Zain Zohaib
August 16, 2024
City Hall Square, Main Stage
18.15
- Qawwali's heirs and innovators
Zain Zohaib belongs to the new generation of qawwalis who use classical music as a base, but who add different genres, instruments and technology to create a unique sound.
Zain Zohaib is the youngest qawwali addition to the subcontinent, and to say that the pair of brothers have absorbed qawwali with their mother's milk is no understatement. They are the grandchildren of Ustad Haji Rehmat Ali Khan, who for 40 years
played alongside Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The brothers carry on the legacy of their grandfather with rich qawwali tones and captivating performances, of which both their performances of the compositions "Haiderium" at Nescafé Basement and "Thagyan" at Coke Studio are good examples.
As a new generation of qawwalis, they are able to continue the genre, but also to challenge and renew it, and they use electric guitar, bass and synth in their music - with wide recognition from both audiences and fellow artists.