To 'string' a guitar


One of Pakistan’s most popular music acts, Strings have been working for last five to six months exclusively on their upcoming album, due to be launched in January 2008. As yet untitled, the album has been fully recorded and is currently being mixed.

“The video-making process will begin after the album has been completed. There is massive touring to follow the launch of the album because we are also excited about having 10 new songs to perform and our fans also want to listen to something new,” says the band’s vocalist Faisal Kapadia while speaking to Images.

When asked whether they have decided upon a set of directors who will work on the videos, Bilal says that they are still looking at their options and that “Jami has obviously always been on the top of our list”, but nothing has been confirmed yet. They also added that almost every video from the new album will feature an original Gibson guitar in it!

That doesn’t come as a surprise when one finds out that band is the first music act from the subcontinent to be signed up by one of the largest guitar manufacturers, the Gibson Guitar Corporation (GGC). This will give them access to everything that the firm has to offer which includes guitars, the use of tour busses and amphitheatres if and when they need them.

One couldn’t help but wonder whether this will make touring outside the subcontinent easier for Strings? “All we’ll need to do is call them beforehand and let them know when we plan to tour, if the amphitheatre is available, they will book it for us,” says an obviously excited Bilal Maqsood.

Presently GGC’s portfolio of artistes include B. B. King, Sheryl Crowe, Sir Paul McCartney, Slash, Billie Joe Armstrong, etc. Does this also translate into making it easier for Strings to come in contact with other (foreign) artistes signed up by them? “They have opened avenues for us in the international market by giving us access to their tour busses and eventually, musicians,” responds Faisal. However, on a more pragmatic note, Bilal is of the opinion: “I don’t think so. They have artistes signed up everywhere in different countries, even in Japan. I don’t think that means it will be easier for us to have access to their other artistes.”

Considering that we have a fledgling music industry and with that particular brand of guitars being relatively highly-priced, do Faisal and Bilal think there is potential for them in Pakistan? “Previously, you had guitar shops here but the instruments weren’t that good. Serious musicians had to go out of the country and buy their equipment from there. It will make things much easier for them to get good equipment especially if an authorised distributor is based here. Until now there was no market for expensive branded guitars but GGC is trying to establish itself in India, and for the first time in the subcontinent and eventually to Pakistan,” says Faisal. Bilal, on the other hand, adds, “They’re realising the potential in our music. They should come to Pakistan if they’re looking to promote rock music and they’re looking into the options that they have. It would be great for local bands here”.

Perhaps what Bilal really means to say is that it will give local bands a direction in which to go in the industry? “Direction comes when you have an infrastructure to work on,” says Bilal, adding “the firm has its own workshops, studios, amphitheatres, etc. Obviously if they come here they will only start with a small shop, but it would go a big way in promoting our local bands.”

First Published:

Images

October 13, 2007