TriStar Films of India, a sister company of their record label, to include their next single (''" Najane Kyun"'') on the soundtrack of the Hindi version of the Hollywood blockbuster '' Spider-Man 2''. In May 2005 Strings released the music video of ''"Kahani Mohabat Ki"'', directed by Umar Anwar. The single was a success, receiving positive reviews from critics. With their subcontinental success, the band won the Favorite Artist India award at the MTV Asia Awards 2005. Strings were approached by director Sanjay Gupta, who was shooting '' Zinda'' (a remake of the

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

n film '' Oldboy''), for a song for its soundtrack. Bilal Maqsood composed ''"Zinda Hoon"'' (with lyrics by his father, Anwar) for the film. The duo acted with (and befriended) two

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...

A-list actors, John Abraham and

Sanjay Dutt Sanjay Balraj Dutt (born 29 July 1959) is an Indian actor who primarily works in Hindi cinema. In a career spanning over four decades, Dutt has won several accolades and acted in over 100 films, ranging from romance to comedy genres, though u ...

, with whom they later worked. In July 2006, Strings were nominated for Most Wanted Band and won the Motorola Music Icon award at the 2006 The Musik Awards. ''"Zinda Hoon"'' was nominated for the Most Wanted Song and Best Pop Song awards. On 28 September 2006 the band released "Beirut", an anti-war video.

Success (2007–2010)

On 8 May 2007 Strings released ''"Aakhri Alvida"'' on the soundtrack of ''

'', a Bollywood film directed by Apoorva Lakhia. On 1 November, they released the single ''"Hum Hee Hum"'' and its music video from their fifth album. Also in late 2007, Strings signed an agreement with the

Gibson Guitar Corporation Gibson Brands, Inc. (formerly Gibson Guitar Corporation) is an American manufacturer of guitars, other musical instruments, and professional audio equipment from Kalamazoo, Michigan, and now based in Nashville, Tennessee. The company was forme ...

; they and the Pakistani rock band

Jal JAL or Jal may refer to: Entertainment * Jal (band), a Pakistani pop/rock band * ''Jal'' (film), a 2014 Hindi film * Jal Fazer, a character in the British TV series ''Skins'' * "Jal", an episode of the British TV series ''Skins'' Places * Jal, ...

were the first South Asian bands to have a working relationship with the guitar manufacturer. It was reported that as part of the agreement, Strings would use Gibson guitars exclusively for concerts, recordings and music videos. In return, Gibson would provide concert venues and required equipment. String band1013 post 1318498646

On 16 May 2008 Strings released their fifth album, ''

'', on Fire Records in Pakistan and

Sony BMG Sony BMG Music Entertainment was an American record company owned as a 50–50 joint venture between Sony Corporation of America and Bertelsmann. The venture's successor, the revived Sony Music, is wholly owned by Sony, following their buyout o ...

internationally. The album, co-produced by Bollywood actor John Abraham, topped the charts in Pakistan and India and included songs from the soundtracks of the Bollywood films ''Shootout at Lokhandwala'' and '' Zinda''. On 19 May the band released the album's title track, ''"

"'', featured John Abraham. On 24 June Strings released a music video for ''"Humsafar"'', directed by Jami Mehmood and filmed in

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...

. This was followed by a performance on the debut season of the musical television programme ''

Coke Studio Coke Studio may refer to: * ''Coke Studio'' (Pakistan), a Pakistani television series featuring live music performances. * ''Coke Studio'' (India), an Indian television series featuring live music performances. * ''Coke Studio Bangla'', a Banglade ...

'', which also showcased Pakistani artists and musicians Ali Azmat,

Mauj ''Mauj'' is a 1943 Bollywood film directed by Nanabhai Bhatt and Babubhai Mistri, starring Fearless Nadia Mary Ann Evans (8 January 1908 – 9 January 1996), also known by her stage name Fearless Nadia, was an Australian-born Indian act ...

, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Ali Zafar. During the second episode of ''Coke Studio'', aired on 29 June, Strings performed their singles ''"Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar"'', ''"Anjane"'', ''"Zinda Hoon"'' and a duet on ''"Duur"'' with Ustaad Hussain Bakhsh Gullo. In August 2011 they again appeared on the show, performing ''"Dhaani"'' with Gullo. On 9 October Strings released another single, ''"Jago"'', with an accompanying music video. The band's success in ''Coke Studio''s first season led them to an appearance on the show's second-season finale, airing on Pakistan's Independence Day (14 August 2009), in which they performed ''"Titliyan"''. In November Strings released the ''"Titliyan"'' music video, which did well on local music charts. Strings Etihad

In June 2010 Strings signed a one-year partnership with

Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (, ; ar, أَبُو ظَبْيٍ ' ) is the capital and second-most populous city (after Dubai) of the United Arab Emirates. It is also the capital of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the centre of the Abu Dhabi Metropolitan Area. ...

