Shamali Afghan
Joining Coke Studio for the first time is Shamali Afghan, a student of Eastern Classical singing, who brings with him music that carries stories of diaspora life and change.
One of the voices heard in Pakistan in the 1980’s belonged to his father– the leading Afghani singer Shah Wali, who established himself as an iconic artist, and represented the then freshly war-stricken Afghanistan. Shamali continues in his father’s footsteps by carrying on the legacy of his culture’s musical heritage. He began singing in his late teens, by learning the craft under the tutelage of his father, and has been pursuing music for ten years now. He has seen his career grow with appearances on television shows, multiple concert performances and self-funded music videos; his most recent music video being Za Kana, which can be found on YouTube.
“Music chooses you. It loves you and it hates you. It elevates you and it also strikes you down. Music is alive. It is an energy. It becomes your friend and leads you. When music becomes your friend, then you are a king.”