GIG OUT!

Electrifying Isloo band Qayaas take centrestage in Karachi

  Shahzeb Shaikh
Karachi

Recently Islamabad-based rockers, the award-winning musical unit that calls itself Qayaas flew out to Karachi for their album launch show and created some serious rock ‘n’ roll magic. And Qayaas managed all this without the backing of a corporate sponsorship. The show, which was held at the Arts Council, was a pure DIY (do-it-yourself) effort from the band but despite this fact, there were no glitches as the show went off without a hitch.

And Qayaas had managed to pull in quite a crowd including music industry heavyweight (Coke Studio producer) Rohail Hyatt as well as Uth Records producer/drummer Louis J. Pinto aka Gumby, singing sisters Zoey and Rachel Viccaji, model/actress Rubya Chaudhry and fashion designer Munib Nawaz among others.

The gig kick-started with a laidback guitar jam with Khurram Waqar showing off his wizardry on the fret board. The jam led to Qayaas’ first heavy number ‘Shehrezade’. Considering the kind of response this song generated, it is safe to say that ‘Shehrezade’ is one of the band’s more popular numbers.

It also has the honour of winning the Best Rock Song award at IndieGo Awards 2012.

Coming back to the show, this tune set the mood for the night ahead.

Vocalist Umair Jaswal made his way to the stage amidst huge cheers from the crowd. The thunderous opening to ‘Shehrezade’ had the crowd going and its ending led into the intro of their progressive number ‘Inquilaab’ which was received equally well. This is a band that doesn’t shy away from being loud. They are a straight-up, unapologetic progressive rock band and that’s exactly what you see onstage and hear in their sound.  

After ‘Inquilaab’, vocalist Umair requested all head-bangers to form a mosh pit in front of the stage and they all obliged.

On ‘Halaak’, the crowd was singing the chorus along with the band. With ‘Ishq’, Umair Jaswal had the crowd swaying to their feet. Umair Jaswal is really energetic and charming onstage. He commands attention without trying too hard. And his energy translates to the crowd as was happening in this show.

And if there was one song that had everyone going, it was ‘Umeed’. The tune, which was released as a music video, instantly connected with the audience.

Qayaas then suddenly shifted gears and performed their rendition of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s ‘Charkha’ which they dedicated to all the classical and folk musicians of Pakistan.

On ‘Pukaar’, Sarmad Ghafoor stood out for his ability to switch from guitars to keyboards. With ‘Tanha’, the crowd got going again. ‘Tanha’ was the first single Qayaas released as a band and marked their beginning together.

Post-concert, Instep Today got hold of Qayaas songwriter and guitarist Khurram Waqar for a quick chat…

Instep Today: Fewer concerts take place due to security situation across Pakistan. What is your take on the situation?

Khurram Waqar: Either we do something about it or sit in our lounges and cry about it. We did this concert on our own and we will do more in the coming months.

Instep Today: How was it performing in Karachi?

Khurram Waqar: The atmosphere was electrifying and the entire crowd was fully involved. It was an amazing experience performing in Karachi. More avenues should be created for live music to flow. Right now it is limited to colleges and universities but it should be focused towards general public as well as they are desperate for some good live entertainment. All alternative forms of expression should be adopted by our corporations so that our people realize that there is more to music than the jingle based culture prevalent here that reflects highly on the released music. Qayaas did prove that with true and honest passion and with good and solid music, all these things take a back seat and it is music that rules.    

Instep Today: Now that you’ve performed in Karachi, has your perception changed about the law and order situation in the city?

Khurram Waqar: Anything can happen anywhere. You could be living in the safest city in the world but still get hit by a car. So what has to happen will happen. You just need to be focused on what you want to do.

Instep Today: What’s next on your agenda?

Khurram Waqar: We will be releasing one English song every month from now on. We also have Urdu songs under the table and they will also be making their way out soon.

– Photos by Kohi Marri

Foreign Editorial

NYFW 2012: Michael Kors’ gutsy modern glamour?

  Luke Leitch
The Telegraph

The smile that wreathed Michael Kors’ face on his triumphal post-show catwalk canter seemed even wider than usual. And no wonder: via an impeccably timed announcement today’s New York papers are full of Kors’ company’s confirmation as fashion’s newest stock market darling. Following an IPO of $25 per-share in December, Michael Kors Holdings Ltd hit $42.85 on Tuesday after it revealed a 68 per cent upsurge in revenue to £373.6 million in the last financial quarter.

So just how does a fashion company so comprehensively buck the recession? On the evidence of this morning’s socialite-strewn show, the answer is by ignoring it.

The dresses and wraps of modest-looking fringed blankets looked at first appeared monk-ish, but it turns out they were made from the aptly-named “cashgora” cashmere-angora mix. As befitting a company rolling out across the world as a “lifestyle brand” - not a mere womens clothiers - there were men on this catwalk too, in tartan army-check frock coat suits with bandolier belts and tasteful tweed overcoats in herringbone, and mohair pea-coats.

The womenswear was unrepentantly luxurious - recession, what recession? - and fur-heavy, from the borderline-Marc Jacobs-massive hats to the furry-tailed handbags to a departed prairie-full of coyote and fox-pelt coats.

The all-important flashes of flesh were sometimes overt - as in a tweedy cashmere twinset worn over biggish tweed knickers and some furry boots - and sometimes covert - in the prettily glittery pailette chemise dresses worn at the finale.

In his notes Kors said he was aiming for “rugged elegance”. There was lots of interplay between rough and delicate textures, as in a chunky, baggy off-white aran-knit jumper worn over an irregularly-hemmed wisp of a lace skirt sprinkled with golden beads.

