Following the release of its debut album Suno Ke Main Hun Jawan in 2003, veteran rock band Noori developed a cult following. With their unique and rather soft rock sound, the rockers found their niche and demarcated cool from the un-cool. But as fate would have it, the band’s second album Peeli Patti Aur Raja Jani Ki Gol Dunya, which released two years later, seemed to be its last as Noori oddly disappeared into the haze. And now, it’s time for a smashing comeback as the rockers are set to collaborate with musicians across the border. The band is currently working on a cover of its very own Saari Raat with Indian jazz-folk duo Adil & Vasundhara. And that is just the beginning!
“It was a once in a lifetime experience in which we got to visit different sites and explore locations — it allowed the creative juices to flow,” says lead vocalist Ali Noor about the project which is part of travel music show Fox Traveller’s SoundTrek. “This is very different from previous covers because I am not really going to sing. I am just going to play the guitar. They [Adil & Vasundhara] had approached us and have done a completely different take on the song. But overall, it was a mind-blowing experience.”
Noor further reveals that the band ran into Adil & Vasundhara during their last US tour. They instantly hit it off and Noori performed with the duo in India. Noori is the only Pakistani band in the SoundTrek series amongst Indian musicians such as Avial, Lucky Ali, Indus Creed and others. During this travelling musical jam, the band explores various regions in India apart from jamming and discovering new styles.
Co-existence, collaborations and a third album
“The idea was to do a collaboration in a setting where you’re also exploring the place,” says bassist Ali Hamza, adding that it was similar to what’s done on musical television series The Dewarists. Noori visited Jhodpur in Rajhastan, went to old forts and also took part in fox-lining.
“Adil is a jazz guitarist and Vasundhra is a jazz singer — they added those elements [to the music]. And then there were also these Rajasthani folk percussionists,” he continues. “So there was a mix of things happening but it was [still] more about exploring those specific places.”
Noori seems to have developed a fan following in India, too. So, like other musicians, is the band also interested in pursuing a career in Bollywood? “For now, we have not planned anything for Bollywood but we are looking at working on another collaboration there [in India],” says Hamza, adding that they plan to work on a single soon with musical duo Hari & Sukhmani.
“We have done collaborations previously with Indian artists such as Euphoria, so work is being done. And if the political situation improves, that project will be complete,” he continues, adding that the song was a simple Punjabi tune called Yaariyan which aims to look at the human side of things.
“It’s not about your nationality — it’s about accepting that you’re a normal human being. It’s knowing that you can co-exist, have fun as friends and not create hoopla that this is a Pakistani-Indian collaboration,” says Hamza. He feels it’s important to make it look normal as compared to blowing it out of proportion.
Noori is currently going through a transitional phase as drummer Gumby has made his exit, the band’s new office is being set up in Lahore which should be the breeding ground for its third album, and a new line-up along with collaborations with local musicians is also on the agenda.
“10 years of experience doing this — there has been great learning and progression,” says Hamza, adding that the band is trying to put out the anticipated album soon. “It will be for the audience to figure out, whether it’s something new or different.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 7th, 2013.
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