KARACHI: For Aima Baig, music has become more than just a career it has become a way to hold on to memories, heal from loss, and share a deeply personal part of her life.
The singer has revealed that her upcoming debut album Guriya was inspired by her late mother and reflects the emotional journey she has experienced since her passing in 2017.
Speaking in an interview, Aima said the album represents a new phase of her life as she continues to understand and cope with the absence of her mother.
“My mother was called Guriya, and I still run out of words when I try to speak about her. Grief keeps changing as your life changes. As I grow older, I understand more acutely how much I needed her, and I miss her every day,” she said.
The singer described Guriya as a reflection of her personal story rather than a response to public criticism or outside opinions.
“This album is not my rebuttal to the noise. It is my story, offered on my own terms,” Aima said.
Aima shared that creating the album was an emotional process that involved revisiting memories of her mother and going through her belongings.
She described the experience as “brutal, beautiful and full of tears,” saying the project allowed her to transform personal pain into music.
The singer also revealed that despite the success she has achieved, she would still choose to have her mother beside her.
“If I could trade every good thing written in my fate to have my mother here, I would. I would have traded almost anything, even my own life, for hers,” she said.
The upcoming album will feature collaborations with several artists, including Atif Aslam, Asim Azhar, Qasim Hasan, Raheel, and Mubashir.
Reflecting on her journey in the entertainment industry, Aima said spending time in London while working on new projects helped her take a break from the pressures surrounding fame.
“London became the detox I needed. I needed distance from the drama that can surround the glamour, from sadness, depression and even the writer’s block I had been carrying,” she said.
The singer added that the time away helped her reconnect with herself and focus on her creative process.
Aima also spoke about the controversy surrounding a leaked video allegedly showing her and singer Bilal Saeed in London. She clarified that the footage was recorded during the filming of a project and said private moments are often viewed differently when taken out of context.
“It can be frustrating because what happens away from the camera is often private and personal,” she said.
She added that the situation unexpectedly brought attention to an unreleased song.
“Ironically, the entire episode became an extraordinary promotional campaign for a song we had not even finished shooting,” Aima said.
The singer rejected criticism that such incidents affected Pakistan’s image, saying artists continue to represent their country with respect and dedication.
Aima, who has grown up in the public eye, said people often form opinions based on controversies rather than understanding her as an artist.
“The biggest misconception is that the chaos people witnessed is who I am. They know the controversy; they do not necessarily know me,” she said.
She added that her priority now is to be recognised for her musical abilities, writing, and performances rather than simply remaining visible in the public eye.
Although the release date for Guriya has not been announced, Aima has continued teasing new music and upcoming projects on social media, describing the album as her most personal work to date.
