In this episode of the A for Aleph podcast, we had the honour of welcoming Natasha Baig, a versatile Pakistani singer-songwriter from Hunza Valley, celebrated for her powerful vocals and known for her unique blend of Sufi rock and folk styles.

Despite having no formal music education, she grew up listening to mainstream artists like Abida Parveen and Michael Jackson. She began her career in 2013 as a contestant at the 'Cornetto Music Icons' TV show, as one of the six finalists, who were mentored by Zoe Viccaji. Particularly, her performance of "Dekha Na Tha" by Alamgir was praised.

Soon after, she joined sufi fusion ensemble Sounds of Kolachi, as a one of the singers. She later left to pursue a solo career with her own band, including her brother Sameer Baig on guitar who was also the producer for most of her music.

Natasha gained prominence with her Burushaski tune "Ya Maula," a powerful Sufi anthem. This song propelled her into the spotlight, where she quickly became recognized for her commanding stage presence and emotive performances. During this time has performed at notable music festivals across Pakistan.

In 2016, Natasha co-founded the production company & record label Laal Series, a platform dedicated to promoting socially conscious music. Her contributions to Pakistani film and television further broadened her appeal, with her song "Jhoom Le" from the movie "Janaan" earning her a Lux Style Award nomination. She has also lent her voice to the OSTs of popular TV dramas such as "Jhooti," "Naina Aur Tum," and "Kahani Raima Aur Manahil Ki."

In 2018 she was featured on the Coke Studio Sessions along with the legendary Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad Qawwal, performing 'Jawab-e-Shikwa' written by Allama Iqbal to critical acclaim.

Natasha has released a significant amount of singles including two full-length albums which include Zariya (2020) and Khirad (2022) which is a tribute to Allama Iqbal. All of her releases are distributed through her own record label Laal Series.

FOLLOW NATASHA BAIG
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2R8t8JuhekewFBqE8OhBq8?si=HGScNUzSR5uwskx83PzPwA
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/natasha-baig/1162643763
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NatashaBaigOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natashabaigofficial/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/natashabaigofficial/

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YouTube: https://linktr.ee/aforaleph

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A for Aleph is a unique creative collaborative space and initiative based in Karachi, Pakistan, that is focused on the patronage and empowerment of the arts and foster the growth of independent contemporary artists from across the region in order to heal, evolve and expand our collective consciousness, the Aleph.

More here: https://linktr.ee/aforaleph

In this episode of the Aleph podcast, we are in conversation with Zair Zaki, a young Pakistani musician and rhythm guitarist for the alternative rock band Kashmir, formed in 2012. The band gained fame after winning Pepsi Battle of the Bands Season 2 in 2017. Zair has been instrumental in the band's success, contributing to popular tracks like "Kaaghaz Ka Jahaaz" and albums such as "Khwaab" (2020) and "Zindagi" (2023). He is also known for ZAKII, his experimental side project, which explores new musical styles beyond Kashmir's traditional sound.

Zair’s passion for music was fueled from a young age by rock legends like David Gilmour and John Mayer. His style combines intricate melodies with atmospheric soundscapes, evident in Kashmir’s hits like "Parwana Hun" and "Khwaab." Zair is not just a performer but also a talented songwriter whose introspective lyrics resonate with a wide audience.

FOLLOW ZAKII:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2CqpiCNyjpVFiZ76BWdKmK
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/zakii/1604942284
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zairzaki

FOLLOW KASHMIR:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3BaXohQuxIv7oZGuHEBuLt
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/zindagi/1705962492
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@kashmirmusicofficial

LISTEN TO ALEPH PODCAST:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0f3bWa52bwJraf0GjrHheC
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-for-aleph-podcast/id1715132873

FOLLOW A FOR ALEPH:
Bandcamp: https://linktr.ee/aforaleph
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Twitter: https://linktr.ee/aforaleph
YouTube: https://linktr.ee/aforaleph
Buy Merchandise: https://li.sten.to/aforaleph

More about A for Aleph: https://linktr.ee/aforaleph

Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere

Support the show

A for Aleph is a unique creative collaborative space and initiative based in Karachi, Pakistan, that is focused on the patronage and empowerment of the arts and foster the growth of independent contemporary artists from across the region in order to heal, evolve and expand our collective consciousness, the Aleph.

More here: https://linktr.ee/aforaleph

In this episode of the Aleph podcast, we had the pleasure of having Zohaib Kazi in the studio - a versatile producer, director and author who has gained prominence for his innovative approach to music and storytelling. Zohaib’s journey into Pakistan’s music industry started when he joined Frequency Media working under Rohail Hyatt, this production company was responsible for producing Coke Studio Pakistan which Zohaib later joined as a general manager and associate producer from 2009 to 2017. As someone with both an audio and video skillset, Zohaib was involved in many aspects of the production over the years - this culminated in him being asked to co-produce Season 11 with Ali Hamza in 2018.

Zohaib first gained attention with his digital album Butterfly in Space in (2012) and later released his concept album & graphic novel Ismail Ka Urdu Sheher which earned him widespread acclaim. The novel tells the story of a scientist named Ismail and his journey to connect with an alien civilization. The album’s narrative depth and unique blend of music and visual storytelling established him as a forward-thinking artist in Pakistan's music industry. He has also produced a trilogy of music travelogues, starting with "Fanoos" and "Coke Studio Explorer" and culminating with "Gulistan” which is in the process of being released currently. With this trilogy, Zohaib aims to document and preserve Pakistan's diverse cultural heritage.

Buy 'Ismail Ka Urdu Shehr'
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ismail-Ka-Urdu-Sheher-illustrated/dp/9699251735
Daraz or Liberty Books: https://www.daraz.pk/products/liberty-books-ismail-ka-urdu-sheher-i433050973.html

FOLLOW ZOHAIB KAZI:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6KLLWcERsoHPN3Mu0Z20ci?si=GJsXgeZsTwSe5KbwjEl4aw
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/zohaib-kazi/415831605
Bandcamp: https://zohaibkazi.bandcamp.com
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@zohaibkazivideo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zohaibkazionline?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zohaibkazi?igsh=NWJmaTV0bnR3dnM3X

FOLLOW A FOR ALEPH:
Bandcamp: https://linktr.ee/aforaleph
Instagram: https://linktr.ee/aforaleph
Facebook: https://linktr.ee/aforaleph
Twitter: https://linktr.ee/aforaleph
YouTube: https://linktr.ee/aforaleph
Buy merchandise: https://li.sten.to/aforaleph

More about A for Aleph:
https://linktr.ee/aforaleph

Help us continue making great content for listeners everywhere: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2271983/supporters/new

Support the show

A for Aleph is a unique creative collaborative space and initiative based in Karachi, Pakistan, that is focused on the patronage and empowerment of the arts and foster the growth of independent contemporary artists from across the region in order to heal, evolve and expand our collective consciousness, the Aleph.

More here: https://linktr.ee/aforaleph