Header: Faisal Kapadia – Return of the king!

With three decades of a musical journey, Strings became a part of life for the millennials. The dissolution of the band left a generation heartbroken as they saw a part of their youth ending in front of them. And months after the announcement, Faisal Kapadia broke the inertia present in the music industry with Phir Milenge – a collaboration with Young Stunner for Coke Studio. Bold desk sat with Kapadia to discuss how he is quenching his artistic thirst after Strings.

Bold: Please tell us about the entire song making process of your latest Phir Milenge?

Faisal Kapadia: Adnan Dhool and Zulfi wrote my part of the song while Talha Anjum and Talha Younus wrote their parts. I was first given melody by Zulfi and I instantly liked it – and it was just first Asthai (verse). The later parts weren’t developed at that point.  It was the first time I was working with Zulfi. We both were trying to understand each other’s musical perspectives. We both gave our go-ahead for the melody as it was suiting the vocals. And then we started writing lyrics for this song. When the lyrics synthesised with the melody I realised that they were really touching and at that point I didn’t hear the part of Talha Younis and Talha Anjum. As things progressed every single word started holding an unparalleled impact.

Bold: What is your favourite part of your’s in Phir Millenge?

Faisal Kapadia: Sargoshi mein loun Naam tera, Tere liye maine Haaya rakhi hai Bhoola nahi Main bhi tujhe Mere liye, maine Saaza rakhi hai

In this part of the song there is depth for such huge respect being expressed here. Haya (respect) for that one special person while Saza (Punishment) for oneself in their love. It is just beautiful.

Bold: Over three decades of journey as a vocalist for Strings. Must be a tough decision to call it quits.

Faisal Kapadia: If you want to drag things you can, it will go on. We could have been doing Strings even if he had turned 70 years old. In fact we were thinking to perform on stage even if we enter in our 60s.  But everything has its time. Let’s take Coke Studio, we were producers from seasons 7 to season 10. In terms of viewership nine and ten were their biggest. But after season 10 we decided to discontinue. Putting that full stop is an easy thing. There is this idea that let’s keep doing it till we can. The work you are doing has its own power. But I think one has to know what their optimum point is. Linking that back to Strings, we decided that we will never bring days for the band when we are not considered best in the market. It is a global creative phenomena that every rise has a decline. We mutually thought to end it when we are enjoying our peak. After the Strings split, I was taking a break, in no corner of my mind I was thinking of my solo career.

Bold: And then the Coke Studio came. A change of heart?

Faisal Kapadia: I got a call from Zulfi and he told me that he is seeing my collaboration with Young Stunners for the Coke Studio. I always had great respect for him; he is a brilliant producer and composer but obviously we were in two separate bands so never got an opportunity to work together. When he discussed the idea with me, even though I wasn’t ready to work as a solo vocalist but as a musician the idea was too interesting for me to turn it down. It was an opportunity for me to experiment something new as an artist so I said yes. It turned out to be a great experience. I really enjoyed the experience as a singer, musician exploring a new zone that was way away from my comfort zone without thinking once whether it will be a hit or not.

Bold: At a time when musicians are venturing into other areas like acting, morning shows, Ramazan transmissions. You maintained your identity solely as a musician. Was it strategic or did it just happen to be?

Faisal Kapadia: It was intentional and strategic. We were in a band and our first decision as band members was to do everything together. Be it interviews, commercials, brand endorsements, performances or anything else. And maybe that was the reason behind our success, we kept out individualism aside and put forwarded Strings. We focused on excelling on one thing and that was music.

Bold: Was it your comfort zone as well?

Faisal Kapadia: No. I don’t think that. In fact I really like doing acting.

Bold: Is it on cards then?

Faisal Kapadia: It can be. Now there is no Strings, I can do anything. Time has come for me to do things that attracts my inner me. I will not be doing things to get popularity because I have left Strings on a high place. If there comes any opportunity – be it acting or anything else – even if it is not in my comfort zone, I will give it a shot just for the sake I want to try something new.

Bold: Is there anything as an artist that you want to do or explore you haven’t yet?

Faisal Kapadia: I have performed all over the world, sang for Spiderman and then Bollywood. And now I am at a phase where I am really open. I do not have any target.

Bold: You have been a star for generations so how have you found Gen Z. How different they are from the Millennial. Do they have the same aesthetic taste?

Faisal Kapadia: I think people grow and change with time. The songs I used to listen in my childhood are not necessarily in my playlist today. Gen Z has definitely listened to Pakistani pop music but how they are expressing today is completely something different as compared to my generation. Their connection with us is comparatively more than our connection with them. They have been listening our music but as we have just started listening them now. People of our generation are old-fashioned now, they need a connection to connect with the Gen Z and songs like Phir Milenge can blend in and set a perfect example of collaboration. Maybe young people have never heard Faisal Kapadia and those from our generation don’t listen to Young Stunners so this song connects both generation. And such collaborations will fill the generation gap we have.

Bold: Ali Noor in an insta session with you said that he is done with singing his old songs at concerts. He wants to perform on his new ones but people are stuck with the early 2000s songs. Is it the same with you?

Faisal Kapadia: My old songs are really special. We spent ages in making them and in fact they are an important part of people’s lives. Today when we meet people, they tell us, how our songs filled their voids or carried them or stayed with them during different phases of their lives. Peoples’ lives are attached with those songs. It can only happen when you perform mechanically everywhere, but we (Strings) never did that. We never overexerted ourselves with back to back performances. We lived our lives peacefully while doing music which was our passion. Performing old songs has always been fun.

Bold: People associate their life events with your songs. They were really heartbroken on the Strings dissolution. Any words for the fans?

Faisal Kapadia: I was also really sad. I cried for two days after the announcement. My identity was Strings. But the thing is that we have left Strings on a really good level. And the idea that Strings would always have remained on top is also superficial. The time had to come. Now is the time for second innings. We are settling on a new pitch, facing a new shiny swinging ball.

Bold: Excited for that?

Faisal Kapadia: I am. And excitement is really important for life. And that really doesn’t mean that I don’t miss Strings and there is no sadness for that. But I celebrate that sadness. A band ruled for over thirty years and then left it amicably on a high note without a split is a true thing to cherish.

Bold: In the ongoing digital age where controversies sell, you don’t have one in your name in this long span career of 30 years. Strategic or that’s how you guys were?

Faisal Kapadia: That’s who we were. Bilal and I had a strong family association. Whenever we were done with work, we both would head home. Even if we wrapped up our show at 2 in the morning, we used to drop our kids to school at 6 am. At concerts people would be excited seeing “The Strings” and there was this whole madness of people taking autographs and photos with us but as soon as we would be back home, we would be the dads and husbands. And that kept us grounded and steered us away from any sort of controversies.