strings

www.stringsonline.net

Strings is an internationally acclaimed Pakistani pop band comprising two members. The band was formed when four college students—Bilal Maqsood, Faisal Kapadia, Rafiq Wazir Ali and Kareem Bashir Bhoy—decided to form a band in 1988 in Karachi. In 1992, the quartet disbanded only to make a comeback with two of its members, Bilal and Faisal later in 2000. While the initial band was riding on the new wave of Pakistani pop music, the later formation ushered a new revival in the music industry of Pakistan.

Kapadia and Maqsood followed in the footsteps of Junoon and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and took their act across the border to India only to realise they already were a recognised band in the country as remixes of one of their earliest songs were played in clubs. As ambassadors for Pakistani pop music, the duo set out to conduct concerts all over the world thenceforth.

Acclaimed world over for their stringed rhythms, their songs are praised not only for being melodious but having a strong poetic sense to them. Penned by Anwar Maqsood, Bilal’s father, the lyrics of their songs always carry a deep meaning with them. Anwar has been writing lyrics for the band since its re-formation.

Where Kapadia is the lead vocalist for the band, Maqsood acts as the composer, guitarist and at times does vocals for a few songs. To play live at concerts, both the members have hired Adeel on the lead guitar, Shakir on the bass guitar, Haider on keyboards and Qaiser on drums, an entourage ensemble that travels with them to various international concerts at times.History
The initial quartet (1988 – 1992)

The late-1980s saw pop music in Pakistan grow by folds and newer artists began emerging on the scene. Shalimar Television Network (STN), the only channel in the country, other than Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), launched a show titled Music Channel Charts to highlight new talent. In Karachi however, things were shaping up rapidly and people idolising veteran singers like Nazia and Zoheb, Alamgir and Muhammad Ali Shehki were keen to ride the new wave of Pakistani pop music.

At the Government Commerce College in Karachi,[1] Maqsood, Kapadia, Rafiq and Kareem, four classmates formed a band. With influence from Maqsood’s father, the well-renowned Anwar Maqsood’s pen, the band performed songs on his lyrics. By the mid-1990, with help from Mansoor Bukhari, head of EMI Group in Pakistan, the band had come up with a self-titled album Strings under the EMI label.[1] Their initial effort experimenting with synthesized sounds and rhythms was not recognised instantly although it is reported that their first album sold 20,000 copies in its first week on sale.[1] The band however had other things on mind, and they fixated their focus on finishing their studies.

Maqsood joined an art school, while Kapadia travelled to the Houston, Texas to continue his business studies. Little is known of the other two members of the band but it is understood they continued their studies as well. The disbanding of the group came as a mutual decision amongst all the members. Two years later, the band members were to meet again and give their passion for music another try.
First breakthrough (early 1990s)

In 1990, the band came up with a follow-up album titled String 2. Maqsood realising that the band needed more exposure, advised that a music video be shot. He himself took charge of the direction of the video for the song, “Sar Kiye Yeh Pahaar� and handed it to the STN to be aired on their show. The video was played for a minute on the channel in their hour long show and with not many new videos from competing artists, Maqsood’s directorial début was an instant success. This decision proved beneficial and Sar Kiye Yeh Pahaar became a nation-wide hit overnight. In its most primitive form, the video and the song created a phenomenon in the local music industry and the band scored hits after another, played shows and enjoyed the lifestyle of the post-80s pop stars. The hype was short-lived and the quartet soon disappeared from the face of the Pakistani pop. Kapadia returned to USA while Maqsood got himself a job in an advertising agency as the creative director.[3]
Comeback and Duur (2000)

Strings’ third album Duur was an instant hit in India where their reputation preceded them.

It had almost been eight years since the band had last seen fame and their prolonged hibernation it seemed had erased the marks they had left on the music industry disappeared. Maqsood continued his work as a creative director at the advertising firm and had also involved Kapadia in the creative process as well. Kapadia served at marketing department for a production cell in the same company. Both had married and had children;[3] they had forsaken music for family lives still sharing a passion for it.

The year 2000 saw another shake in the Pakistani music industry and the duo saw an interest in joining the bandwag