Latest news with #Meesha
Express Tribune
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Meesha Shafi drops cover art for her debut album
Meesha Shafi has revamped her Instagram account to gear up for the release of her debut album, Khilnay Ko. She announced this step in her musical journey on Instagram on Thursday with the album's cover art and a statement. "Khilnay Ko is a deeply introspective and therapeutic journey through the shadowed corridors of the human psyche," Meesha wrote. "This album is an exploration of isolation, otherism, mental health, abandonment, and the relentless tension between contrasting forces that shape our existence. Each track is a reflection of the internal battles that so many face along their healing journey but rarely speak of - feelings of displacement, loneliness, and the overwhelming weight of being." The album art features Meesha towards the edge of the frame, dressed in a black-and-white flared top, which is webbed with abstract print. The lower half of the top contains drops down her thighs, containing sketches of eyes and lips. The singer rocks the ensemble with a bob haircut, her facial features partially obscured by hard shadows. At large, the portrait is reminiscent of Baroque art, playing with varying levels of depth through chiaroscuro lighting. The building's margin almost slices the photo in two, separating Meesha and the rocky props she stands on from the structure's multiple archways. The narrowing frames of the archways elevate the sense of depth that the portrait eagerly asserts. Khilnay Ko arrives on streaming platforms on Friday, though fans can hardly wait. "Every bone in my body is aching to experience this!" gushed a user. "Finally! I've waited so long for this moment. Thank you so much for this gift," wrote another. The anticipation is well-placed as Meesha has been crooning her way through her musical journey. Previously, she sang for the OST of drama serial Jaisay Aapki Marzi. Before that, in 2022, she collaborated with brother Faris Shafi on the Coke Studio Season 14 track Muaziz Saarif. Written by Meesha and Faris, Muaziz Sarif was composed by the siblings alongside Xulfi, while Action Zain and Abdullah Siddiqui arranged the track and co-produced it with the Hum Zalmi hitmaker. Xulfi's idea of pairing the two was to create an "unusual track," as per the song's press release. Taking to his Instagram, Abdullah penned an appreciation post for the song. "This was a difficult song to make - here we have two explosive, wildly original artists at the top of their game, who sonically have absolutely nothing in common," he said. "And yet, [the song] is so cohesive in its own unique way. That's how we found our sonic common ground."
Express Tribune
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Meesha Shafi explores the old walled city
Meesha Shafi took a dip into cultural nostalgia in an Instagram carousel posted on Monday. "My stunning, storied, centuries-old city of Lahore," she wrote in the caption. In the photos, Meesha set out with a group of friends into the walled city's alleys, mosques, and other historical sites. For her adventures, she wore Carla Rockmore's quintessential neutral green tea sling bag over a deep blue kurti with a scatter of light patchwork and patterned wide-leg trousers with strappy sandals. She topped off the look with a choker fastening layered necklaces and tassel accessories. Followers in the comments section poured in compliments for Meesha, from her style to how she glowed in the city. Referencing a muted clip of the singer belting inside the Shahi Hammam, a user wrote, "Really need the audio to whatever you were singing at the Hammam. Petition to release the footage please." Many followers also shared the singer's love for the old city. "I long to visit Lahore one day and roam the same streets as my grandfather once did," a user wrote, while another said, "This side of Lahore has never ceased to mesmerise me. Only a couple of days ago, I went to the same restaurant, Bethak Sadequain. Every corner of this Bethak was to die for." Earlier, the Muaziz Saarif singer posted a reel compiling clips from her visit to the Bethak, where she and her friends sat around for a flute performance and enjoyed some tea, though she herself opted for coffee. Meesha's Instagram feed shows that she has an affinity for adventure. This January, she welcomed the new year with a beachy vacation. Sharing a video of her strolling by a shoreline, she cheekily wrote, "Life can be a beach, but the spelling has to be right."
Arab News
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Bands Seera and Garwasha flourish in Saudi Arabia's community-driven music scene
DHAHRAN: Two Saudi bands, Seera and Garwasha, are taking advantage of the flourishing underground music scene in the country by performing at local cultural hubs. While the big hitters such as the MDLBEAST-organized SOUNSTORM in Riyadh and Balad Beast in Jeddah draw the crowds — and international superstars — year on year, it is the beloved meeting spots in the country's urban hubs that have become stages for rising Saudi talents. One of those spots is Khobar's Bohemia Café & Records, where Seera and Garwasha played a packed out gig this past weekend. Long known as a cultural hub for music lovers, the meeting place played host to Seera, an all-women band formed in 2022 in Riyadh, who entertained the crowd with their unique sound. 'A lot of people are intrigued; they want to know what we sound like. They've been so supportive, honestly, especially people in the music scene. We've had a lot of help from people around. And there's the people who criticize, but that's just noise we block out,' Seera's Meesha told Arab News. Members of the band prefer to go by their first name. A post shared by (@seera_music) Merging Arabic melodies and rock, the band navigated complex musical landscapes, evoking a gothic energy that resonated with their listeners. Seera's set featured standout tracks 'Share3 Al Buhturi' and 'Al Fanaa.' Bassist Meesha shared the beginning of Seera's journey as a band, stating, "The singer is my sister, and we've always wanted to start a band together. I would post covers of myself on Instagram, and Haya, the guitarist, found me and said, 'You! I want to start a band with you.' We were all really excited; we wrote ten songs in one night." 'And then our missing link was the drummer, whom we met at a French music night she organized. The rest is history,' she later told Arab News. Following Seera's stirring performance, Garwasha took to the stage to showcase their new album, released in November 2024. This instrumental Alternative Fusion band, also hailing from Riyadh, is known for blending smooth, synthesizer-laden jazz with a robust Arabic flavor. A post shared by GARWASHA (@_garwasha_) Guitarist Mazen Lawand, who studied at Berklee College of Music, sub-keyboard player Fawaz Waleed, sub-bass player Saud Alsheikh, and drummer Hassan Alkhedher delivered a thrilling performance with tracks like 'Consolacao' and 'Batt Habibi.' 'I describe our music as a characterization of our experiences and influences,' Lawand explained. This sentiment was evident throughout their performance as they weaved together a tapestry of sounds that reflected their backgrounds and the rich culture of Saudi Arabia. As the night continued, one thing became clear; support for local musicians is ever-growing.
