Noori

For the name, see Nuri (name).

Noori
Noori performing live at LUMS in Lahore in 2007. Visible from left to right are; Ali Noor and Ali Hamza.
Background information
Origin	Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Genres	Alternative rock, Pop rock
Years active	1996–present (on hiatus from 2006-08)
Labels	Sadaf Stereo
Associated acts	co-VEN, Junoon, Zeb and Haniya, Overload, Aaroh
Website	www.nooriworld.net
Members
Ali Noor Ali Hamza Muhammad Ali Jafri John Louis Pinto
Past members
Salman Albert Farhad Humayun Murtaza Jaffar

Noori (Urdu: نوری, literal English translation: "light") is a rock band from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, formed in 1996. The band is directed by founder, lead guitarist and songwriter, Ali Noor, and his brother, Ali Hamza, who were soon joined by bassist Muhammad Ali Jafri and drummer Salman Albert. Noori is considered as one of the pioneering forces behind what is dubbed as the '21st Century Pop Revolution of Pakistan'.

Pioneers of the mainstream Pakistani rock music, although initially the band was formed by the two brothers, Ali Noor and Ali Hamza, the latter left the band for a short while to continue his studies at LUMS. However, Ali Noor and Muhammad Ali Jafri continued playing for the band and recruited drummer Salman Albert. Soon afterwards, Albert parted ways and was replaced by Farhad Humayun. After releasing the music videos of the singles "Jana Tha Humne" and "Tum Hans Diyay", Humayun also left the band and was replaced by John L. Pinto. By this time, the band also recruited guitarist, Murtaza Jaffar and started working on their debut album but just before the final recordings of the album, Jaffar left the band to pursue his own personal interests. And then, Ali Hamza rejoined the band and Noori took the shape of a four member band. Noori then went on releasing their debut album, Suno Ke Main Hun Jawan, in 2003. After two years, the band went on recording and releasing their the critically acclaimed second album Peeli Patti Aur Raja Jani Ki Gol Dunya (2005), after which bassist, Ali Jafri left the band and started his own business. In 2006, drummer Louis J. Pinto, also left the band, as he was busy doing side projects with other bands as a session player, apart from the blood brothers, Ali Noor and Ali Hamza. The band then called for two year hiatus and then made their comeback into the music scene in 2008 by releasing their first ever song written "Do Dil".

In 2009, the band went on performing at Coke Studio second season, also performing at the third season in the following year. The band then started working on their third studio album. In 2011, John L. Pinto and Muhammad Ali Jafri rejoined the band, and Noori reunited to it’s original four-man line up; as it was at the launch of their debut album.

History

Early years (1998-2002)

The name of the band, Noori, is not derived from Ali Noor, lead vocalist and guitarist. Noori is a Persian word which means “light” and the concept behind the band was the light which shows you things with a different perspective. Noori’s songs are about young people.

Noori started 7 years before their first album "Suno Ke Main Hun Jawan" which came in 2003. Before Noori, Ali Noor and Muhammad Ali Jaffri worked with co-VEN and released an EP called “Not in your world”. Noori has been famous for their live acts and they performed their very first concert in 1998, at Sacred Heart School, Lahore. Their second album was released in 2005.

Mainstream success (2002-2005)

Noori's debut album, "Suno Ke Main Hun Jawan" had developed a cult following before the album's release in 2003 through leaks on the internet. "Suno Ke Main Hun Jawan" offers a complicated mix of sounds, starting from a folk-like "Manwa Re" that was actually written for a Pakistani film, to hard rock anthems to youth like the title track. Noori’s debut album created whirlwinds across the Urdu speaking community all over the world. A first of its kind, it introduced the genre of pop rock music to the Pakistani mainstream. In addition the album was also a departure from the beaten track of chummy love songs and focused instead on inspiring the youth of Pakistan to take up the responsibility of doing something worthwhile for themselves and others. Thematically with songs urging listeners to change the world, that life is beautiful and professing women empowerment. Their album was about youth, their innocence, their dreams and how they feel about life. After their album release in 2003, they performed a duet, Nayan Jahan, with Anaida which was a success.^[1]

Their second album was a follow up on where "Suno Ke Main Hun Jawan" left off. It talks about what happens when the ever so energetic and hopeful youth grows up and faces the realities of the world. The discontentment and suffering which arises in this growing up, creates an indifferent and self-centered individual, who finds escape routes in things like drugs and other short-lived pleasures. Noori's second album, "Peeli Patti Aur Raja Jani Ki Gol Dunya", on the other hand, starts off in a somewhat hopeful mood and then travels through bitter experiences and ends up with resigned despair, peppered with taunts.The album deals with a variety of subjects ranging from the problems and consequences of drug use to the collective apathy we all have descended into as individuals and as a society.^[2] Over a span of 6 years the band has put out two albums, they have performed over 400 concerts, self-produced 10 music videos and won 3 major music awards.

