INSTEP Magzine

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Rebels with a cause
Instep takes an inside look at the upcoming band, Co-Ven and what makes them a welcome addition to the local music scene.

By Sarah Tareen

As I got out of my car outside Jammin' Java cafe with my notepad and pen, fashionably late to interview the rock band Co-Ven, I was prepared to wait another half an hour or more for the 'celebrities' to show up. I just prayed silently that they hadn't forgotten about the interview (yes I have been stood up before in interviews!) However, upon reaching the entrance, I received a text message from the lead singer of the band, Hamza Jafri, saying, "We are waiting." As embarrassed as I was, I couldn't help feeling intrigued at the same time. For the first time in Pakistan, I had witnessed punctuality in the media. From that moment onwards I knew that this band certainly had something different to offer... punctuality for starters!

At the cafe, I was taken to a table where four regular guys were seated. Chilling out with their cups of coffee, they bore no resemblance to stereotypical third world celebrities (which I must say was a relief). Co-Ven is Hamza Jafri (lead vocalist), Sameer Ahmed (bassist), Omran Shafiq (guitarist) and Sikander Mufti (drummer/percussionist).

As I apologized for the delay, the band told me to 'chill' and to take a seat. Soon, we launched into a discussion about the recent Co-Ven concert. It was their first live concert in ten years. "First concerts are never satisfying," said Sikander Mufti. "It's very chaotic and there isn't a set pattern, nevertheless I think the turn out was pretty impressive." Hamza explained the technical difficulties they encountered, especially during the vocals sound check. On the subject of the performance, my next question was of the tattered costumes that the band came in, which they explained was a subversive statement against bourgeois norms. Hamza added, "Explaining that in detail would also kind of ruin the whole ideology behind it." Fair enough. So what is the story of Co-Ven?

Hamza explained how it started in 1991, in the 'dark ages' of soldierly martial law with no English radio, music channels or any media outlet except for state television. However, in the midst of this suppression, an underground music culture was brewing as Sikander explained, "Underground culture was at its peak in those days, since you had fairly large musical groups performing in vacant houses and performance venues. That was real music."

Sameer Ahmed added reminiscently, "It was a tightly knit underground community, all bands played live since there were no videos in those days and which is why the criteria was higher." The band held their first underground gig in 1991 at 'Saloo's Cafe with an audience of over three hundred people. One of the pioneers of the underground music culture in Lahore, Co-Ven became famous for its live performances; performing at different venues such as Lawrence gardens, Agha Khan University in Karachi, Islamabad club and mainly in an empty house in Gulberg for a selective audience.

In 1997, Co-Ven released 20,000 tapes through the musical store, Offbeat which at that time was the only store providing a nation wide release. The positive feedback from the public encouraged the band to continue releasing further records. However, breaking away from mainstream isn't always easy as the band had its share of problems. One music journalist refused to review the band's music because he thought it was ripped off from somewhere. After the release, Co-Ven began its musical journey of intense jamming sessions, composing lyrics, and becoming the band that it is, today.

"There was no plan really," Sameer said and added, "Hamza started composing the songs and we would jam for hours." During the course of their career, the band has had a revolving cast of members, ranging from Ali Noor (Noori), Farhad Humayun (Overload) and members of EP. After 1997, the band members were temporarily separated, as Hamza took off for London, Omran settled in Houston, Sameer in Lahore and Sikander in Karachi. The geographical boundaries, however did not affect the driving force of Co-Ven. The band mates continued to stay in touch, with Hamza visiting Omran in Houston, jamming together and the boys getting together in Pakistan for intense recording sessions. A few years later, both Hamza and Omran quit their jobs and returned to Pakistan. At the same time Sikander quit his television career so that they could finally devote more time to Co-Ven.

"That's why it took us so long, the geographical boundaries took up a lot of time as we had to coordinate," said Hamza.

According to Sameer, "Co-Ven's come a long way since then. Initially our songs were inspired from '80s and '90s rock, but later our music evolved into a having a distinct sound of its own."

This fact can be identified with Co-Ven's latest releases, 'Third World Celebrity' and 'Sailing Fast', both being a satirical representation of the social concerns of the society and the state. Clearly, Co-Ven has an ideological motive. I turned to Hamza for an explanation, the man behind the words of Co-Ven. "When I was in the UK, I was thinking about Pakistan a lot and started putting things into perspective. As I was away from the country, it gave me an opportunity to view things objectively. I pondered, I wrote and we composed. There's no doubt about it that Co-Ven is a socially conscious band, because our motive is not to become famous but in fact, it's to educate." This is not just an ordinary rock band; these guys are thinkers, who through their music want to create awareness.

"Living in Pakistan, such issues (related to the state and its policies) are normally blinded. It's almost like people have a denial bypass, which makes it hard for you to see things the way they really are. This is why our songs are aiming at the people responsible for the system. It's like pointing a finger at the people with the blinders." On the subject, Sikander chipped in, "Our songs demand an explanation, an explanation for taxes, an explanation for marginalizing the classes, the government's spill over policies, the million rupees cars driven on the roads of poverty, an explanation of the state."

At the mention of the state, we began discussing the country's current media position as the members voiced out their views on the music scene. The band unanimously agreed that the music industry is currently a mass production apparatus driven by corporations in Pakistan, lacking a proper support system and its need for royalty and copyright laws. "When you have to pay 65 per cent exercise tax out of the sale of the concert tickets, along with other expenses, it is no wonder that the culture of live underground performances is almost non-existent now," Sikander mused. Sameer expressed his views of the lack of criteria with the death of the underground culture and said, "Nowadays any band can become famous with a video. Channels have no criteria for viewing, and bands which have barely played for two months get the publicity through these channels. It's almost like a mass production of homogeneous bands."

There is a fine line between rock and pop music. The culture for both genres is growing. Summing it up in one line, Sikander Mufti smiling said, "Rock is pop in Pakistan."

However, despite the hurdles and the problems, Co-Ven still feels that there is hope for the music industry. The progression will come through time. Hamza pointed out that the bands, which left in the martial law days, are coming back. That in itself is an encouraging sign for the revival of live performances culture. "My advice to upcoming musicians or for any one coming into this field would be simply to be original and to get out of the notion of selling," said Hamza thoughtfully, to which Sikander added, "Once we had a gig at St. Anthony's church which looked awesome at night and could accommodate over two thousand people, but hardly anyone showed up simple because it wasn't a usual commercial concert. This attitude has to change for things to improve."

Currently the band is working on their album, which is to be released soon, and planning out a few gigs. On the subject of long term planning, Sameer replied with a smile, "Hopefully we'll still be playing and perhaps even play abroad as well."

A rock band with an edge, Co-Ven has come a long way rebelling from martial law days, struggling within geographical boundaries, giving up careers, and breaking away from the mainstream music culture. Rebels with a cause, the cause being rock n roll, that's Co-Ven in a nutshell.