-based

Etihad Airways Etihad Airways ( ar, شَرِكَة ٱلْاِتِّحَاد لِلطَّيْرَان, sharikat al-ittiḥād li-ṭ-ṭayarān) is one of two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates (the other being Emirates). Its head office is in Khalifa ...

as its brand ambassadors, promoting Pakistan in the global market with the band’s music. Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer for Etihad Airways, said he was "looking forward to witnessing how the Etihad brand name reached across the world through the music of Strings." Vocalist Faisal Kapadia said, "It is not only about free air tickets. We needed something like this to promote the true image of Pakistan. We want to do concerts internationally, but it is very expensive. This deal will help to overcome that". On 5 June, Strings and Arshad Mehmood judged the National Song Competition for national awareness initiative Azme Alishan. The primary aim of the movement is to revive the spirit of nationhood and community in Pakistan, highlighting the country's young musical talent. The competition was televised worldwide throughout the summer, with the winner announced on 14 August. Other guest judges were former

Vital Signs Vital signs (also known as vitals) are a group of the four to six most crucial medical signs that indicate the status of the body's vital (life-sustaining) functions. These measurements are taken to help assess the general physical health of a ...

member Shahzad Hassan, singer Najam Sheraz and Khalid Khan from the band

Aaroh Aaroh ( ) is an alternative rock band from Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, formed in 1998. The band was founded by keyboardist Kamran Khan and lead guitarist Nabeel Nihal . (This name was given to them by Shoaib Mansoor), who were joined by, Vocalist ...

. On 16 July 2010 Strings released their single ''"

Ab Khud Kuch Karna Paray Ga ''Ab Khud Kuch Karna Paray Ga'' ( ) is a single from the Pakistani pop rock band Strings featuring former Jal vocalist Atif Aslam, released on 16 July 2010 by 2 Republic Music Group.Atif Aslam. In October Strings, in collaboration with Emirates International Mobile Humanitarian Hospital for Children, distributed over 500 gift packs to children displaced by the

2010 Pakistan floods The floods in Pakistan began in late July 2010, resulting from heavy monsoon rains in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab and, Balochistan regions of Pakistan, which affected the Indus River basin. Approximately one-fifth of Pakistan's tot ...

who were living in the Sujawal relief camp. Strings Dubai

2011 to 2017

In February 2011 Strings performed at Pearl, the annual cultural festival at Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani - Hyderabad in

Hyderabad Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part ...

. The following month they played at the Aman Ki Asha concert in

Ahmedabad Ahmedabad ( ; Gujarati: Amdavad ) is the most populous city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. Ahmedabad's population of 5,570,585 (per t ...

with the Indian band

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by th ...

, releasing ''"

Mein Tou Dekhoonga ''Mein Tou Dekhoonga'' (Urdu: میں تو دیکھونگا, literal English translation: "I will see it") is a sociopolitical song single from the Pakistani pop rock band Strings, released on April 4, 2011. The song is written and produced by the ...

"'' on 28 March and its music video (directed by Jamshed Mehmood) on 4 April. The band also performed with Shafqat Amanat Ali in

. Later in April Strings became brand ambassadors for Levi's Pakistan, and on 13 May the band performed at the Pakistani Embassy in

Riyadh Riyadh (, ar, الرياض, 'ar-Riyāḍ, lit.: 'The Gardens' Najdi pronunciation: ), formerly known as Hajr al-Yamamah, is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the R ...

, Saudi Arabia. On 26 May Levi's Original Music released a promo with Strings and Zoe Viccaji and a music video of an

a cappella ''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...

version of ''"Mera Bichra Yaar"'' with Zoe Viccaji four days later. On 4 June, Strings performed at the Beach Luxury Hotel. The band began with ''"

"'', the title song from their 2008 album. They followed with ''"Najane Kyun"'', dedicated to the journalists who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, ''"Zinda Hoon"'', ''"Mein Tou Dekhoonga"'' and ''"Sohniyae"''. On 10 June, a cover version of ''"Anjane"'' with Bilal Khan and Zoe Viccaji was released by Levi's Original Music. Strings on stage

Coke Studio 8 Bilal Maqsood and Anwar Maqsood

On 1 August, in an interview with ''

The Express Tribune ''The Express Tribune'' is a daily English-language newspaper based in Pakistan. It is the flagship publication of the '' Daily Express'' media group. It is Pakistan's only internationally affiliated newspaper in a partnership with the ''Interna ...

