There is hardly anyone in Pakistani pop music of the 90s who is not familiar with Strings and its singer Faisal Kapadia.
The announcement of ending Strings last year broke many hearts, but now Faisal as a singer has given his fans a new lease of life by singing the last song of Coke Studio Season 14 ‘Phir Milge’.
Independent Urdu asked Faisal that Coke Studio Season 14 ended with your song ‘Phir Milge’, it was as if you sang the song for strings.
At this he laughed and said, ‘It’s just a coincidence that the song came out sounding like it was sung for strings.’
He sang for the first time as a singer without a string band.
About this he said that it is easy to work with your own band, you have your own style and you make the songs according to your own style but working with another team is different which is also good.
He said that it is very important that this song is liked by the people, this feeling is very important for an artist.
About Coke Studio Season 14, he said that after a few years the style of music changes, like this time Coke Studio took new songs, until recently only covers were being done.
“There’s an era of original music right now, which is great.”
About the fast growing commercialization of music in Pakistan, he said that although it has become very easy to create a song in this era, it is quite difficult to distribute it, because a song from YouTube does not spread easily unless it has some money. Do not plant and spread.
He clarified that in his opinion the presence of the corporate sector is very important but they should not be involved in the creative process.
He said that when he was creating Coke Studio, at least there was no interference in the creative process.
On the singing of actors, he said that there is nothing wrong with it if someone can sing well, then sing, but only if you are an actor, you should not sing. Actors in many countries of the world sing and sing very well.
On digital masking and auto-tuning, he said that these tools are there, but the song doesn’t end there, what if the song goes live.
About disbanding Strings Band, he said that it was a deliberate decision because there is a time for every good thing.
‘Strings has finished and then started twice before, but the possibility of doing something again cannot be ruled out. However, it seems very difficult to happen now.’
Strings did the music for the Hindi/Urdu version of Spider-Man 2, besides some Bollywood and Pakistani films, but did nothing after that.
He said that they were a pop band, so they did not pay much attention to film music, but now if they are needed in Pakistani films, they will offer their services.
In Pakistan in the 90s, programs like Music Channel Charts and Pepsi Top of the Pop promoted pop music, why are there no such programs now?
On this, Faisal said that now is the era of streaming service and there is a matter of trending, but the charts continue, only the platform has changed.
‘Music streaming sites are the future of music now and Spotify is the solution to modern problems because even an ordinary musician can put his song here.’
One thing about ‘rap music’ is that it represents the underprivileged, not the privileged? In this regard, Faisal said that rap music has been going on for a long time. ‘Music is everyone’s right, it shouldn’t be seen as privileged or underprivileged.’
About his future, he said that he did not think much about where life would take him.
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;
n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,’script’,
‘https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js’);
fbq(‘init’, ‘2494823637234887’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘PageView’);
#Faisal #Kapadias #Phir #Milge #Strings
**Interview with Faisal Kapadia: Reflections on Strings, Coke Studio, and the Future of Music**
**Editor:** Faisal, thank you for joining us today. It’s hard to believe that Strings, a pioneer of Pakistani pop music from the 90s, has come to an end. How has that transition been for you?
**Faisal Kapadia:** Thank you for having me! It’s been quite a journey. Ending Strings was a bittersweet moment. We had an incredible run, but sometimes, it’s essential to know when to let go. Every good thing has its time, and we felt we had reached that point.
**Editor:** Speaking of transitions, you recently wrapped up Coke Studio Season 14 with the song “Phir Milge.” It felt like a farewell to Strings in many ways. Was that intentional?
**Faisal Kapadia:** [Laughs] Honestly, it was just a coincidence! It’s touching that people see it that way, but I wrote it with a fresh perspective. Singing solo after years with the band was certainly different—it has its challenges, but also its rewards.
**Editor:** What did you discover about yourself and your music during this solo experience?
**Faisal Kapadia:** When you collaborate with your own band, you develop a distinct style. But working with a different team brings fresh insights. It was liberating, but I also felt a strong desire for people to connect with the song. That kind of feedback is vital for any artist.
**Editor:** You’ve mentioned that music styles evolve over time. What did you think about the direction Coke Studio took this season, focusing on original songs rather than covers?
**Faisal Kapadia:** It’s a great time for original music! There’s more creativity and innovation emerging, which is refreshing. For a while, we were locked into covers, but it’s wonderful to see new songs and sounds getting the spotlight.
**Editor:** With the rise of commercialization in music, do you think it impacts how songs are produced and distributed in Pakistan?
**Faisal Kapadia:** Absolutely. While it’s easier to create music today, distributing it can be tough without the backing of money. The corporate sector has its role, but it’s crucial they don’t interfere with the creative process itself. During my time with Coke Studio, we had the freedom to explore without constraints.
**Editor:** Many actors are venturing into music these days. What’s your take on that trend?
**Faisal Kapadia:** If an actor can sing well, then why not? There’s nothing wrong with it, as long as they are genuinely passionate about the craft. Many talented actors globally are also talented musicians—there’s space for both in the industry.
**Editor:** Lastly, let’s talk about the future. Given that Strings has ended, do you see a possibility for a reunion or a new project down the line?
**Faisal Kapadia:** [Pauses] Well, who knows? Strings has disbanded and reunited in the past, so I wouldn’t rule anything out. However, for now, it does feel like the end of an era. But creativity never truly stops, and I look forward to exploring new avenues.
**Editor:** Thank you, Faisal! Your insights are always enlightening. We look forward to what lies ahead for you and your music!
**Faisal Kapadia:** Thank you! I appreciate the support and can’t wait to share more music in the future.
