Mekaal Hasan Band

Mekaal Hasan Band
Mekaal Hasan Band performing live in Karachi at the All Pakistan Music Conference in 2006.
Background information
Origin	Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Genres	Alternative rock, Sufi rock, Jazz
Years active	2001–present
Labels	EMI, MHB Music, Sadaf Stereo
Associated acts	Junoon, Zeb and Haniya, Noori, Entity Paradigm, Jal, Rubberband
Website	www.mekaalhasanband.com
Members
Mekaal Hasan Mohammad Ahsan Papu Asad Abbas Amir Azhar
Past members
Javed Bashir Riaz Ali Khan Sameer Ahmed

Mekaal Hasan Band, sometimes shortened to MHB, is a sufi rock band formed in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan in 1999 by composer-songwriter, guitarist Mekaal Hasan. With band members who each have roots in differing genres, including jazz, classical music, soul music, and sufi rock, the combination of each member has created a sound which has earned them fans from a variety of quarters.^[1]

The band achieved mainstream success with its debut album, Sampooran, released in 2004. Its following studio album, Saptak, released in 2010 continued the band's success. Mekaal Hasan Band is Pakistan’s most critically acclaimed act as well, winning numerous awards and nominations for it’s recordings, videos and live performances.

Despite being signed to both EMI and Sadaf Stereo, the band have their own record label, MHB Music, which they use to launch some independent releases and their albums.

History

Early years (1995-2004)

Songwriter Mekaal Hasan, born in Lahore, Pakistan, was surrounded by music since childhood. His father, Masood Hasan, passion for jazz music influenced him throughout his early years. After graduating from Government College, Lahore, Mekaal studied music at the Berklee College of Music, Boston and his stay there exposed him to a wide variety of music and musicians, many of whom are influences to this day.^[1]

He returned to Pakistan in 1995, before he could complete his degree at Berklee, and set up a state of the art recording facility, Digital Fidelity Studios. Mekaal's own playing skills and his instrumental record 'Square One' was impressive enough to get the attention of jazz legend Billy Cobham who flew down to Lahore, Pakistan, in 2000 to co produce and play on 'Square One'. From 1997-2000 Mekaal was in touch with many of the UK's leading musicians such as Mike Mondesir, Mark Mondesir, Zoe Rahman, and Pete Lockett and a 2001 British Council tour which featured Mekaal writing for Pete Locekett's South Indian drumming and percussion saw the inception of Mekaal Hasan Band.

In March 2001, Mekaal collaborated with Pete Lockett in a series of concerts countrywide featuring music written for Pete and classical artists by Mekaal. Pete Lockett has been featured on tour and on records by Peter Gabriel, Björk, Robert Plant, Simply Red, Afro-Celt Sound System and many others as well as on Hollywood movies such as the two James Bond movies, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, as well as The Bone Collector and City of Angels. The music played in these concerts was a unique experience for all as this was the first time in the history of performances in Pakistan, that material written by a Pakistani musician for foreign artists was used. Following the artistic and public acclaim that the music received, Mekaal decided to continue writing music which would feature different classical and experimental artists who could contribute to the progressive and bold nature of the music that Mekaal Hasan Band play which is a fusion between the melodic sensibility of the East and the harmonic sophistication of the West.

The lead singer of The Mekaal Hasan Band, Javed Bashir, and flutist Papu are part of the older community of classically trained musicians living in Lahore. Many of them have been relegated to playing backup for the country's glossy pop stars. Hasan reversed that arrangement and brought those musicians to the forefront and formed the band.^[1] They released their debut album, Sampooran, in 2004.

Sampooran (2004-2008)

Mekaal Hasan Band released their debut album, "Sampooran", in 2004 by EMI/Virgin Records. The album based mostly on classical music and was recorded at Mekaal Hasan's own studio, Digital Fidelity Studios, in Lahore. The album featuring the artistry of artists from Pakistan and abroad, with stunning performances by the UK's Pete Lockett on drums and multipercussion along with bass sensation Michael Mondesir. Pakistan's own drum legend, John Luis "Gumby" Pinto, makes his mark as guest artist on the opening four tracks on the record.

The band has toured extensively since the launch of their album "Sampooran" including an extremely well received tour of India. Mekaal Hasan's compositions and feel for the guitar has constantly earned critical praise and recognition. Initially the public's response was underwhelming. In a fledgling music scene such as Pakistan's, the public has found it hard to understand the artistry of a jazz fusion (although Mekaal Hasan refers to it as "world music") album such as "Sampooran".

The songs themselves are classic poetry pieces set to Mekaal's compositions, and as such are lacking the catchy beats and simple lyrics that are the hallmark of Pakistani-pop. However, the songs have a haunting beauty, immaculate composition and structure, and address topics that are both diverse and thought-provoking but that has changed with the release of MHB's new single "Jhok Ranjhan" which is the first single from the band's second album titled "Saptak". The video for "Raba" was a social commentary on a scale rarely found in Pakistani videos. Having garnered a cult following, the band finds itself breaking into the mainstream with the success of "Jhok Ranjhan", which spent over 4 weeks at the number 1 slot on the national charts.

Saptak (2009-2010)

Mekaal Hasan Band, released their second album in October, 2009. They also released their video of a single "Chal Bulleya" on 2 October 2009.

On 3 February 2010, Javed Bashir(Vocals) decided to part ways after working along with the band for 8 years. On 26 December, in an online poll by Dawn News the band's video for their single, "Chal Bulleya", was voted as the best music video of 2010.^[2]

Discography

Studio albums

• Sampooran (2004)
• Saptak (2009)

Band members

Current

• Mekaal Hasan – lead guitar (2001–present)
• Asad Abbas – lead vocals (2010–present)
• Mohammad Ahsan Papu – flute (2001–present)
• Amir Azhar – bass (2009–present)

Former

• Javed Bashir – lead vocals (2002–2010)
• Riaz Ali Khan – lead vocals (2001–2002)
• Sameer Ahmed – bass guitar (2001–2009)

Awards and nominations

• Debut single "Raba" nominated for "Best Alternative Track" at the 1st Indus Music Awards, 2004.
• "Sajan", the band’s 2nd single, nominated for and won "Best Alternative Track" at the 2nd Indus Music Awards, 2005 .
• MHB’s Debut Record "Sampooran" nominated for Best Album at the 2nd Indus Music Awards, 2005.
• "Jhok Ranjhan", MHB’s new single from their 2nd record "Andholan" nominated for and won "Best Composition" at the 3rd Indus Music Awards, 2006.
• "Jhok Ranjhan" also nominated for "Best Alternative Track" at the 3rd Indus Music Awards, 2006.
• MHB nominated for and won "Best Live Act" at the prestigious 4th Lux Style Awards, 2005.
• MHB also nominated for "Best Album" at the 4th Lux Style Awards, 2005.
• MHB nominated for "Best Live Act" at the 5th Lux Style Awards, 2006.
• MHB nominated for and won "Best Live Act" at The 1st The Musik Awards, 2006.
• MHB also nominated for "Best Rock Song", "Most Wanted Band", "Most Wanted Song" and the following members and session musicians from MHB were nominated for:
  • Best Keyboardist: Farhan Albert
  • Best Guitarist, Best Bassist: Mekaal Hasan
  • Best Drummer: J.L.Pinto
• MHB nominated for and won "Best Live Act" at the 6th Lux Style Awards, 2007

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Mekaal Hasan – Interview Retrieved on November 06, 2009
2. ^ Opinion Poll: Who ruled 2010? Retrieved on 30 December 2010.

External links

• Official Website