‘Mehram,’ a breakup song by Coke Studio 14 featuring Grammy-nominated performer Arooj Aftab and musician Asfar Hussain, recently premiered on television, and the breakup song has been capturing hearts.
The lyrics talk about the aftermath of heartbreak and have been penned by Asfar Hussain along with the season’s producer, Xulfi. The music has been arranged and produced by Abdullah Siddiqui, Xulfi and Arooj Aftab.
Coke Studio published the music video for the song on January 28. “A disclosure of emotions, abandonment, and conflicting yet heartfelt talks,” the song has been described. The word ‘Mehram’ in the song refers to someone you can entirely trust.
Murtaza Niaz directed the music video, which featured the musicians in parallel rooms “covered with neglect,” as evidenced by the overturned furniture and dusty images that Hussain and Aftab are surrounded by. The video’s environment is designed to be filled with “love memories” – for the artists, there is no respite from their sadness, no matter where they are.
Xulfi shared on Instagram that he had always thought Asfar Hussain is a fantastic songwriter. “He’s one-of-a-kind in the way he writes and expresses emotion through music and voice. He came to mind when I realized we needed a song that was both heartbreaking and hauntingly beautiful,” he wrote.
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The Grammy nominee, Arooj Aftab also used Instagram to share specifics about her experience and contribution.
“It was a pleasure to perform this haunting song written by Asfar Hussain, as well as to arrange and produce it alongside Xulfi and Abdullah Siddiqui,” she wrote on Instagram, adding that she is pleased with the song.
“This was my first music project in Pakistan, ever! Very happy for it all.”
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“An important moment Coke Studio and Pakistan: a female producer and arranger in the credits! Onwards and upwards,” she wrote in another post.
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Asfar, who wrote the lyrics, said he couldn’t think of anyone else who could give the song this feel, and that it was one of the best experiences of his life.
“It was by far the best experience of my life; working with Arooj Aftab was a delight, and I can’t see anyone else giving it the same feel.”
“You’re incredible, Arooj,” he said.
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Abdullah also took to social media to discuss his experience as the song’s producer.
“It’s a breakup song,” he explained, “but it’s always felt to me like it’s about a far deeper form of grief than a breakup.”
“Complete and utter anguish, the kind of heartbreak you think will last a lifetime.” That’s why I worked hard to give the music a ghostly quality – one of my favorite sounds in the song is a grainy remnant of Arooj Aftab’s voice right before Asfar Hussain’s chorus begins, as if she’s haunting him.”
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The track is delightfully depressing, and listeners are responding positively on social media.
A revelation of emotions, abandonment, and conflicting yet heartfelt conversations.#Mehram #CokeStudio14#SoundOfTheNation https://t.co/482KR726Zj
— Coke Studio (@cokestudio) January 28, 2022
❤️
Thank you to everyone involved in this sentimental experience. Touched my soul.https://t.co/TPdXY0NZab#aroojaftab #cokestudio14
— Rohail Hyatt (@rohailhyatt) January 29, 2022
Who is doing the art direction work for @cokestudio this time? Their work is just exceptional. The sense of theatre and understanding of the new tone of the project is so on point.
— Fifi Haroon (@fifiharoon) January 30, 2022
Eerie and desolate, there’s a treble that defines heartbreak so perfectly in #mehram. And it’s visually gripping.
@cokestudio #cokestudio14 going strong with @arooj_aftab and Asfar Hussainhttps://t.co/66kWCf60D1— AHI (@aamnaisani) January 28, 2022
This season of coke studio is setting the bar so high. The composition,the vocals, lyrics everything is so on point. #Mehram #cokestudio14 pic.twitter.com/oteSMyc1P1
— Eshal♡🇵🇰 (@EshalShah5) January 28, 2022
Oh my. @arooj_aftab and #AsfarHussain are touching the very core of my soul.
So, deeply, moved. #Mehram #cokestudio14 https://t.co/hOe9N5sjRB
— Selina Rashid Khan (@selinarashid) January 29, 2022
Mehram is a testimonial to a relationship that leaves an indelible trace; a revelation of emotions, desertion, and contradicting but meaningful dialogues that never truly leave us. This is a song we’ll be listening to over and over again in the coming days. Have you heard Aftab and Husain’s song “Mehram” yet?
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