Rizwan and Muazzam
To carve one’s own niche when you hail from the lineage of the iconic Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is an uphill task, but that is exactly what his nephews have done. Rizwan and Muazzam lead the five centuries old gharana, following the traditional qawwal arrangement replete with a chorus, tabla, harmonium and choral. The two released their first album Sacrifice of Love in 1999 and are currently signed to Peter Gabriel’s influential Real World record label. The group aims to broaden the appeal of traditional qawwali and garner international appreciation.
Aunty Disco Project
Their eccentric call-sign is a good cue to what to expect from these young, not-so-average boys – a lot out of the ordinary. Hugely popular in the Karachi underground music scene for their alternative rock ever since its formation in 2006, the band’s current line-up comprises of Omar Bilal Akhtar, Ali Alam, Yasir Qureshi, Rahayl Siddiqui and Giles Goveas. Their debut album, Aunty Disco Project, which was independently released recently, was well received.
