Mizraab

Last updated
Mizraab
Mizraab-mtvunplugged.jpg
Mizraab performing live at V-Sel Outlet, Karachi, in 2011. Visible from left to right are; Ferdinand Goveas, Irfan Ahmed (back), Faraz Anwar and Muhammad Muzzamil.
Background information
Origin Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Genres Progressive rock, progressive metal, classic rock
Years active1997–present
Website www.mizraabianz.com

Mizraab are a progressive rock band from Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, formed in 1997. [1] Founded by vocalist, lead guitarist and songwriter, Faraz Anwar, the band's initial line-up was with Faraz Anwar on vocals, Khalid Khan on bass and Akhtar Qayyum on percussions, since then there had been many changes in the line-up the only consistent member being Faraz himself. [1]

Contents

The band is well known for being one of the few bands to have brought progressive rock music in Pakistan, thus being one of the few heavy metal music bands to receive significant acknowledgment by the press. The band earned a growing fan base in the underground music community and critical acclaim, with their debut album release Panchi in 1999 described as the first progressive rock album in Pakistan. Faraz Anwar then in 2001 recorded and released An Abstract Point of View through the record label Gnarly Geezer, owned by Allan Holdsworth. The album got rave reviews from musicians all over the world hailing Faraz as a great guitar find from Asia. In 2004, the band, fronted by Faraz, found renewed success and popularity by the release of their second studio album, Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil , which received too much criticism and critical acclaim. The album sold more than 30,000 copies and is the band's highest selling album. [1] Singles from the album like "Panchi" and "Kitni Sadian" received a lot of airtime on local music channels. The album is also credited to be the first proper Urdu metal album released in Pakistan.

After the release of their second studio album, Mizraab made a comeback into the lime light with the video for "Ujalon Main" in December 2006, which showcased the new band members as well as the change in genre and was well received all over the country. Mizraab's third album was completed in late 2006-2007 but due to the dire state of the music industry in Pakistan, no deal could be reached and the album was shelved.

Current members

Faraz Anwar

Faraz Anwar (born July 15, 1977) is a Pakistani guitarist and vocalist, known for his solo instrumental work and his band Mizraab. He has been called "Pakistan's master of progressive rock." [2] In 6th grade he decided to pick up a guitar after seeing a video of guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen on TV. Faraz got his education from St. Paul and St. Andrews, but left after his matriculation because he wanted to pursue a career in music. At the age of 11, he won Pakistan's national music competition, and at 14 he became a full-time musician. Most of his work consisted of touring with top-tier acts and studio collaborations. [3] [4] One of his projects is a collaboration with Imran Raza, which combines classic rock with such Eastern musical influences as "South Asian flutes and classical Sufi singing"; according to The Weekly Standard , it was President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan who brought the two together. [3]

Irfan Ahmed

Irfan 'Charlie' Ahmed is a Pakistani director and drummer, known for his work with, progressive rock band, Mizraab. He initially started as a session player for the band playing drums on their debut studio album Panchi (1999). In 2002, Ahmed became a permanent member of the band and played drums on the second studio album of the band Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil (2004). In 2010, when Faraz Anwar went to pursue further education in England, Ahmed left the band. However, after a year when Faraz Anwar returned to Pakistan, Ahmed rejoined the band as its drummer once again. Irfan Ahmed along with Faraz Anwar directed the music video of the song "Woh Aur Main", released in 2007.

Muhammad Muzzamil

Muhammad Muzzamil (born July 19, 1990) is a Pakistani guitarist, known for his work with progressive rock band Mizraab. He is a former student of Faraz Anwar. Muzzamil replaced Yusuke Iwahashi on rhythm guitars in 2011.

Ferdinand Goveas

Ferdinand Goveas is a Pakistani bassist, known for his work with progressive rock band Mizraab. Goveas has also worked with many well known mainstream bands like Strings and Raeth as a session player. Goveas has also been travelling with Strings as a live sessionist for the band and played bass for Strings in a collaborative song "Jeet Lo Dil" with Indian band Euphoria. In 2011, Goveas replaced James Hobday as the bassist of Mizraab.

