The post-2014 Pakistan is the Pakistan of the revival of many aspects, be it peace in the cities, the revival of Pakistani cinema, entertainment channels, international cricket, or the revival of the once-thriving music scene of Pakistan. A music scene that we 90s kids can relate to.

In this wave of the revival of the Pakistani music and emergence (with acceptance) of a new genre of music, DJs, Omair Anjum and Mohammed ‘Mosh’ Shah, better known by their stage name, Fake Shamans, are not only important players but also a breath of fresh air in the electronic music scene of Pakistan with their niche house music.

James Shackell in 2019 rightly wrote in Adventure:

“In the ‘90s, Pakistan’s music and nightlife scene was flourishing. Then came terrorism, and an end to all that. But now, spurred on by a desire to bring Pakistan back to the world, artists like house duo Fake Shamans are turning the volume up again. “

Omair Anjum and Mohammad Shah created the House band Fake Shamans from their mutual love of the underground music scene. Fake Shamans have gone for a different genre, something inspired by the Pakistani pop music of the 1990s, the music of their childhood, muddled with Qawwali and shamanic beats.

Recently Fake Shamans released their new single ‘Balajori’, under their own record label, Fake Rituals. Balajori is a collaboration of  Fake Shamans with sitar player Rakae Jamil, classical singer Aizaz Sohail and base guitarist Farhan Ali. Listen to this fantastic outcome her

The sound of Fake Shamans isn’t your typical Western aesthetic and just like there performances this new single is a spectacle. With their blend of influences, their music could take you to another place. As the description of the music video reads:

“A bandish that depicts the story of two lovers along the banks of beautiful Jamuna river in which the lover keeps playing innocent pranks on the beloved which causes her to lose balance and the matka (Gagari) of water she is carrying on her head falls down.

“She then complains to the lover, asking him how she will carry more water now that her gharaa of water is broken?

“It shouldn’t be that whenever house music is playing that means something bad is happening. House music is for normal people.”

The song also features the famous Thumri by Ustad Baday Ghulam Ali Khan Bajo Band Khul Khul Jaye.

When Omair and Mosh started out, the Pakistani house scene was hardly crowded. People would gather in small clubs and were spurred on by a necessarily DIY attitude. “We started with just 15 people in a room,” says Omair. “Now we’re playing in front of 500 or 600 people at legal events back home. As long as we keep the music clean, it’s all good. Our message is one of peace and love. We just want people to enjoy the sound.”

Fake Shamans hope their creations take people on a “journey-like experience” or at least make them smile. As they once said, “Our message is one of peace and love. We want people to enjoy the sound.”