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      Banurs Band

      Banurs Band

      This season, Coke Studio welcomes Banur’s Band to the stage, bringing with them three stories of dedication to music. The band is the brainchild of Usman Withd, who began his pursuit of the craft in his teenage years. This pursuit was one that led to days and nights dedicated to the study of music. Today, Usman runs a studio in Quetta and travels as a session musician all over Pakistan.

      Surrounded by music growing up, Chakar Baloch developed an innate relationship with melody. As a young child, he developed the desire to play the benjo -- a wish that became a reality two decades later. In spite of societal pressure to pursue a more conservative path, Chakar was determined and picked up on musical techniques by observing and listening. Eventually trained by his uncle, Chakar uses his academic background to study Balochi musical tradition, infusing his knowledge into the music he creates. Chakar and Usman came together during a song recording and have since then, worked together, driven by their mutual desire to learn and experiment with Balochi music.

      The third component to the magic is SM Baloch, an uncle of Chakar’s. Though he did grow up singing, out of obedience towards his family’s values, he never pursued it seriously. However, over time, Baloch met with musicians who encouraged him to pursue his gift. On a chance visit to see Chakar in Quetta, Baloch met Usman, who was instantly in awe of his singing prowess -- and so, Banur’s Band was born. Today, Coke Studio becomes a part of the journey that these three musicians share.

      “A person knows when he sings that something meaningful lives inside of him. When melody and tempo reside within, it moves you. If you’re not moved by your own music, how can you expect it to affect others?”

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