'', Strings confirmed that they were working on two new songs: ''"Tum Hi To Ho"'' and ''"Goli Maray"''. Kapadia said, "The whole idea behind going into a recording studio and making a bunch of new songs is just to have fun. We strongly believe that coming out with new music helps us grow and reinvent ourselves as musicians." On 15 August, in an interview on the

BBC Hindi BBC Hindi is an international news service that broadcasts in the Hindi language. It started on 11 May 1940. Initially, the service operated through radio. Currently, it is operated on audio as well as website, TV and social networks. On 2 Dece ...

show ''Music Beyond Borders'', they discussed the political situation in Pakistan, performed ''"Mein Toh Dekhoonga"'' and covered the Indian Ocean song ''"Bandeh"'' at the request of Indian Ocean lead vocalist Rahul Ram. On 26 August, Bollywood director Sanjay Gupta confirmed that Strings would provide music for the soundtrack to his movie '' Shootout at Wadala''.Strings’ joyride to India
Retrieved on 8 September 2011. Several days later Maqsood and Kapadia, in India, confirmed that they were composing music for the Bollywood film;

Ekta Kapoor Ekta Kapoor (born 7 June 1975) is an Indian television producer, film producer and director who works in Hindi cinema and soap opera. She is the joint managing director and creative head of Balaji Telefilms Limited, which was founded in 1994. ...

and Sanjay Gupta reportedly hosted a surprise party for the duo, with many celebrities on the guest list. On 28 August, the ''

Hindustan Times ''Hindustan Times'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper based in Delhi. It is the flagship publication of HT Media, an entity controlled by the KK Birla family, and is owned by Shobhana Bhartia. It was founded by Sunder Singh Lyall ...

'' reported that actor

Imran Khan Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi ( ur}; born 5 October 1952) is a Pakistani politician and former Cricket captain who served as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan from August 2018 to until April 2022, when he was ousted through a no-confidenc ...

organised a special screening of his comedy '' Delhi Belly'' for Strings. In September, the ''Express Tribune'' reported that Strings and Atif Aslam were nominated for the Best Singer award at the 2011

Lux Style Awards The Lux Style Awards is an award ceremony held annually in Pakistan since 2002. The awards celebrate "style" in the Pakistani entertainment industry, and it is the oldest event dedicated to cinema, television, fashion, music and film industry ...

for their collaboration ''"

Ab Khud Kuch Karna Paray Ga ''Ab Khud Kuch Karna Paray Ga'' ( ) is a single from the Pakistani pop rock band Strings featuring former Jal vocalist Atif Aslam, released on 16 July 2010 by 2 Republic Music Group.Waves '12, the cultural festival of the BITS Pilani Goa. A recent Pepsi commercial features Strings. In April 2013, Strings joined

Meesha Shafi Meesha Shafi ( ur, ) is a Pakistani-born Canadian singer, actress and model.Ali Azmat,

and Alamgir as judges on the vocal-talent show ''Cornetto Music Icons'' on

. On 29 October 2017, Strings announced its farewell to Coke Studio after season 10. In 2018, they announced new videos from their new album, to mark 30 years of Strings. A romantic number, Piya Re is in top list. It has been written by Anwar Maqsood and Bilal Maqsood. The song has been mixed and mastered by M. Ishaq Nazir.

2018 to 2021: ''30''

Strings released a teaser of their upcoming single ''Sajni'' on 2 March 2018 on their ''

Facebook Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin M ...

'' page. Later the band's lead singer Faisal Kapadia confirmed the release of their sixth studio album ''30'', as 2018 marked 30 years of Strings. Sajni is one of the eight songs from the upcoming album. The official video for their first single ''Sajni'' was released on their official ''

YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...

'' channel on 17 March 2018. Strings released their second track ''Urr Jaoon'' from the album 30 on their YouTube channel on 6 April 2018. On 25 March 2021, Faisal Kapadia and Bilal Maqsood officially announced that the band is coming to an end over Instagram.

Music

Language

From their debut album ''

'' to their fifth album ''

'', all Strings' songs are in Urdu. Most lyrics are by Anwar Maqsood; a few songs are by his son, musician Bilal Maqsood, and writer

Zehra Nigah Zehra Nigah ( ur, ) is an Urdu poet and scriptwriter from Pakistan. She was one of two female poets to gain prominence in the 1950s when the scene was dominated by men. She has written several television drama serials. She has also received vario ...

Influences

Strings' music is influenced by Eastern classical music and Western rhythms. With an emphasis on Eastern melodies (including a touch of raga in the vocals), the band use flute and sarangi to give their vocals an Eastern touch. Songs like ''"Duur"'' and ''"Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar"'' (from ''

'') and ''"Kahani Mohabat Ki"'' (from ''

'') are examples of this influence. Other songs, such as ''"Sohniyae"'' and ''" Najane Kyun"'' (from ''

'') have elements of rock music. Bands influencing Strings include Junoon and

Style

Strings perform a blend of Western music and classical Eastern music, combining rhythmic guitar riffs with the tranquility of Eastern music. Their music is also based on worldly issues, emphasising world peace. Their music (such as ''"Ab Khud Kuch Karna Paray Ga"'', "Beirut", ''"Jheet Lo Dil"'' and ''"Titliyan"'') has helped keep national spirits high. Their music has been enjoyed by Pakistani youth for over ten years, compensating internationally for the departure of

and

. While Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan promoted Qawwali music and Junoon rock music, Strings blend Pakistani pop, classical music and rhythms on stringed instruments. Although Strings' music revolves around a male lead singer, the band has also featured other artists on their albums. Since the release of their third album, ''Duur'', their music has combined Eastern and Western music. Their fourth and fifth albums (''Dhaani'' and ''Koi Aanay Wala Hai'') featured rock songs such as ''"Sohniyae"'', ''"Mera Bichra Yaar"'', ''"

"'' and ''"Jab Say Tumko"''. Several of the band's singles have been used on soundtracks for Bollywood and Hollywood films, including ''" Najane Kyun"'' ('' Spider-Man 2''), ''"Zinda Hoon"'' ('' Zinda'') and ''"Aakhri Alvida"'' (''

'').

Live performances

Strings have achieved international fame, and their popularity is attributed to their unique music and

lyrics Lyrics are words that make up a song, usually consisting of verses and choruses. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist. The words to an extended musical composition such as an opera are, however, usually known as a "libretto" and their writer, a ...

. Other internationally known musicians include Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Junoon, Nazia Hassan,

and

. Even in

Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...

, influenced by neighbouring Indian music, Strings proved popular and were named Asia's favourite band at the MTV Asia Awards. They were the first Pakistani band to perform at

Rashtrapati Bhavan The Rashtrapati Bhavan (, rāsh-truh-puh-ti bha-vun; ; originally Viceroy's House and later Government House) is the official residence of the President of India at the western end of Rajpath, Raisina Hill, New Delhi, India. Rashtrapati Bh ...

Members

–

vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

(1988–1992, 1999–present) *

– lead guitar,

(1988–1992, 1999–present) * Aahad Nayani – drums (2010–present) * Haider Ali – keyboards 2006–present) * Adeel Ali – lead guitar (2001–present) * Bradley D'Souza (2015–present) * H.K Subhash (2020–present) Indian Ocean with Strings

;Former members * Shakir Khan – Bassist (2004–2013) * Qaiser - Drummer (2004-2010) * Rafiq Wazir Ali – synthesizer (1988–1992) * Kareem Bashir Bhoy – bass guitar, backing vocals (1988–1992)

Timeline

Awards and honours

* Best Band – MTV Music Awards 2009 * Best Album – MTV Music Awards 2009 * Brand ambassadors,

Honda City The is a subcompact car which has been produced by the Japanese manufacturer Honda since 1981. The City was originally a 3-door hatchback/2-door convertible for the Japanese, European and Australasian markets. The 3-door City was retired in 199 ...

2009 * Nominated for Pakistani torch bearers, 2008 Olympic Games *

Motorola Motorola, Inc. () was an American Multinational corporation, multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, United States. After having lost $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009, the company split into two independent p ...

brand ambassadors for Pakistan * Best Live Act in Music,

2008 * Most Wanted Band, The Musik Awards 2008 * Best Lyrics (''"Aakhari Alvida"''), The Musik Awards 2008 * Best Artist, MTV Asia Awards * Favourite Artist India (title song for movie, '' Zinda'') 2005 * Motorola Icon, The Musik Awards 2006 * Nominated for Most Wanted Band, The Musik Awards 2006 * ''"Zinda"'' nominated for Best Pop Song and Most Wanted Song, The Musik Awards 2006 * Best Video (''"Anjaane"''), Lux Style Awards 2003 * Lux Style Award, 2004 * Best Band at the first Sangeet Awards ceremony held at the

Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...

* Indus Music Award (2005) for contributions to pop music * MTV Asia's Most Favourite Band, 2005 * Best Band, third Jazz Indus Music Awards * Best Lyrics (''"Zinda"''), third Jazz Indus Music Awards * Excellence in Music Award, Hum Style Awards 2018

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Lollywood

Bollywood

Hollywood

Singles

Coke Studio

References

External links

Strings Online
– Official Website
MySpace PageFacebook Fan PageYouTube ChannelOrkut Community
– Website By Ali Irfan
Etihad Airways signed STRINGS as Brand AmbassadorRole of Strings Band In Pakistani Music Industry
{{DEFAULTSORT:Strings Musical groups established in 1988 Musical groups disestablished in 1992 Musical groups reestablished in 1999 Musical groups from Karachi Muhajir people Pakistani musical duos Pakistani musical groups Pakistani rock music groups Coke Studio (Pakistani TV program)