Aunty Disco Project
Encyclopedia
Aunty Disco Project, sometimes shortened to ADP, are a boy band from Karachi
, Pakistan
. This band is purely inspired by boy bands from the 90's such as Nsync, Boyzone & Westlife. However, ADP thus transformed in an underground band in March 2006, founded by Omar Bilal Akhtar on guitar and vocals, Imran Lodhi on bass, Khawer Khan on guitars, Yasir Qureshi on darbuka and Omar Khalid on drums, the band quickly became popular in the underground scene with their high energy live act and their performance of original songs, something that was very unusual for an unknown band to do. Within a short period of time, they've achieved mainstream success and garnered critical acclaim for their electrifying live performances.
. They continued performing as a quartet after the departure of guitarist Khawer Khan.
ADP started recording their debut album “The Aunty Disco Project” in September 2006 at New Shadab Studios. The 11 Track album was written and produced by the band themselves and included popular songs such as “Sultanat”, “Iss Tanhai Ko” and “Nazar”.
The band continued to grow as live performers and, in the summer of 2007, the band received wide acclaim and exposure performing alongside mainstream acts such as Sajid & Zeeshan
, Mauj, Zeb and Haniya
and Mizraab
. Some of their breakthrough live performances included K-Fest Rock Concert, featuring Mauj and Mizraab, World Music Day featuring Sajid and Zeeshan and headlining the first Shanaakht Festival along with Zeb and Haniya.
. While not commercially successful, the band was lauded for its unique approach to music distribution and they received heavy promotion in the press and on the Internet.
Imran Lodhi departed from the band in February 2008 to study abroad. Former Ganda Banda and the 3-D Cats front man Ali Alam stepped in on bass to help the band continue playing live. ADP continued to be prolific live performers with two shows at Indus Valley School and another performance at World Music Day in the summer of 2008. After a 2-month hiatus, ADP made a comeback to the airwaves with the release of their third video, the ballad “Nazar”. The video, directed by Umer Adil was the bands' first high budget video and it got them widespread mainstream attention. The video was critically lauded and for the first time ADP was on the music channel charts. The song was included in The Musik's, Top 100 videos of 2008.
The success of 'Nazar' introduced ADP to wider audiences and they performed live for Play TV and MTV
, as well as the EGO Launch concert featuring Zeb and Haniya
in the winter of 2008. Based on the success of this video, ADP were nominated for Best Breakthrough Performance at the first MTV music awards
.
ADP made their first trip outside Karachi in February 2009, performing two shows in Lahore
including one night at the famed Peeru's Cafe to critical acclaim. In April 2009, the band signed with "Two Five Right Artist Management" and also welcomed the addition of Ali Alam as a full time member on guitar and vocals, and also Rahail Siddiqui (ex-Mizraab bassist) taking over on bass guitar. They started to record their second album, their first commercial effort, which was slated to be, released late 2009. The band continues to be widely regarded as one of the best live acts in the country.
confirmed that Aunty Disco Project will feature in the third season along with many well known artists and bands like Noori
, Entity Paradigm, Karavan
, Abida Parveen
and many other successful musicians. On July 4, 2010, ADP performed "Sultanat" at the Coke Studio third season third episode Conception. On October 23, the band released their new single "Hum Na Rahay". On December 28, Aunty Disco Project released the music video
of their single "Hum Na Rahay", which was dedicated to the flood victims of Pakistan.
On May 5, 2011, Aunty Disco Project through their official blog informed their fans that they would disband after their final concert that will take place on June 25, 2011.
Live albums
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. This band is purely inspired by boy bands from the 90's such as Nsync, Boyzone & Westlife. However, ADP thus transformed in an underground band in March 2006, founded by Omar Bilal Akhtar on guitar and vocals, Imran Lodhi on bass, Khawer Khan on guitars, Yasir Qureshi on darbuka and Omar Khalid on drums, the band quickly became popular in the underground scene with their high energy live act and their performance of original songs, something that was very unusual for an unknown band to do. Within a short period of time, they've achieved mainstream success and garnered critical acclaim for their electrifying live performances.
Formation (2006)
Aunty Disco Project started off as a boy band but gradually transformed into an underground band in 2006. Founded by Omar Bilal Akhtar on guitar and vocals, Imran Lodhi on bass, Khawer Khan on guitars, Yasir Qureshi on darbuka and Omar Khalid on drums. In March 2006, ADP beat 22 other bands to win the IBA Battle Of The Bands. Riding on the success of their performance, the band performed several concerts at local colleges and cafe's. Their prolific performances and their unique brand of rock mixed with Middle Eastern percussion made ADP one of the top upcoming bands in KarachiKarachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. They continued performing as a quartet after the departure of guitarist Khawer Khan.
ADP started recording their debut album “The Aunty Disco Project” in September 2006 at New Shadab Studios. The 11 Track album was written and produced by the band themselves and included popular songs such as “Sultanat”, “Iss Tanhai Ko” and “Nazar”.
The band continued to grow as live performers and, in the summer of 2007, the band received wide acclaim and exposure performing alongside mainstream acts such as Sajid & Zeeshan
Sajid & Zeeshan
Sajid & Zeeshan are a Pakistani electronic music duo from Peshawar, composed of Sajid Ghafoor and Zeeshan Parwez . Their songs are written by Sajid and arranged by Zeehsan, that vary from each other in terms of feel and expression...
