Sunday, March 4, 2001		Article

JUST as India was abuzz with the visit of Stephen Hawking and his String Theory, a different kind of "string" had captured the imagination of the youth in Bombay, Delhi and Bangalore. It was the Karachi-based band, comprising Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia, also called Strings.

On a visit to India for the launch of their latest album, Duur, Maqsood and Kapadia are out to repeat the success of Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar, released eight years ago. Since then, they had released two more albums, but at the peak of their popularity, had broken up to pursue their studies.

"It was the singular success of Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar that established us in the Asian pop scene in 1993," narrates Maqsood, the lead guitarist. "We were on a high when we heard that not only in our country, but even in India and other Asian countries, the song was creating a storm."

Maqsood’s association with Kapadia goes back to 1989 when they met in college. Little did they realise that while casually jamming together, they would become so popular that everyone would want to hum their numbers. Two more members joined up and Strings was formally launched in 1992.

They stuck on for four years when academic concerns took precedence over cutting records and staging shows. The four members parted ways on the understanding that in three years, after completion of their studies, they would return to the band.

"But three years were never to end, as all of us got caught up in our own lives," says Kapadia who has been trained in Hindustani vocal music. He adds that when he met Maqsood and decided to relaunch the band last year, the other two stayed away. "I guess they had their personal reasons which we respect."

So now Strings is with half its complement, but sticking to the genre of music that it had created as a brand — pop rock. It is melody-based with strong incursions of rap, rock ‘n’ roll, jazz and folk for what the duo describes as "populist appeal".

"Even our lyrics are close to reality and we sing what we see around us," Kapadia points out, "all in all, our music is something that comes out from our heart naturally, it is pure and not purposely down as a gimmick or for the heck of it."

In Duur, the duo retained all the ingredients that has contributed to the success of their previous albums. The lyrics are simple and commonplace while the tunes hold a certain whiff of nostalgia — eminently hummable and easy to recall.

Indeed, after Junoon, another hugely popular band from Karachi, this is the first group from Pakistan that has completely taken India under its sway. Better still, the sons have received a wonderful press, which, the members believe shall help in the promotion of the album internationally.

Says Maqsood: "I feel now we have become more professional and thorough with our work, unlike in the past when we were into music because we were young, energetic and in college .... and like every other young man, were more inclined to pop music.

"Moreover, at that stage, we were not determined to make it our career, whereas now we know that music is the most important part of our lives. From the angle of our composition also, there is some maturity. We have drawn upon several ragas but desisted from using classical instruments."

Like other Pakistani artistes who visit India from time to time, the band members speak at length on the artificial boundary dividing India from Pakistan ("for petty political reasons") and why music cannot be bound by such restrictions.

"People love and respect Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in India as much as in Pakistan," argues Kapadia. "Similarly we over there love listening to Lucky Ali, Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan and Euphoria as much as the Indians do. So where’s the difference?"

Adds Maqsood: "Music knows no boundaries and a good medium for bringing people together, develop mutual respect and above all, celebrate one another’s happiness!" — MF