The Sketches (band)
Encyclopedia
The Sketches is a Pioneer of Sufi Folk Rock from Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan, comprising of two young musicians, lead vocalist Saif Samejo and guitarist Naeem Shah.
There motherland has always been a major inspiration which is portrayed in their work.
“Sindhi melody is very charming; there is enormous flexibility of words” says Saif Samejo. The love for their language and culture is aimed to bring back the departed old identity and to produce quality work in order to sensitize the world in general and the youth in specific about the grace of Sindhi language.
The pinnacle that The Sketches have reached today is the result of a grueling struggle and arduous work since 2003 when Saif, a student of English Literature and Naeem, a Fine Arts student studying in the University at Jamshoro collaborated as artistes. Their common interests and influences of Sufi music, an incredible enthusiasm towards peace and harmony and the motivation for being original unified them together as THE SKETCHES.
Their first debut album ‘Dastkari’ meaning ‘one’s own creation’ was released in 2010 with the Folk/Sufi/Rock songs in Sindhi, Saraiki and Urdu bearing a wide range of messages promoting peace, a rich cultural heritage, freedom of expression and love. The music created by The Sketches has proved the fact that “Music has no language”, despite the fact that different languages have been used in their songs listeners from different age groups and backgrounds have appreciated each flavor that come out. The music blends so perfectly, creating novel symphonies that capture the soul.
Contradictory to the trend, The Sketches always believed in “being original” and in the era of commercial music where other artists served as seasonal birds they remained unswerving and kept Sufi music alive. This is the foremost reason that within the first year ‘The Sketches’ was acknowledged by various front line magazines of Pakistan including Dawn, The News, Mag-the weekly, Hum say, Kawish and others. The band was reported in Pakistan’s biggest news channel Geo TV for promoting peace through their music video ‘Maujood’. Its remarkable contribution on ‘Raat’ (Folk tale of Sindh) was admitted internationally and they appeared on BBC-London(radio).
They’ve performed the song ‘Mandh’ at Pakistan's most popular music show Coke Studio on 3 July 2011, among all the well known artists of the Country. ‘Mandh’ means wine of love from Shah Latif’s works (famous Sufi saint) and Sur Kalyaan which means peace and tranquility. It was a fabulous and moving performance. Lead vocalist, Samejo calls it the biggest achievement of the band in short, whereas Express Tribune (partnership with The International Herald Tribune) rates The Sketches: “Mandh Waai” 9/10.’ Recipes for jams’, an article across the border (India) also had them in the spotlight and listing this achievement of The Sketches as a key for others to learn from and emulate them.
Lastly, fans all over the world are ready for another release “Nind Nashe Wich” a debut song by The Sketches with Fahim Allan Fakir, son of Legendary Allan Fakir.
Quote: “I think music is a mode of communication more effective and more expressive than words.”
There motherland has always been a major inspiration which is portrayed in their work.
“Sindhi melody is very charming; there is enormous flexibility of words” says Saif Samejo. The love for their language and culture is aimed to bring back the departed old identity and to produce quality work in order to sensitize the world in general and the youth in specific about the grace of Sindhi language.
The pinnacle that The Sketches have reached today is the result of a grueling struggle and arduous work since 2003 when Saif, a student of English Literature and Naeem, a Fine Arts student studying in the University at Jamshoro collaborated as artistes. Their common interests and influences of Sufi music, an incredible enthusiasm towards peace and harmony and the motivation for being original unified them together as THE SKETCHES.
Their first debut album ‘Dastkari’ meaning ‘one’s own creation’ was released in 2010 with the Folk/Sufi/Rock songs in Sindhi, Saraiki and Urdu bearing a wide range of messages promoting peace, a rich cultural heritage, freedom of expression and love. The music created by The Sketches has proved the fact that “Music has no language”, despite the fact that different languages have been used in their songs listeners from different age groups and backgrounds have appreciated each flavor that come out. The music blends so perfectly, creating novel symphonies that capture the soul.
Contradictory to the trend, The Sketches always believed in “being original” and in the era of commercial music where other artists served as seasonal birds they remained unswerving and kept Sufi music alive. This is the foremost reason that within the first year ‘The Sketches’ was acknowledged by various front line magazines of Pakistan including Dawn, The News, Mag-the weekly, Hum say, Kawish and others. The band was reported in Pakistan’s biggest news channel Geo TV for promoting peace through their music video ‘Maujood’. Its remarkable contribution on ‘Raat’ (Folk tale of Sindh) was admitted internationally and they appeared on BBC-London(radio).
They’ve performed the song ‘Mandh’ at Pakistan's most popular music show Coke Studio on 3 July 2011, among all the well known artists of the Country. ‘Mandh’ means wine of love from Shah Latif’s works (famous Sufi saint) and Sur Kalyaan which means peace and tranquility. It was a fabulous and moving performance. Lead vocalist, Samejo calls it the biggest achievement of the band in short, whereas Express Tribune (partnership with The International Herald Tribune) rates The Sketches: “Mandh Waai” 9/10.’ Recipes for jams’, an article across the border (India) also had them in the spotlight and listing this achievement of The Sketches as a key for others to learn from and emulate them.
Lastly, fans all over the world are ready for another release “Nind Nashe Wich” a debut song by The Sketches with Fahim Allan Fakir, son of Legendary Allan Fakir.
Quote: “I think music is a mode of communication more effective and more expressive than words.”
Sources
- http://www.cokestudio.com.pk/Artist.aspx?artistId=95&SeasonId=4
- http://tribune.com.pk/story/202232/coke-studio-musical-voyage-through-various-languages/
- http://www.livemint.com/2011/07/15202621/Recipes-for-jams.html