Noori

Noori (Urdu:نوری, literal English translation: “light”) is a rock band from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, formed in 1996. The group was formed by songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist, Ali Noor, along with his younger brother Ali Hamza, who were soon joined by bassist Muhammad Ali Jafri and drummer Salman Albert as well as by DJ Junaid Shams (known for JoNi). Since the inception of the band, there had been many changes in the line-up the only consistent members being, brothers, Ali Noor and Ali Hamza. The band are considered as one of the pioneering forces behind what is dubbed at the "21st Century pop revolution of Pakistan".

The band are known for being one of the pioneers of the Pakistani rock music scene. Although, initially the band, formed by the two brothers, Ali Noor and Ali Hamza, the latter left the band to pursue studies at Lahore University of Management Sciences. However, Ali Noor and Muhammad Ali Jafri continued playing for the band and recruited drummer Salman Ahmed, who soon left and was replaced by Farhad Humayun. The band then went on releasing several singles which included, "Jana tha Humne" and "Tum Hans Diyay" after which Humayun also departed. The band recruited Louis J. Pinto (aka Gumby) on drums and Murtaza Jaffar on guitars. Soon afterwards, the band started to work on their debut album Suno Ke Main Hun Jawan (2003) but before the release of the album Ali Hamza joined the band once again on vocals and guitars in place of Jaffar who left the band. Noori took the shape of a four-member band and went on releasing their debut album. After two years, the band went on recording and releasing their the critically acclaimed second album Peeli Patti Aur Raja Jani Ki Gol Dunya (2005), after which bassist, Ali Jafri left the band and started his own business. In 2006, drummer Louis J. Pinto (Gumby), also left the band, as he was busy doing side projects with other bands as a session player, apart from the blood brothers, Ali Noor and Ali Hamza. After a 2-year hiatus, the duo made their comeback into the music scene in 2008 by releasing their first ever song written "Do Dil". Playing

In 2009, the band featured at the second season of the musical television show Coke Studio, also performing in the next season the following year. The band then started working on the release of their third studio album. However, in 2011, Louis J. Pinto (Gumby) and Muhammad Ali Jafri rejoin and Noori reunited to its original four-man line up; as it was at the launch of their debut album. In 2013, Gumby parted ways with the brothers again citing personal reasons and Jafri was also no where to be seen in live concerts played by the band.

History

Early years (1998 – 2002)

The name of the band, Noori, is not derived from Ali Noor, lead vocalist and guitarist. Noori is a Persian word which means "light" and the concept behind the band was the light which shows you things with a different perspective.

Noori started 7 years before their first album "Suno Ke Main Hun Jawan" which came in 2003. Before Noori, Ali Noor and Muhammad Ali Jaffri worked with co-VEN and released an EP called "Not in your world". Noori has been famous for their live acts.

Debut Studio Album, “Suno Ke Mein Hun Jawan” and Rise to Fame (2002 – 2005)

Noori's debut album, "Suno Ke Main Hun Jawan" had developed a cult following before the album's release in 2003 through leaks on the internet. "Suno Ke Main Hun Jawan" offers a complicated mix of sounds, starting from a folk-like "Manwa Re" that was actually written for a Pakistani film, to hard rock anthems to youth like the title track. Noori's debut album created whirlwinds across the Urdu speaking community all over the world. A first of its kind, it introduced the genre of pop rock music to the Pakistani mainstream. In addition the album was also a departure from the beaten track of chummy love songs and focused instead on inspiring the youth of Pakistan to take up the responsibility of doing something worthwhile for themselves and others. Thematically with songs urging listeners to change the world, that life is beautiful and professing women empowerment. Their album was about youth, their innocence, their dreams and how they feel about life. After their album release in 2003, they performed a duet, Nayan Jahan, with Anaida which was a success.^[1]

Second Studio Album “Peeli Patti Aur Raja Jani Ki Gol Dunya” (2005 – 2007)

Their second album was a follow up on where "Suno Ke Main Hun Jawan" left off. It talks about what happens when the ever so energetic and hopeful youth grows up and faces the realities of the world. The discontentment and suffering which arises in this growing up, creates an indifferent and self-centered individual, who finds escape routes in things like drugs and other short-lived pleasures. Noori's second album, "Peeli Patti Aur Raja Jani Ki Gol Dunya", on the other hand, starts off in a somewhat hopeful mood and then travels through bitter experiences and ends up with resigned despair, peppered with taunts.The album deals with a variety of subjects ranging from the problems and consequences of drug use to the collective apathy we all have descended into as individuals and as a society.^[2]

In 2005 Muhammad Ali Jafri, who was playing bass guitar for Noori, left the band and started his own business. In 2006, Noori parted ways with Louis J. Pinto (Gumby), the band's drummer.