Recent years (2005-present)

In 2005 Muhammad Ali Jafri, who was playing bass guitar for Noori, left the band and started his own business. In 2006, Noori parted ways with John Louis Pinto (aka ‘Gumby’), the band's drummer, as he was busy doing side projects with other bands as a session player, and unable to give much time to Noori. For now on Noori has two band members and they are both blood brothers, Ali Noor and Ali Hamza.

In 2008, after a hiatus of almost 2 years Noori came back with their new single "Do Dil". It is the first song ever composed by the band. In fact it is this song after which the brothers decided to start the band. The video is directed by Mandana Zaidi. It begins with the actual footage from 1996, of the first attempt to record the song. The video has clips of some of those that have been a part of the Noori's journey in one way or the other.

In 2009, they performed at the Coke Studio Sessions along with artists like Atif Aslam, Zeb and Haniya, Ali Zafar, Saeen Zahoor and many other successful musicians.^[3] They performed a duet with Saeen Zahoor, "Aik Alif", a sufi rock song which was huge success.^[4][5] They also performed in the third episode of Coke Studio Sessions with their song "Jo Meray" which was performed in the format as it was originally composed by Ali Hamza in 2000.^[6][7] They performed "Sari Raat Jaga" on the fourth Coke Studio Session.^[8] On 14 August 2009, Noori performed "Kedaar" from their upcoming album at the last Coke Studio Session.^[9]

On May 15, 2010, the lineup for Coke Studio confirmed that Noori will feature in the third season along with many well known artists and bands like Entity Paradigm, Aunty Disco Project, Karavan, Abida Parveen and many other successful musicians.^[10] On June 20, 2010, Noori performed a duet "Tann Dolay" with Zeb & Haniya at Coke Studio third season the second session, 'Will'. On July 10, 2010, Noori released the studio version of the single "Tann Dolay" which also featured Zeb & Haniya. On July 18, 2010, Ali Noor and Ali Hamza did a live interview with Abdul Rauf and Maria Memon the weekly morning show, 'Geo Pakistan', on Geo News. On July 26, 2010, the Noori brothers did a collaboration at the fourth Coke Studio session 'Form' for the song "Hor Vi Neevan Ho" with their mother, Noor Zehra Kazim, an accomplished player of the Sagar Veena, an instrument developed by her father, Raza Kazim at the Sanjan Nagar Institute for Philosophy and Arts.^[11]

Currently, Noori is working on their third album and that album is going to be out in September 2010. Noorie has contributed their famous song with Saieen Zahoor for the latest BBC production "West is West" starring Om Puri. The Film is a sequel of now cult film, East is East made ten years ago by the same team.

On February 14, 2011, Noori performed a live cover of Vital Signs song "Teray Liye" through their video blog for their fans on Valentines Day. On May 6, John Louis Pinto and Muhammad Ali Jafri officially made their return back to the band after performing in Karachi at a concert with the other two members of the band.

Discography

Studio albums

• Suno Ke Main Hun Jawan (2003)
• Peeli Patti Aur Raja Jani Ki Gol Dunya (2005)

Band members

Current members

• Ali Noor - vocals, backing vocals, lead guitar (1996–present)
• Ali Hamza - vocals, backing vocals, rhythm guitar (1996–present)
• Muhammad Ali Jafri - bass guitar (1996–2005, 2011–present)
• John Louis 'Gumby' Pinto - drums (2003–2006, 2011–present)

Former members

• Salman Albert – drums, backing vocals (1996–1999)
• Farhad Humayun – drums (2000–2002)
• Murtaza Jaffar – rhythm guitar (2003)

Awards

• Noori won the Award for the Best Rock Song for "Do Dil" at MTV Music Awards in 2009.
• Noori was selected as "Picked Artist Of The Month" on the Pakistani music channel called "The Musik" in June 2006.
• Noori has won the Best Rock Song Category Award for "Nishaan" in Indus Music Awards 2006.

References

1. ^ nooriworld.net Suno Ke Mein Hun Jawan Review Retrieved July 14, 2009
2. ^ nooriworld.net Peeli Patti Aur Raja Jani Ki Gol Dunya Review Retrieved July 14, 2009
3. ^ Noori at Coke Studio Retrieved July 14, 2009
4. ^ Coke Studio Aik Alif Video Retrieved July 14, 2009
5. ^ Aik Alif Review Retrieved July 14, 2009
6. ^ nooriworld.net Jo Meray Review Retrieved July 14, 2009
7. ^ Jo Meray Video Retrieved July 14, 2009
8. ^ Coke Studio Saari Raat Jaga Video Retrieved on July 26, 2009.
9. ^ Kedaar Video Retrieved on August 15, 2009
10. ^ Lineup of Coke Studio Season 3 (Complete) Retrieved on May 16, 2010.
11. ^ Episode 4 Form Retrieved on August 01, 2010.

External links

• Official Website