The kind folks at Beehype, who collect the best music from across the world, reached out to us to help them find the best music videos from 2023. I suggested Hasan Raheem’s Nautanki:
The Pakistani music industry changed on its head post 2020. This was a result of Covid and a number of other intersecting factors. From this transition hundreds of new artists have emerged, but a handful have reached the star power and reach comparable to generational stars of the past. Leading the charge in the RnB/pop-rap scene is Hasan Raheem.
Bringing together his roots in Gilgit and the urban speed of Karachi, Hasan’s music has a distinctly forward-looking tilt. He switches between languages fluidly. The melodies are simple, but effortless. After 2 years of climbing the charts, this song is the title track from his debut album “Nautanki”. Understandably, it is a statement of intent. The scale and daring nature of the production does not represent an upstart, but a star laying claim to an industry he has in some ways begun to conquer.
The video is conceptualized by FTWA Studio, a team of talented Karachi artists who frequently collaborate with Hasan on his music and his videos. Post production is conducted by Studio Rokhan, arguably the most notable special effects and post-production studio in the game at the moment. Together, they produce a video that sets the bar for this new era of Pakistani pop.