mad Ali Shehki were eager to hear the new wave of Pakistani pop music. In 1988, at the Government College of Commerce & Economics in Karachi, four classmates (Bilal Maqsood, Faisal Kapadia, Rafiq Wazir Ali and Kareem Bashir Bhoy) formed a band.[3] They called themselves Strings after the host of their college farewell party asked for their name while they were being announced on stage.[3] The band played songs with lyrics influenced by Maqsood's father, Anwar Maqsood. In 1990, with help from Mansoor Bukhari (head of the EMI Group in Pakistan), the band released Strings on EMI. Breakup (1992)
In 1992 the band and the Shalimar Recording Company released a follow-up album, 2. Maqsood, realising that Strings needed more exposure, directed a video for "Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar". It was played on STN during their hour-long show; with little competition Maqsood's directorial début was a success, making the song a nationwide hit. The band had a string of hits, touring and enjoying the lifestyle of post-1980s pop stars. However, their fame was short-lived and the quartet broke up.[4] Soon afterwards, though, their "Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar" video aired on MTV Asia and sparked international fame.[5]
After Strings disbanded, Maqsood attended art school and later became a creative director at an advertising agency. Kapadia went to Houston, Texas to continue his business studies;[3][4] Ali and Bhoy continued their education as well. Comeback (1999–2002)
Album cover, with two men photographed in half-light
Strings' third album, Duur was a hit in India (where their reputation preceded them). In the nearly eight years since Strings were famous, their reputation had faded. Bilal Maqsood continued his work as creative director at an advertising firm, involving Kapadia in the creative process as well; the latter worked in the marketing department of a production unit in the same company. Both had married and were fathers.[4] Although they had given up music, they still loved it. The new millennium saw another shakeup in the Pakistani music industry and they were interested in participating. Since Ali and Bhoy were unavailable,[4] Maqsood and Kapadia decided to re-form Strings by themselves; this meant giving up their day jobs. They recorded "Duur", asking their friend Jamshed (Jami) Mehmood to direct a video. However, Pakistan banned Indian television channels on its cable network. Non-government television networks filled the void, and new music channels were introduced in the country. The video for "Duur" was distributed to all stations, and its success marked the band's comeback. Although Strings were successful in Pakistan, they were unaware that a remixed version of "Sar Kiye Yeh Pahaar" was being played in Indian clubs and had established their reputation.[6] When their new video was played on Indian music channels, "Duur" became a hit across the border.[6] In January 2002 they reissued Duur on the Magnasound label, which had launched pop stars Baba Sehgal and Remo Fernandes. Revival (2003–2006)
The realization that Pakistani pop music had a cult following in India encouraged its artists, and local Pakistani music channels hosted collaborations with their Indian counterparts. Strings played with bands such as the New Delhi-based Euphoria. Samsung invited Strings to collaborate with Euphoria; they recorded "Jheet Lo Dil", Strings' cross-border breakthrough.[7] The hit became the official song for the Indian cricket team's tour of Pakistan.[8] After the success of their third album and "Jheet Lo Dil", Strings toured India with Channel V. The band were warmly received by Indian audiences, and lined up singers Hariharan and Sagarika for their fourth album.[8][9]
Strings appeared on Channel V's television show Jammin, performing "Pal" from their upcoming fourth album with Sagarika. The song was written and recorded in audio and video over a three-day period. The band then recorded the single "Bolo Bolo", later re-recording the track with Hariharan.[8] Both collaborations were eagerly awaited and critically acclaimed. Strings played an unplugged set at the Hard Rock Cafe in Dubai,[8] which added to their fame beyond the subcontinent. The band were approached by Columbia Records, who released their fourth album (Dhaani) on 1 September 2003. In June 2004 Strings released the music video of the title track, "Dhaani", directed by Jamshed Mehmood.[10] The band were then approached by Columbia TriStar Films of India, a sister company of their record label, to include their next single ("Najane Kyun") on the soundtrack of the Hindi version of the Hollywood blockbuster Spider-Man 2.[11][12]
