From creating a new music ecosystem to a needlessly unprofessional interview with an actress and the backlash that followed and a beautiful art exhibit, here are the stories that made news this week.
Humnava’s first season unfolds with ‘Hairan Amanam’ and ‘Noor-e-Nazar’
There are music projects, and then there are music ecosystems. Humnava feels closer to the latter. Set against the sweeping, almost surreal landscape of the Hunza Valley, the platform has begun rolling out its debut season with two releases that feel distinct yet deeply connected, ‘Hairan Amanam’ and ‘Noor-e-Nazar’. Together, they hint at something more layered than a typical release cycle. This is less about dropping singles and more about building an ongoing conversation between cultures.
Co-founded by producer Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan, better known as Xulfi, and Muhammad Ibrahim, Humnava presents itself as a global music and art platform that is rooted in Pakistan but not limited by it. The idea is straightforward but ambitious: bring artists from different parts of the world into the same physical space and see what unfolds when collaboration is experienced together in person rather than exchanged digitally.
Season 1 took shape in Hunza as a residency-style music camp, where more than 30 musicians from Pakistan, France, Germany, Algeria, Zambia and the Hunza region came together to live, work and record. The location is not just a scenic choice. Hunza is woven into the process, influencing tone, rhythm and even moments of silence. In an industry that often relies on remote production and file sharing, this approach feels quietly but meaningfully different.
The first release, ‘Hairan Amanam’, captures that intent without over-explaining it. Sung in Burushaski and translating to ‘I am in awe’, the track leans into an emotional immediacy that feels both intimate and expansive. Featuring young vocalists Rizwan Abbas and Maheen Sattar and produced by Xulfi, the song brings together musicians from Germany, Algeria and Pakistan, including Bakrin Timlfati, Amine Laroug and Dorian Jonas Goetsh. What stands out is not only technical skill but restraint, the way the rubab, flutes, guitars and synth textures are allowed to breathe around each other rather than compete. There is a sense that every element knows when to step forward and when to hold back, allowing the song to carry multiple cultures at once.
If ‘Hairan Amanam’ is about awe and discovery, the second single ‘Noor-e-Nazar’ moves in a more introspective direction. Where the first track opens outward, this one settles in, shifting from exploration to emotional detail. It feels like a love song, something quietly observed.
Recorded live at Gulmit Old House in Hunza Nagar, ‘Noor-e-Nazar’ is rooted in Urdu but shaped by local traditions. One of its key inspirations is a marriage ritual in which a couple makes roti together on their first day, marking the beginning of their shared life. It is a simple act, but it carries a deeper meaning, suggesting partnership as something built together through effort and care. That idea runs gently through the song.
Reflecting on the inspiration behind the song, Xulfi noted, “When we had just started working on Humnava, and we knew Hunza was going to be the first chapter, we were researching to find out more about the magical place. During that quest, we found out about the beautiful ritual where the newly wed couple in Hunza, on the first day together, mark the beginning of their journey by making a roti together. For the locals there, it was a norm, but for me, this stayed in my heart because it’s such a wonderful way to create a solid foundation for a relationship; one that says that we are in it together and we will make it happen together. That’s also the spirit of companionship and love. From there, it was just natural for me to realise that I want to create a love song, based on this simple yet deep ritual.”
Produced and curated by Xulfi and Sherry Khattak, the track features vocals by Noman Asmet and Noorima Rehan, supported by a diverse group of musicians including Amine Laroug, Melvin Arthur, Muhammad Hunaid, Adnan Karim, Lina Belaid, Blaise Merlin and Dorian Jonas Goetsh. The collaboration does not feel forced or overly polished. Instead, it unfolds as a space where different musical identities sit alongside each other without losing their individuality. There is a softness to ‘Noor-e-Nazar’ that sets it apart from the first release. It does not aim to make a grand statement. Instead, it allows emotion to take the lead.
Taken together, ‘Hairan Amanam’ and ‘Noor-e-Nazar’ do more than introduce two songs. They offer a glimpse into how Humnava intends to grow. The focus is not on isolated releases but on slowly shaping a shared sonic language, one that is influenced as much by place and presence as it is by production.
With more tracks on the horizon, including ‘Qataghani’, ‘Holoyor’, ‘Sway’, ‘Lost in Love’, ‘Koi Achi Khabar’, ‘Isekta’ and ‘Darmaan’, the project continues to evolve.
While platforms like Coke Studio, Nescafe Basement and Velo Sound Station have shaped Pakistan’s music scene in meaningful ways, there’s always been room for something new to take shape. Humnava doesn’t feel like it’s trying to compete with them or follow in their footsteps.
Instead, it seems more focused on finding its own voice, one that comes from artists actually living and creating together, drawing from the places around them and taking their time with the process. In doing so, it gently redefines what a music platform can be, not just a space to perform, but a space to connect, experiment and build something that lasts.
