Irtaash disbanded

“It saddens me to tell you that Irtaash will not be playing, performing or making music. We are disbanding” Yasir Jaswal- lead vocalist of Irtaash.

This message that was viral over Irtaash’s fan page on Face book last night brought tears in my eyes and left me completely melancholy.  

Those of you thinking that I overreacted probably don’t know what the band means to me and to all those hardcore fans that have been following the band for a while now.

Irtaash what Irtaash? That was my reaction when I first heard the name some six years ago through a friend. I was suggested to download their first single “Kaali Raatein” which came out in 2002.

To be honest, I didn’t like it very much the first time I heard it but after listening to it repeatedly, I just got hooked on to it and immediately downloaded rest of their songs that were already on the internet for download.

However, it was after I heard their song “Khauf” that I completely fell for Irtaash. Khauf was the composition of Farooq Shah, lead guitarist of Irtaash and who I consider as one of the best guitarists in Islamabad.

Khauf was the first song after pearl jam’s “Black” that I repeatedly listened to for more than fifteen days.

Later in 2006, Irtaash released the video of “Kali Raatein” that was directed by Zeeshan Parwez. It was aired on all major music channels of Pakistan and provided the band with national recognition. With time, Irtaash’s fame skyrocketed and they were no
more a band limited to Islamabad’s audience only.

That is when they decided to work on their debut album that would be recorded at Sarmad Ghafoor’s studio. However series of events occurred that led to the postponement of the album. Both Lead guitarist Farooq and drummer Ali Nadeem went abroad for higher
studies and Yasir also got involved with his professional life.

In 2009, Irtaash released video of their new song “Tu Nahein” on Aag Tv which was the number 1 song on a music charts program for more than eight weeks.

One by one, they released all their songs. “Shab Dhalay” that was the most anticipated song was released earlier this year.

Finally this year, they released their most awaited album “Kaala Safaid Aasman” which was received very well by music lovers in Pakistan. I was fortunate enough to be amongst the attendants of their album launch which took place in “The Rock Musicarium”

Unfortunately, that was the last time, the band ever performed together. With most of the members now busy with their professional lives, it became hard for band to continue and that led to the end of Irtaash.

Irtaash has a special place in my heart and though now it is gone, i would continue to adore it for all the entertainment it provided me over the years.  

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=1713

Posted by Farhan Khalid on Oct 27 2011. Filed under Entertainment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry