Zebunnisa Bangash
Zeb Bangash is known for her diverse music which is sung in a multitude of languages along the spectrum of folk and Eastern Classical genres. Zeb first came to the forefront of the Pakistani music industry as a part of the duo she formed with her cousin, Zeb and
Haniya. The duo has created hits that have been performed all over the world, starting with their debut single Chup, released in 2008. Their first album led to hits like Bibi Sanam Janam and Paimona, both of which were later featured on Coke Studio. In 2014, Zeb struck out on her own, and has since launched Sandaraa – a Brooklyn-based project that brings together musicians from different genres, showcasing the many ways in which music travels across civilizations. Zeb is an avid culture and language enthusiast, and has been exposed to languages like Pashto, Dari, Persian, and Turkish from a young age. She continues to explore her musical roots, learning Eastern Classical music, in the tradition of khyal gaiki, under the tutelage of Ustad Naseeruddin Saami. For Zeb, music is a tool for studying human history, depicting just how connected cultures and civilizations have been in their evolution through time. This season, Zeb returns to the Coke Studio mainstage, discovering previously undiscovered territory in the ever-expanding map of her musical
“I decided to pursue music professionally when I saw how it enables you to connect with people. It’s a beautiful feeling. You can move people, you can talk to them. You sing a song and someone connects to it and you don’t even know about it. That’s really lovely for me. That someone is having their own relationship with a song sung in my voice.”