Open the curtains. To pull you out of you slumber, the first thing you should do when you wake up is open the curtains and embrace the sunlight. Keeping the curtains closed will leave your mind sleeping, aching for a couple more hours of z’s. Brightness equals wide-awake. Try it. It really does work.

Be thankful to be alive. Each day we wake up it really is a blessing. Each day is a gift, we should cherish it and do whatever is best. There is no time to fight with friends or be in a bad mood about something. Be happy!

A discipline of Maharaj Ghulam Hussain Kathak, Fasih-ur-Rehman has been carrying on the legacy of the great Kathak maestro through sheer hard work, self-discipline and dedication for the last 25 years.

How do you see life?

I feel life is the way you see and take life to be. Life is what you want to do with it and if you get to do what you love and your intention is true, then that is what life is all about. Intention something, not necessarily in the field or arts, but in whatever you do if you are true to it – that is what life is all about.

Music is an art - and a science. Here are some music and sound related terms for those who are afraid to ask.

Acoustics
The science of sound including its reproduction, transmission, and effects.

Acoustics Effect
The effect of the surrounding environment on the sound.

Acoustics Treatment
The application of a material to the surface of an enclosure to modify the acoustics.

Dead Acoustics
A room where there is very little reverberation.

Cycle
One complete sequence of a variation, which occurs in a periodic manner.

Hertz
Unit of frequency; one hertz is equal to one cycle per second.

Islamabad got a good healthy dose of rock as Entity Paradigm, Jal, Call and many other bands performed on 13th march 2004 at the opening of the Open Air Theater in the scenic “Shakarpariyan”.

The event was organized by Dream Weaver Productions (known for the highly acclaimed murder mystery musical “8 women” performed at Al Hamra Lahore in December 2003) and the Capital Development Authority. Tickets were affordable at rupees 500 a piece.

Fans poured in to experience the glory of their best-loved bands. The event was extroverted, but sadly there were some moments of disappointment owing to lots of sound problems and technical shortcomings during the performances.

Alhamra Cultural Complex looked surreal amidst decorative lights, as performances varying from enthralling Uzbek dances to hilarious slapstick performances by the Wall Street Theatre, Indian theatre and Ajoka’s theatre heightened activity at the Rafi Peer World Performing Arts Festival on Monday night.

The Uzbek camp in particular was jam-packed with spectators who were completely enthralled by the dance performances. The Uzbek dance titled ‘Sonata’ was the most attractive feature of the festival. The performers, clad in stunning vibrant dresses, had the crowds up on their feet as they executed impressive dance sequences. The audience enthusiastically cheered the dance titled ‘Africa’ and was full of praise for the young performers. The other dance themes ‘Youth of Uzbekistan’, ‘Temple of love’, and ‘ Slow Waltz’ were unique in style and received the same praise from the audience as ‘Africa’ had received.

Music has a greater influence than cricket, when it comes to improving Indo-Pak relations, believes Faisal Kapadia, lead vocalist of Pakistani band Strings. “In cricket one team wins and the other loses, while in the exchange of music concerts, it’s the audience that wins ultimately,” says he. Faisal alongwith Bilal, the lead guitarist, make up the band. Many a time they have performed live in India.

What’s the band’s take on the controversies of lip syncing, of late doing the rounds in India recently? “Often we are asked to do so by organisers, specially for shows on TV channels,” says Bilal. But he feels it is a crime to lip sync in a live concert. “Given a choice nobody would want to fool the audience,” he says.

Two years ago Arooj Aftab was a middle-class Pakistani teenager living her life according to plan: She was working studiously under the watchful gaze of her parents to finish a two-year advanced-level degree in math and economics, and planning a sensible career in accounting.

At the same time, Aftab was pursuing an interest that was not at all part of the well-established cultural framework. She was teaching herself to play the guitar. As if this weren’t radical enough, Aftab began writing her own songs. Forbidden by her father to enter a professional recording studio, Aftab did what any self-respecting Muslim girl determined to liberate herself from thousands of years of gender inequality would do: She learned how to use computer software to record and mix her own music.

Interview: Moazzam Abbasi
Hair and Makeup: KR Crew
Photography: Khawar Riaz

You are not only the queen of the local music industry, but happen to be the only big female pop star. Why aren’t there more female singers from good families out there? How have you managed to retain this monopoly?

Mizraab, a progressive metal band, is the brainchild of numero uno guitarist Faraz Anwar. The band has faced numerous problems in album release due to their heavy metal sound mixed with intelligent lyrics which do not fit in the usual mould of sad excuse for poetry with the masses are accustomed to.

First, they mysteriously ‘disappeared’ on Indus Music. Then, the release of their album, Maazi Haal Mustaqbil (MHM), has been floundering for a while now, with different release dates being announced at regular intervals. And yet there is no sign of the album anywhere. The seemingly endless series of delays has left everyone questioning why one of the most awaited albums of the year is being incessantly delayed, and delayed and delayed.

We are not talking about that Cola advertisement which you have been watching since more than a month now.

Our news is about this brand new album released by Abrar-ul-Haq. Nachan Main Udday Naal is Abrar’s fifth album. All of his albums have done good business so far. We expect the same for the new album too. So all you bhangra lovers out there, get ready for new dance numbers that will add flavors to your parties for sure.