Asim Azhar, Shae Gill’s ‘Bulleya’ is the perfect road trip jam

KARACHI: If there was a repeat collaboration we needed, there is no doubt that it was one with Asim Azhar and Shae Gill. After listening to them sing the PSL anthem last year, we got a taste of what good music sounds like and we were left wanting more. And we’ve finally got it! Asim Azhar had been teasing his fans with his new song and to add to the excitement was the news that the song would feature none other than Shae Gill. And the collaboration does not disappoint!

Titled ‘Bulleya’, the song is described as, “A song about peace, harmony & love.” Right from the get go, the lyrics hit us right in the feels. Asim Azhar questions how we’ve become so cold and why there’s more hate than love in our lives. He ponders on how like a paper boat we’re just floating away with the tide of negativity. And Shae Gill’s part adds to the feeling of how we’ve lost our individuality because we’re trying to fit into a mold that is not meant for us. The song make us realize how important it is to be ourselves and how trying to be like everyone is more harmful than beneficial.

But it’s not just the lyrics of the new Asim Azhar song that get to us. The video is not one that we can skip. We see a juxtaposition of both singers standing in front of the camera, looking unhappy as they sing about how the negativity is taking over our lives which is a stark contrast to the happiness whilst they sing in the open air with the coastal road of Makran with the Princess of Hope set against the background. We also get to see a beautiful side to Karachi in the video, featuring smiling faces of children enjoying the most basic of treats to the roads of the city we pass by and take their beauty for granted.

As it turns out, we almost didn’t get to hear the new Asim Azhar song. He took to Instagram to confess, “A song i wrote 5 years ago about peace, love & harmony not knowing where it would end up is finally yours today. Yesterday, i lost someone very dear to me. I didn’t know if i wanted to release this song today anymore. But then i kept thinking about the lyrics of this song which i wrote about life.” He went on to say, “Life is so fragile & short. This song is a message for everyone to be kind, loving & tolerant. Specially in times like these we are in today.”

Individually, the two artists have been enjoying quite a bit of success. Shae Gill recently featured in two back to back hits 'Sukoon' (featuring Hassan and Roshaan) and ‘Left Right’ (alongside Ali Sethi, Abdullah Siddiqui and Maanu). As for Asim Azhar, he just finished touring the US and in the UK. He also recently collaborated with the Norwegian singer Astrid S for her song the ‘Darkest Hour’.