ome songs announce themselves immediately, others reveal their clout gradually. ‘Isekta’, the eighth release from Humnava, belongs firmly in the latter category.

Launched at a special cultural celebration co-hosted by the British Council Pakistan and Humnava at the British Council Library in Lahore, the track is more than a new musical release. It reflects the platform’s continued commitment to artistic collaboration and cultural exchange, using music to bring together voices from different traditions and backgrounds.

Performed by Bakrin Timlfati, Eliza Khan and Shahid Hussain alongside an international ensemble of musicians, ‘Isekta’ unfolds with the quiet patience of a meditation, drawing listeners into a world where memory and longing exist side by side.

Sung in Tamachaq and Arabic, the song makes a strong case for emotions that can transcend language. Even without understanding every word, listeners can feel the sense of nostalgia and resilience carried by its restrained vocal performances and sparse arrangement.

Written and composed by Bakrin Timlfati, ‘Isekta’ explores the passage of time and the people who leave our lives while continuing to shape us through the memories they leave behind. At its heart lies a simple but affecting idea: memories outlive the moments that create them. The song treats that truth as both a source of sorrow and a comfort.

Curated by Xulfi and Sherry Khattak and produced and mixed by Xulfi, the composition thrives on subtle contrasts. Acoustic guitars, traditional percussion and the earthy timbre of the rubab anchor the arrangement in tradition, while synth bass adds a contemporary sensibility without disrupting its organic flow. The production doesn’t overload the song with unnecessary sonic embellishment, allowing silence and space to become instruments in their own right.

Eliza Khan delivers a confident performance in a language that is not her own, blending naturally with the vocals of Bakrin Timlfati and Shahid Hussain. The wider ensemble enriches the composition further. Amine Laroug’s acoustic guitar and backing vocals, Muhammad Hunaid’s rubab, the synth bass contributions of Melvin Arthur and Dorian Jonas Goetsch, Xulfi’s percussion and Adnan Karim’s djembe create a sound that embodies the cross-cultural spirit of Humnava.

Reflecting on the release, Xulfi explained that ‘Isekta’ means “souvenir”, something carried long after a moment has passed. He described the song as “an exploration of those final experiences that can never be recreated, whether it is a final conversation, a farewell between friends or a fleeting moment of harmony that exists only once.” That sense of impermanence is present throughout the recording itself. The track was captured on the final day Bakrin Timlfati and Amine Laroug spent in Pakistan, adding an unmistakable authenticity to its themes of remembrance and emotional connection.

Filmed at Passu Ground in Hunza, the accompanying video deepens the song’s emotional resonance. Rather than competing with the music, the understated visuals allow the natural surroundings to become part of the composition’s reflective mood and add a visual layer of stillness.

The Lahore launch echoed many of the ideas explored in the song itself. Artists, cultural voices, creative professionals and audiences came together for an intimate listening session featuring Humnava screenings, reflections from the project’s creators and conversations on cultural exchange, inclusion, language and music’s ability to connect communities across borders. Speaking at the event, Ben Lawton, Deputy Director of the British Council Pakistan, described Humnava as “an example of how music can create new spaces for cultural dialogue while positioning Pakistan’s creative voice within a wider global conversation.”

At a time when so much of contemporary music is designed for instant impact, ‘Isekta’ rewards patience by revealing emotional nuances with each listen. It is a work of contemplation rather than one built around hooks that quickly fade as the next big release arrives. In many ways, ‘Isekta’ encapsulates what Humnava promised and achieved: bringing together artists, traditions and languages to create music that feels deeply personal and shows love for the land while reaching for talent that goes beyond borders and nations. In the case of ‘Isekta’, the result is a haunting composition that remains with you long after the final note has been played, much like the memories it so delicately evokes.