Angelica Huston was amongst the shiny crowd, and said afterwards: “I loved it. It was classic Michael.”

StarBytes

Oliver Stone’s son converts to Islam

While Liam Neeson has been on the fence about converting to Islam since his recent trip to Turkey, another member of the Hollwyood community has beat him to the punch. Sean Stone, the son of acclaimed Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone, has become a Shiite Muslim while filming a documentary in Iran.

“The conversion to Islam is not abandoning Christianity or Judaism, which I was born with,” the Telegraph quoted him as saying. “It means I have accepted Mohammad and other prophets,” he said while where he underwent the ceremony in the central Iranian city of Isfahan. Stone was in Iran working on a documentary on the Sufi poet, Rumi and he has now taken the Muslim name Ali.

The Guardian notes the relationship between Hollywood and the stars that embrace religion, “In 2010 Julia Roberts announced her conversion to Hinduism in such a way as to suggest that making Eat Pray Love had sent her over. Later, Roberts became irritated at the association, insisting that her interest in Hindism pre-dated her involvement in Eat Pray Love. Richard Gere is a notable adherent of Buddhism and Madonna switched from her cradle Catholicism to Kabbalah in the late 1990s.

“Elizabeth Taylor converted to Judaism in 1959; there was industry gossip that playing a Jewish character in Ivanhoe had partly inspired her.” It’s not like only Hollywood stars take up religion but being in the public eye and the center of much media attention brings their conversion to light and speculation. Though there should be no reason to doubt their devotion to their chosen path.

Sean Stone has not disclosed why he converted, though his parents have had an interfaith marriage his father is Jewish, while his mother is Christian.

Deepika Padukone in trouble over Race 2

Deepika Padukone has proven herself to be one of the busiest and most successful actresses in Bollywood right now. The actress’ kitty is full of film roles and offers are still pouring in but she just may have bitten of more than she can chew and it could be because of her personal life.

Karan Johar is working on a film with Deepika and her ex-flame Ranbir Kapoor and this may be why she is defaulting on her shooting dates for Race 2 at least according to producer Rameesh Taurani who spoke to Times of India. Taurani also states on record that he has constantly shifted dates for Deepika and the Karan Johar film wasn’t the first incident. “I had Deepika’s dates for February 10 and 11, but she wanted to attend Rohit Dhawan’s wedding in Goa, so I accommodated her request,” claims Taurani.

The actress has put off meeting or even speaking to the director over the phone and production is at a stand still. He goes on to say, “The saddest part is that Deepika was supposed to meet me on January 27. At the last minute, she texted to say that she would not be coming but her manager would explain her concerns and ‘find a way for us to work together’. Deepika was in Mumbai from January 27 to January 31 but refused to answer my calls, reply to messages or meet me. In my 25 years in this industry, I have never been so disrespected by any actor and we have worked with the biggest and the best.”

The statement also says that Deepika has offered to pay the damages to the producer because she has been offered a big budget Hollywood production. Taurani has filed a complaint with CINTAA and Association of Motion Pictures & TV Programme Producer of India (AMPTPP ) against the actress. Deepika and Taurani have been told to reach an amicable solution by the association.

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This Just in

Move over, Jalebi Bai! Get out of the way, Sheila! Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, Munni! There is a new item in town, with the moves and the looks to make jaws drop, item boy John Abraham!

The buff actor and star of hits like Dostana is working on his debut as a producer. The actor will also do an item number for the film titled Vicky Donor. Abraham could open the flood gates to more hulky men trying to make it big in Bollywood with their looks alone. Not to say John isn’t a good actor, he was splendid in the film Jhootha Hi Sahi and has proved his mettle time and again as a model turned actor. Now as he jumps into the producers chair and becomes Bollywood’s first item boy!

Six Grammys later, Adele managed to shock everyone with her interview in US magazine Vogue. In the interview, Adele said she was taking “four or five years” off to be in love and happy. But the singer has now amended her statement.

The singer said she’s taking five days off after the Grammys before heading back to work.

“I’ve a few days off now, and then it’s the Brit Awards here at home and then I’m straight into the studio,” Adele wrote in a blog post yesterday.

“BOYYAHH! 5 years? More like 5 days!”

The star’s statement will no doubt soothe many fans who were worried after the British songstress told Vogue, “If I am constantly working, my relationships fail. So at least now I can have enough time to write a happy record.”

Adele also wrote in her blog post that she keeps “having flashbacks to Sunday night.”

“I am so overwhelmed, it’s the strangest feeling,” said Adele of being the big winner at the Grammy Awards. “I have constant butterflies and goosebumps, it’s wearing me out but I LOVE it!”

Rapper Chris Brown is the latest casualty of a false Twitter hoax. On Twitter, when fans began using the hashtag #RIPChrisBrown earlier this week, rumours quickly spread online. Following the news of his ‘death’, Brown tweeted fans: “DEAR MEDIA.. Ur plan is not working.. I’m not going anywhere so get used to me.”

The rapper who beat his then girlfriend Rihanna in 2009 before the Grammy ceremony returned this year to perform and then went on to win the Best R&B Album award in an appearance that has been treated by many as a comeback. Controversy has been sparked over whether or not Brown should have been allowed to attend to ceremony, let alone win an award. So Brown took to Twitter in anger over the backlash against his performance and acceptance of a Grammy Award at this year’s ceremony.

Brown initially responded to his haters with a tweet that read, “HATE ALL U WANT BECUZ I GOT A GRAMMY. Now! That’s the ultimate F*** Off.” The tweet has since been deleted.