KARACHI: One of Pakistan’s most beloved and talented musicians, Haniya Aslam, passed away on Sunday after suffering a cardiac arrest.

One half of the duo ‘Zeb and Haniya’, the news of her passing was confirmed by cousin and bandmate Zeb Bangash.

Born in Kohat, Aslam spent her early years moving across Pakistan as her father was in government service. In interviews, she recalled how coming from a musically inclined family helped foster an interest in music from a very early age.

“In my family, when you get together and wanted to have fun, there were two things you could do; eat or play music,” she recalled in a recent interview.

Starting out in college as part of a musical duo alongside cousin Zeb Bangash, Aslam eventually found the ‘intersection of tech and music’ to be her calling

Recalling her experiences playing in the Islamabad underground music scene, Aslam described jamming with bands like Corduroy on open mic nights at the Civil Junction café.

She was propelled to the limelight in 2001, when Zeb and Haniya released Chup while both were still in college, where Haniya was majoring in computer science. The track’s success led to a long-term collaboration between the two.

Together, the duo became a sensation known for their unique sound that blended traditional Eastern music with Western influences. Their performances on various seasons of Coke Studio, particularly hits like Paimoona, Bibi Sonem Janum, Rona Chor Diya, Chal Diye, Laili Jaan, and Kya Khayal Hai, left an indelible mark on the hearts of listeners.

In 2014, Aslam left the band and moved to Canada, where she earned an Audio Engineering Diploma (AED). Despite being abroad, she never lost touch with her Pakistani roots, which was evident in her compositions and guitar playing.

“Throughout my time in Zeb and Haniya… I was far more interested near the [control] board than what was happening on stage or in the recording booth. Took me a while to realise that the intersection of music and technology is where I belong,” she said in a Nov 2023 interview.

She eventually returned and resumed her musical career in Pakistan, with tracks such as Ayi Re. She also returned to Coke Studio with the feminist track Main Irada. Together with Rachel Viccaji, she called for women to embrace their strength.

Her work extended beyond albums and she composed songs for films such as Lala Begum, Maypole Rose, and Dobara Phir Se, showcasing her versatility and deep understanding of musical composition.

The news of her sudden passing came as a shock to friends and fans alike, with many taking to social media to express condolences to her friends and family, as well as sharing stories to remember her.

In a tribute to Aslam, filmmaker Mehreen Jabbar wrote on Instagram: “I don’t know where to begin. I could speak of the music she produced, the songs she sang, and how Zeb and Haniya as a band brought joy and pathos to me and so many others. I could share how she was such an incredible collaborator on so many of my projects... But beyond her artistic gifts, she was such a soft-spoken, non-judgmental, kind, endlessly curious, and loving person.”

Filmmaker and journalist Hasan Zaidi described her as “the sweetest and most down-to -earth person”.

“I had once approached her because I told her I had an idea for a video for one of Zeb and Haniya’s songs that had just been released. She was very enthusiastic and asked me to go ahead with it,” he recalled.

While that project never materialsed, the two got to know each other and kept in touch.

“She was a talented musician and composer no doubt, but what endeared her to me was that she had absolutely no airs whatsoever. She was just a very genuine artist and person and we are all poorer for having lost her so soon,” Mr Zaidi said.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2024