Former members

Timeline

Mizraab

Guest appearances

YearsArtistAlbums/songsInstrumentContribution
1999–2003Irfan Ahmed
  • Only live
drums Played drums in the 1999 studio album, Panchi
1999Jamal Mustafa
  • Only live
rhythm guitar Played rhythm guitar in the 1999 studio album, Panchi
2004Khalid Khan
  • Only live
bass Played bass in the 2004 studio album, Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
2010John "Gumby" Louis Pinto
  • Only live
drumsLive in Playback
2010Omran Shafique
  • Only live
rhythm guitarLive in Playback
2010Kamran 'Mannu' Zafar
  • Only live
bassLive in Playback

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noori</span> Rock band from Pakistan

Noori (transl. Light) is a Pakistani rock band from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, formed in 1996. The group was formed by songwriter, lead vocalist, and guitarist, Ali Noor, along with his younger brother Ali Hamza, who were soon joined by bassist Muhammad Ali Jafri and drummer Salman Albert. Since the inception of the band, there has been many changes in the line-up; the only consistent members being brothers, Ali Noor and Ali Hamza. The band has produced songs such as "Suno Ke Mein Hoon Jawaan" and the epic "Manwa Re".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jal (band)</span> Pakistani pop rock band

Jal is a pop rock band from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The band originally consisted of songwriter, vocalist and lead guitarist, Goher Mumtaz and vocalist, Atif Aslam and later joined by bass guitarist Omer Nadeem and later Salman Albert joined on drums in 2003. Founded in 2002, they first became popular playing in Lahore's underground music scene with the release of their song "Aadat".

Faraz Anwar is a Pakistani musician, composer, singer-songwriter, bandleader, and a guitarist who founded the Mizraab, a heavy metal music and hard rock genre band based in Pakistan. His musical act on electric guitar has been described by one critic as "Pakistan's master of progressive rock". Anwar is currently signed to Lion Music, which is a Finnish production and record label company.

<i>Inquilaab</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Junoon

Inquilaab is the third studio album and the fourth overall album of the Pakistani band Junoon. Although previous albums by Junoon also achieved considerable success, 'Inquilaab' contained the band's first major hit, the patriotic song "Jazba-e-Junoon". The album also contained the hit "Saeein," which marked Junoon's foray into what later became the sufi rock sound that Junoon is most popularly associated with. Other hits from the album were "Mera Mahi" and "Husan Walo".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Entity Paradigm</span> Pakistani heavy metal band

Entity Paradigm was a Pakistani rock band from Lahore, Punjab, formed in 2000. The band was founded by songwriter and guitarist Xulfi, vocalist, songwriter Fawad Khan and keyboardist and vocalist Ahmed Ali Butt who were soon joined by Salman Albert on guitars, Ali Asad Khan on drums, Hassaan Khalid on rhythm guitars and Waqar Ahmed on drums, since then there had been many changes in the line-up the only consistent members being Ahmed Ali Butt, Salman Albert, and Hassaan Khalid.

Pakistani rock is a variety of rock music that is largely produced in Pakistan. Pakistani rock incorporates elements of both British–American rock and Pakistani classical music.

<i>Panchi</i> 1999 studio album by Mizraab

Panchi is the debut studio album of the Pakistani progressive rock band Mizraab, released in April 1999 on Sound Master. Mizraab's debut album is considered by many to be the first progressive rock album in Pakistan.

<i>Duur</i> 2000 studio album by Strings

Duur is the third album by the Pakistani pop band Strings, first released on 21 January 2000 and then re-released on 1 January 2002. Singles from the album were Duur, Anjane, and Aankhain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aunty Disco Project</span>

Aunty Disco Project is an indie rock band from Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, formed in 2006. The band's initial line-up consisted of Omar Bilal Akhtar as vocalist and guitarist, along with bassist Imran Lodhi, guitarist Khawer Khan and drummer Omar Khalid, since then there had been many changes in the line-up but the current line-up has only Omar Bilal Akhtar on the lead vocals and lead guitars, Imran Lodhi on Bass, Khawer Khan on guitars & Hamza Qureshi on the drums. The band was widely regarded as one of the best live acts in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strings (band)</span> Pakistani pop/rock band

Strings was a Pakistani pop/rock band composed of two members, plus four live band members from Karachi, Pakistan. The band was initially formed by four college students—Bilal Maqsood, Faisal Kapadia (vocals), Rafiq Wazir Ali (synthesizer) and Kareem Bashir Bhoy —in 1988. In 1992 the quartet disbanded, only to make a comeback with Maqsood and Kapadia in 2000. While the initial band rode the new wave of Pakistani pop music, the later lineup ushered a revival in the Pakistani music industry.

