We’re all still bobbing our heads whenever “Mehbooba” comes on. everyone is still deeply, madly, truly in love with Hadiya’s mind-blowing raags and NESCAFÉ Basement drops the second episode. HELLO??!?!? My fickle heart can’t handle such gorgeous basslines and high crescendos. But hey, we’re not complaining.

Here’s the round-up of the latest NESCAFÉ Basement episode feat. my weak heart:

The first song, Haiderium, is a qawwali by a young troupe led by Zain and Zohaib

Sada peer qalandar naal sakhi
jidde darr te hai na koi kammi
sanu renda nai hai koi gham
Haiderium ~

 

It was refreshing to see such a young group of qawwals trying to revive the musical art form that stems from the heart of the sub-continent. 

Almost like a transference of culture to the youth, Haiderium stays true to the masters of qawaali, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, one that used to be mainstream is now supremely underground.

 

However, what makes it a winner is the violin and tabla strewn together to make the song quite melodious

Forever in awe of Xulfi’s ability to blend modern beats with the classics but still keeping the cultural and traditional aesthetic. The qawwali puts you in a happy stupor, unlike the ones that you can only listen to after a bad break-up.

The second song, Ranjhna, tells a tale of struggle, of hope, of wallowing in deep feelings and harboring hope.

Ranjhna aaja, aaja 

 

It’s beautiful, it’s raw, it’s full of emotions. Uff.

A one sided conversation of unrequited love, the singer reaches out to the one that got away.

 

I thought “tere jeya horr disda” would be hard to beat but wow.

The facade portrayed is in conflict of the inner turmoil, just like the beat makes you want to dance but the lyrics makes your heart well up a little.

Sigh, you love and you lose at the hands of fate, like the folk tales calling upon stories of Sassi Panu and Heer Ranjha. Of course, the millennials need a reminder, ever so often.

 

Pakistanis have similar take on the 🔥🔥🔥 episode:

https://twitter.com/alphagraviton/status/1093850011153170434

 

Phenomenal is the word.

 

Xulfi has been dubbed as a maestro time and again.

 

NESCAFÉ Basement not coming in slow after the two year break:

 

What are you thoughts on the latest episode? Is your favorite song Haiderium or Ranjha? Are you already waiting for the next episode? Let us know in the comments section below.

This post has been sponsored by NESCAFÉ