Do Dil and Appearance in 'Coke Studio’ (2008 – 2010)

In 2008, after a hiatus of almost 2 years Noori came back with their new single "Do Dil".

In 2009, they performed at the Coke Studio Sessions along with artists like Atif Aslam, Zeb and Haniya, Ali Zafar, Saeen Zahoor and many other successful musicians.^[3] They performed a duet with Saeen Zahoor, "Aik Alif", a sufi rock song which was huge success.^[4][5] They also performed in the third episode of Coke Studio Sessions with their song "Jo Meray" which was performed in the format as it was originally composed by Ali Hamza in 2000.^[6][7] They performed "Sari Raat Jaga" on the fourth Coke Studio Session.^[8] On 14 August 2009, Noori performed "Kedaar" from their upcoming album at the last Coke Studio Session.^[9]

On 15 May 2010, the line-up for Coke Studio confirmed that Noori will feature in the third season along with many well known artists and bands like Entity Paradigm, Aunty Disco Project, Karavan, Abida Parveen and many other successful musicians.^[10] On 20 June 2010, Noori performed a duet "Tann Dolay" with Zeb & Haniya at Coke Studio third season the second session, 'Will'. On 10 July 2010, Noori released the studio version of the single "Tann Dolay" which also featured Zeb & Haniya. On 18 July 2010, Ali Noor and Ali Hamza did a live interview with Abdul Rauf and Maria Memon the weekly morning show, 'Geo Pakistan', on Geo News. On 26 July 2010, the Noori brothers did a collaboration at the fourth Coke Studio session 'Form' for the song "Hor Vi Neevan Ho" with their mother, Noor Zehra Kazim, an accomplished player of the Sagar Veena, an instrument developed by her father, Raza Kazim at the Sanjan Nagar Institute for Philosophy and Arts.^[11]

Begum Gul Bakaoli Sarfarosh (2015)

Noori performed three preview shows for their new album Begum Gul Bakaoli Sarfarosh in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi on the 19th, 20th and 21st September respectively. Each show had a limited audience of 111 people. Noori used the slogan "I am 1 in 333" for the promotion of these three shows. Although Noori set the release date for the new album at 30th september, it was later delayed to 9th october. Noori, through social media, once again announced the release of their album through a series of meet and greets in Lahore (9th October), Karachi (10th October) and Islamabad (11th october). Noori proclaimed that their album would only be available for sale at these three meet and greets, in order to build a one-on-one connection with the fans by eliminating the middleman. Additionally, the album was made free to stream through Patari.pk as a Patari exclusive on the 9th of October.

Discography

Studio albums

• Suno Ke Main Hun Jawan (2003)
• Peeli Patti Aur Raja Jani Ki Gol Dunya (2005)
• Begum Gul Bakaoli Sarfarosh (2015)

Film Scores

• Karachi se Lahore (2015)

Band members

Timeline

Current members

• Ali Noor – vocals, backing vocals, lead guitar (1996–present)
• Ali Hamza – vocals, backing vocals, rhythm guitar (1996–present)

Former members

• Louis J. Pinto (aka Gumby) – drums (2003–2006, 2011–2012)
• Salman Albert – drums, backing vocals (1996–1999)
• Farhad Humayun – drums (2000–2002)
• Murtaza Jaffar – rhythm guitar (2003)
• Mohd. Ali Jafri (bass)

Live concert (additional members 2012)

• Faraz Anwar – Lead guitar
• Zeeshan Pervez
• Awais Jaffery – Bass & Lead Guitar (Performance in Ottawa, Canada)^[12]

Awards

• Noori won the Award for the Best Rock Song for "Do Dil" at MTV Music Awards in 2009.
• Noori was selected as "Picked Artist of the Month" on the Pakistani music channel called "The Musik" in June 2006.
• Noori has won the Best Rock Song Category Award for "Nishaan" in Indus Music Awards 2006.

References

External links

• Official Website