<i>Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil</i> 2004 studio album by Mizraab

Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil is the second studio album of the Pakistani progressive rock band Mizraab, released in March, 2004 on Sadaf Stereo. The album is credited to be the first proper Urdu metal album released in Pakistan. Lyrically, the album contains references to life, death, nature and the environment a person lives in.

<i>Mizraab – Live & Rare</i> 2010 live album by Mizraab

Mizraab – Live & Rare is the second live album and overall the fourth album by the Pakistani progressive rock band, Mizraab, released in January 2010. It is exclusively a digital download live album, and has not been released on a physical medium. The album included recordings from the band's live performances on MTV Pakistan.

Faraz Anwar – Documentary is a 2005 documentary film directed and produced by Haroon Sheikh. The documentary film follows the experience of Faraz Anwar, lead guitarist and vocalist of the Pakistani progressive rock band Mizraab, in the music industry. The documentary was released in November 2005, by Poison Wood Productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mizraab discography</span>

The discography of Mizraab, a Pakistani progressive rock band, consists of two studio albums, as well as numerous live albums, singles and music videos. The band was formed by lead guitarist and vocalist Faraz Anwar, bassist Khalid Khan and percussionist Akhtar Qayyum in 1996. After the release of the band's first studio album, there had been many changes in the line-up the only consistent member being Faraz himself.

"Saeein" is a song by Pakistani sufi rock band Junoon. It is Junoon's eleventh single and the second from the 1996 studio album Inquilaab. The song is written by lead guitarist, Salman Ahmad and lyricist, Sabir Zafar. Due to the song's popularity, it also featured on the band's fourth studio album Azadi released in 1997. "Saeein" is one of Junoon's most popular songs, and has been covered numerous times, most notably by Indian singer Harshdeep Kaur. The song marked Junoon's foray into what later became the sufi rock sound that the band is most popularly associated with. The song uses blending rock guitars and bluesy vocals with eastern elements like the use of tablas, raga-inspired melodies, traditional Pakistani folk music, and Eastern inspired poetry.

<i>Unplugged</i> (Mizraab album) 2012 live album by Mizraab

Unplugged is the third live album and overall the fifth album by the Pakistani progressive rock band, Mizraab, released in January 2012. It is exclusively a digital download live album, and has not been released on a physical medium. The album included recordings from the band's live performances at the V-Sel Outlet in April, 2011. The live performances were recorded for the television program MTV Pakistan Unplugged, but unfortunately the program never got aired on television.

<i>Aunty Disco Project</i> (album) 2007 studio album by Aunty Disco Project

Aunty Disco Project is the debut self-titled studio album of the Pakistani indie rock band Aunty Disco Project, released in December, 2007 independently at New Shadab Studios. The album achieved success as the band received wide acclaim and exposure alongside mainstream acts.

<i>Talaash</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Junoon

Talaash is the second studio album of the Pakistani sufi rock band Junoon, released on September 3, 1993. The album was to be their first with bassist Brian O'Connell, who joined the band after Nusrat Hussain departed from the band to pursue his career as a solo artist and released his debut album Amrit in 1992. This was also the first Junoon album produced by Salman Ahmad and O'Connell, both also went on releasing several other albums by Junoon before O'Connell left the band after Dewaar in 2003. The album also served as a soundtrack for the Pakistani television show Talaash, which featured the band and its novel storyline was based on the band.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Faraz Anwar – Interview Retrieved on March 16, 2011
  2. Akhtarzada, Ali (1 December 2007). "Give me fuel, give me fire, give me that which I desire". Daily Times (Pakistan) . Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  3. 1 2 Gartenstein-Ross, Daveed; Nick Grace (10 December 2007). "'The Bombs of Dhamma': Pakistan's pop music scene". The Weekly Standard. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  4. Husain, Rumana (17 March 2002). "Focal Point: The chained princess". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 13 July 2010.