, Mauj, Zeb and Haniya
Zeb and Haniya
Zeb and Haniya is a pop group from Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The duo's songs are mostly in Urdu, but some lyrics are also in Pashto, Persian and Turkish...
and Mizraab
Mizraab
Mizraab is a progressive rock band from Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, formed in 1997...
. Some of their breakthrough live performances included K-Fest Rock Concert, featuring Mauj and Mizraab, World Music Day featuring Sajid and Zeeshan and headlining the first Shanaakht Festival along with Zeb and Haniya.
The Aunty Disco Project (2007-2009)
ADP released their first music video “Sultanat” in August 2007. The video, directed by Omar Bilal Akhtar brought the band their first taste of mainstream success as “Sultanat” received a large amount of airtime, on both radio and television, and they released their second single and video “Iss Tanhai Ko” shortly after. In December 2007, the band finally released their self-financed and self produced album “Aunty Disco Project”, selling the album exclusively at their live shows and some select cafe's in KarachiKarachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. While not commercially successful, the band was lauded for its unique approach to music distribution and they received heavy promotion in the press and on the Internet.
Imran Lodhi departed from the band in February 2008 to study abroad. Former Ganda Banda and the 3-D Cats front man Ali Alam stepped in on bass to help the band continue playing live. ADP continued to be prolific live performers with two shows at Indus Valley School and another performance at World Music Day in the summer of 2008. After a 2-month hiatus, ADP made a comeback to the airwaves with the release of their third video, the ballad “Nazar”. The video, directed by Umer Adil was the bands' first high budget video and it got them widespread mainstream attention. The video was critically lauded and for the first time ADP was on the music channel charts. The song was included in The Musik's, Top 100 videos of 2008.
The success of 'Nazar' introduced ADP to wider audiences and they performed live for Play TV and MTV
MTV Pakistan
Music Television Pakistan is the Pakistani subsidiary of MTV, a cable television network owned by Viacom Inc. headquartered in New York. The Pakistan franchise has been set up in collaboration with Pakistan's first satellite channel media group known as Indus Media Group . Indus TV is Pakistan's...
, as well as the EGO Launch concert featuring Zeb and Haniya
Zeb and Haniya
Zeb and Haniya is a pop group from Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The duo's songs are mostly in Urdu, but some lyrics are also in Pashto, Persian and Turkish...
in the winter of 2008. Based on the success of this video, ADP were nominated for Best Breakthrough Performance at the first MTV music awards
MTV Pakistan
Music Television Pakistan is the Pakistani subsidiary of MTV, a cable television network owned by Viacom Inc. headquartered in New York. The Pakistan franchise has been set up in collaboration with Pakistan's first satellite channel media group known as Indus Media Group . Indus TV is Pakistan's...
.
ADP made their first trip outside Karachi in February 2009, performing two shows in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
including one night at the famed Peeru's Cafe to critical acclaim. In April 2009, the band signed with "Two Five Right Artist Management" and also welcomed the addition of Ali Alam as a full time member on guitar and vocals, and also Rahail Siddiqui (ex-Mizraab bassist) taking over on bass guitar. They started to record their second album, their first commercial effort, which was slated to be, released late 2009. The band continues to be widely regarded as one of the best live acts in the country.
Coke Studio (2010-present)
On May 15, 2010, the lineup for Coke StudioCoke Studio
Coke Studio is a Pakistani television series featuring live music performances. Although it is adapted from the original Brazilian show named Estúdio Coca-Cola, it is fundamentally different from the original version where the show was a concert style show whereas the Pakistani version records its...
confirmed that Aunty Disco Project will feature in the third season along with many well known artists and bands like Noori
Noori
Noori is a rock band from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, formed in 1996. The band is directed by founder, lead guitarist and songwriter, Ali Noor, and his brother, Ali Hamza, who were soon joined by bassist Muhammad Ali Jafri and drummer Salman Albert...
, Entity Paradigm, Karavan
Karavan
Karavan is a rock band from Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, formed in 1997. The band is founded by former Awaz lead guitarist Asad Ahmed with the help of his friend bassist Sameer Ahmed, who were soon joined by drummer Allan Smith and lead vocalist Najam Sheraz. Karavan are regarded as one of the most...
, Abida Parveen
Abida Parveen
Abida Parveen , is a Pakistani singer of Sindhi descent and one of the foremost exponents of Sufi music . She sings mainly ghazals, Urdu love songs, and her forte, Kafis, a solo genre accompanied by percussion and harmonium, using a repertoire of songs by Sufi poets...
and many other successful musicians. On July 4, 2010, ADP performed "Sultanat" at the Coke Studio third season third episode Conception. On October 23, the band released their new single "Hum Na Rahay". On December 28, Aunty Disco Project released the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
of their single "Hum Na Rahay", which was dedicated to the flood victims of Pakistan.
On May 5, 2011, Aunty Disco Project through their official blog informed their fans that they would disband after their final concert that will take place on June 25, 2011.
Discography
Studio albums- Aunty Disco Project (2007)
Live albums
- MTV Unplugged (2009)
- Live at Get Your Aunty On! (2009)