It is intense, it is real serious live music, it is a platform where some of the best Pakistani music artists are showcasing their talents in a thoroughly professional manner, it is the fusion between rich Pakistani traditional/folk music and the ever flourishing pop rock in Pakistan, it is a place where we experience the raw, live studio sessions without any alterations.

It is a place where the modern vocalists are not jumping up and down shouting “come on put your hands in the air”, they are not in “concert mode”, they are focused on delivering serious and scintillating live music performances, the folk singers are showing their skills with ease and complimenting the modern music.

Welcome to the Coke Studio something which sure is destined to take Pakistani music to new heights. Of course, you can expect that when you have the rock legend Ali Azmat (of Junoon) and classical maestro Rahat Fateh Ali Khan sharing the stage (or studio in this case) and singing songs like Garaj Baras, and Balma (from Ali Azmat’s upcoming album) together, when you have the wonder boy Gumby on the drums and talented lead guitarist Omran performing, and when you come to know that this is concept is implemented by Rohail Hayat (of Vital Signs) you can rest be assured that the project will be a success.

So far following artists have performed in pairs

Ali Azmat (of Junoon) and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan,

Ali Zafar and Tufail Ahmed (folk singer),

Strings and Ustad Hussain Bakhsh Gullu (folk singer)

There have been some excellent performances in all three episodes, Ali Zafar and Tufail Ahmed’s duet of sufi poetry “Allah Hu” is a marvellous spiritual experience. Ali Zafar is a talented vocalist, he has that Prince of Pop tag associated with him, one always thought that he has the capabilities to sing light pop songs like Masti, Chal Dil Mere, Channo etc. but in this performance he has surprised us all and proved that he can almost excel at singing Sufi poetry too.

Apart from this, Ali Azmat and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan duet Balma is also wonderfully performed song, with Ali Azmat singing this semi-classical tune in his own unique style, the guitar solo by Omran is great and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is always dependable, and as always, he does a brilliant job. Garaj Baras is energetic,electrifying, breathtaking, and mesmerizing, both the vocalists are at their best, with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan adding the classical touch.

As far as the performances of Strings and Ustad H.B. Gullu are concerned, Duur is indisputably the best.

The eastern melody which resides at the heart of the original version of this song, has been brought to fore in this version with the song starting off in a classical fashion and Faisal Kapadia later taking over and doing a wonderful job. The alaaps by Ustad Gullu take this song to new heights.

Bilal Maqsood does a commendable job with the Eastern Rhythm version of the famous ‘Sar Kiay Yeh Pahar’

Overall, It is a refreshingly interesting concept implemented professionally. A job very well done.