In May 2005 Strings released the music video of "Kahani Mohabat Ki", directed by Umar Anwar.[13] The single was a success, receiving positive reviews from critics. With their subcontinental success, the band won the Favorite Artist India award at the MTV Asia Awards 2005.[14] Strings were approached by director Sanjay Gupta, who was shooting Zinda (a remake of the South Korean film Oldboy), for a song for its soundtrack. Bilal Maqsood composed "Zinda Hoon" (with lyrics by his father, Anwar) for the film. The duo acted with (and befriended) two Bollywood A-list actors, John Abraham and Sanjay Dutt, with whom they later worked. In July 2006, Strings were nominated for Most Wanted Band and won the Motorola Music Icon award at the 2006 The Musik Awards. "Zinda Hoon" was nominated for the Most Wanted Song and Best Pop Song awards.[15] On 28 September 2006 the band released "Beirut", an anti-war video.[16]
Success (2007–2010)
On 8 May 2007 Strings released "Aakhri Alvida" on the soundtrack of Shootout at Lokhandwala, a Bollywood film directed by Apoorva Lakhia. On 1 November, they released the single "Hum Hee Hum" and its music video from their fifth album. Also in late 2007, Strings signed an agreement with the Gibson Guitar Corporation; they and the Pakistani rock band Jal were the first South Asian bands to have a working relationship with the guitar manufacturer.[17] It was reported that as part of the agreement, Strings would use Gibson guitars exclusively for concerts, recordings and music videos. In return, Gibson would provide concert venues and required equipment.On 16 May 2008 Strings released their fifth album, Koi Aanay Wala Hai, on Fire Records in Pakistan and Sony BMG internationally. The album, co-produced by Bollywood actor John Abraham, topped the charts in Pakistan and India and included songs from the soundtracks of the Bollywood films Shootout at Lokhandwala and Zinda. On 19 May the band released the album's title track, "Koi Aanay Wala Hai", featured John Abraham. On 24 June Strings released a music video for "Humsafar", directed by Jami Mehmood and filmed in Moscow. This was followed by a performance on the debut season of the musical television programme Coke Studio, which also showcased Pakistani artists and musicians Ali Azmat, Mauj, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Ali Zafar.[18] During the second episode of Coke Studio, aired on 29 June, Strings performed their singles "Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar", "Anjane", "Zinda Hoon" and a duet on "Duur" with Ustaad Hussain Bakhsh Gullo. In August 2011 they again appeared on the show, performing "Dhaani" with Gullo. On 9 October Strings released another single, "Jago", with an accompanying music video. The band's success in Coke Studio's first season led them to an appearance on the show's second-season finale, airing on Pakistan's Independence Day (14 August 2009), in which they performed "Titliyan".[19] In November Strings released the "Titliyan" music video, which did well on local music charts.In June 2010 Strings signed a one-year partnership with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways as its brand ambassadors, promoting Pakistan in the global market with the band’s music.[22] Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer for Etihad Airways, said he was "looking forward to witnessing how the Etihad brand name reached across the world through the music of Strings." Vocalist Faisal Kapadia said, "It is not only about free air tickets. We needed something like this to promote the true image of Pakistan. We want to do concerts internationally, but it is very expensive. This deal will help to overcome that".[23]
On 5 June, Strings and Arshad Mehmood judged the National Song Competition for national awareness initiative Azme Alishan. The primary aim of the movement is to revive the spirit of nationhood and community in Pakistan, highlighting the country's young musical talent. The competition was televised worldwide throughout the summer, with the winner announced on 14 August. Other guest judges were former Vital Signs member Shahzad Hassan, singer Najam Sheraz and Khalid Khan from the band Aaroh. On 16 July 2010 Strings released their single "Ab Khud Kuch Karna Paray Ga", featuring former Jal lead vocalist Atif Aslam.[24] In October Strings, in collaboration with Emirates International Mobile Humanitarian Hospital for Children, distributed over 500 gift packs to children displaced by the 2010 Pakistan floods who were living in the Sujawal relief camp.[25]
