by Syed Shadab Ali Gillani
The song that Moin had envisioned was deeply rooted in classical Raag Darbari, a style he intended to adhere to.
I found myself in the welcoming surroundings of a friend’s home in 2021, leading to a serendipitous musical journey. It started as a simple jamming session between friends, gradually evolving into something far more remarkable. I was in the company of my friends Danish, Moin, Inaam, and Haroon, just passing time, when Danish began strumming his guitar to play a riff. Following this, Moin hummed a line, and soon the atmosphere was charged with creative potential.
I found myself humming along, unable to resist the infectious melody, and so did Inaam, adding an emotionally evocative line: barasde se mohe rung mei. Haroon chimed in from across the room with Mohe Pia – an impromptu contribution that added to the magic of the moment. It is said that unrehearsed moments are the most memorable, and this was certainly the case here. The first line of Moin’s new song was unplanned and unscripted, giving rise to a raw and untamed sound.
My friends, however, only managed to write five more lines before leaving the song unfinished and abandoned. It was quickly forgotten, slipping from our memories into the depths of our minds.
This August, our friend Ubaid reappeared on the scene, bringing with him a unique rhythmic sound – a drum beat, in the style of a Duff, infused with the flavours of the Middle East, blending Arabic and Turkish influences. The ambience of this distinctive beat enthralled my friends, the forgotten lines flooding back into the forefronts of their minds. Before we knew it, Moin was singing them once more, as if they had been waiting for this precise moment to re-emerge.
Ubaid, intrigued by the song, encouraged us to explore it further and led us to reconvene after a hiatus of almost three years. Moin subsequently recorded lap steel guitar parts, adding the resonant sound of a Sarangi over the beat, and we found a true work of art in our hands.
The song that Moin had envisioned was deeply rooted in classical Raag Darbari, a style he intended to adhere to. In the absence of proper equipment, however, the classical feel transformed into a more Westernised sound, veering closer to pop. This shift was organic, a seamless blend of tradition and modernity that none of us could have anticipated. Moin’s soulful vocals were truly innovative, a unique fusion of soul, heart, and intellect – a harmonious balance of emotional depth and technical proficiency.
The few lines written ages ago transformed into a song, Rung, in just an hour. The blend of vocals and poignant lyrics came together to make this a remarkable sound that left me awestruck.
Being a part of the creative process, Rung holds a special place in my heart. It was officially released on 23 August, available across various music platforms. Moin has previously lent his vocals to songs like Udne Do and Saajna, demonstrating his musical prowess and mastery of his craft.
