2AM

Editor’s note: First piece from friend of show Qindeel Ishtiaq, who I’m extremely please to have writing for Hamnawa. Qindeel added the following note to this piece: “I recognize the boycott of Coke as an act of solidarity in line with the larger BDS movement. This piece is taking an insight into the journey of the artists who worked on this song.“

The two artists in 2 AM are eclectic and delightful. Looking into what makes them who they are has been a fascinating journey.

In his 2019 song “Okara wala”, Star Shah establishes his connection to where he’s from:

Na mein Karachi ton, na mein Lahori, na Faisalabadi
Janab-e-wala mein Okaray wala 

He signs off at the end of the song, as “Star Shah – Punjabi Poet”. More than anything, seeing more of Star Shah indicates how comfortable he is in his own skin.

There’s a 2017 video of Star Shah ’s being interviewed in a blurry 2-minute clip on the UMT campus. When asked for his name, Star Shah breaks into verse about how people keep asking for his real identity. Even in the Coke Studio behind the scenes video for 2AM – Xulfi points out that he still doesn’t know Star Shah’s real name. 

There is a confidence with which Star Shah reflects on his path. In this same 2017 interview, he’s asked: “How do you feel about being known?”. He replies without missing a beat: “Ji Alhamdullilah, mein kabhi unknown hota tha ab well known hoon”.

A shot during the 2AM BTS video adds further color to Star Shah’s groundedness. He stands next to a river in Okara, talking about singing without abandon at this river’s banks. Perhaps that was enough to confuse the passersby on the other side of the river who became his involuntary audience. 

Zeeshan Ali is well established in Pakistan’s entertainment scene. I was more familiar with his career, having listened to his ghazal and qawwali renditions. He starred in Nescafé Basement, another corporate show specifically built around younger, less-known musicians. Xulfi was the producer there also. He then went viral for his rendition of Nusrat’s Saadgi. One would expect that the hip hop of Star Shah would be more mainstream than Zeeshan Ali’s classical singing, but the reality is the other way round. Today, Zeeshan Ali hosts a podcast, and high profile interviews such as this hour-long sit down with fashion magazine Fuchsia. It is clear from following Zeeshan Ali that being propelled into the mainstream is not just about one hit.  Zeeshan Ali has been at it for years since he attended Punjab College and contributed to the campus music scene.

2AM puts together both musicians into a single recording. We learn in the BTS that these are two independently created songs that are stitched together, rather than a new composition built with two voices in mind. Xulfi played Star Shah’s demo, recorded about 6 years before the 2AM project begins, for Zeeshan Ali. Upon hearing this, Zeeshan Ali spontaneously began humming a song he had written, also about 6 years prior to this moment. This seemingly spiritual coincidence, and a loose thematic relevance to the words in both songs, becomes the reason that Star Shah and Zeeshan Ali are brought together on 2AM.

Why is the song called 2AM? Because that is the time of day, according to Coke Studio’s narrative, at which thoughts of nihilism hit a man’s mind. The song was subsequently also released at 2 am on a Saturday morning. 

The message resonates because the words are simple, and the vocals are powerful. I did however, find that the two parts of the song felt that they existed in their own worlds, giving the feeling that the pacing of the piece overall was a bit slow. This is perhaps explained by the background of how the song was constructed as two independent pieces. It would have been interesting to see a more intricate layering of Star Shah and Zeeshan Ali’s parts in the song.

When summarizing my feelings overall, I am taken back to that first Star Shah interview. Even then, you get the impression that Star Shah bets on himself, and after this, perhaps we can put our faith in these two as well.