I remember the first time I saw Turhan James perform a set. It was at the Beach Luxury Hotel in Karachi around three years ago, at an event for Salt Arts. He was opening for the popular Electronic Dance Music (EDM) duo of Talha Dar and Feroze Faisal, Somewhat Super.

Back then, I didn’t know what to make of him. While performing he seemed lost in a world of his own. His set wasn’t bad, but the audience was clearly anxious for Somewhat Super to begin. He’s come a long way since then — releasing several notable collaborations and really coming into his own as a DJ and music producer.

Nowadays, I’m introduced to new music via RJ Anoushey Ashraf’s popular radio programme, The Breakfast Show, on City FM89. And even she was unsure how to ‘pronounce’ Turhan James’ latest offering: TYNA or Tyna?

Is TYNA the song an acronym for Thought You’d Never Ask as used in popular slang? No. It’s an acronym for Teri Yaad Nahin Aati [I Don’t Miss You]. Fun, intelligent acronym play there.

His partner in crime in TYNA is Bilal Baluch from the popular electropop outfit Towers. Originally from Karachi and now based in Lahore, Bilal has been writing and rapping to music from a very young age. His experiments have resulted in numerous collaborations and some very popular numbers.

TYNA starts off with Bilal Baluch’s soft vocals opening the song, accompanied by a light beat on the tabla.

“Itni duur se/ Kuchh nazar bhi aaye/ Darwazay khulwaaye/ Milne aaye sab thay/ Par anjaan hain woh hum se…”

[From a distance/ I can see/ I opened doors/ Everyone came to visit/ Now, they are strangers…]

“… Kis ko main sunaoon?/ Woh qissay mere dil ke/ Jo kab se bhool chuka hun/ Zameen bhi jab gawah thi/ Tau waqti zalzilay thay/ Har kisi ki zubaan pe/ Har qism ke gilay hain”

[… Who do I vent to?/ The stories in my heart/ That I have long forgotten/ What even the earth was witness to/ They were just temporary earthquakes/ On everyone’s lips/ Were all kinds of remonstrations]

After he opens the song, it moves into a repetition of a sample that sounds like a distorted chord on the electric guitar. It gives an ethereal vibe to the whole song. Turhan turns the bass on around the chorus, amp-ing up the beat and the overall rhythm of the song. At this point, we know we’ve reached the climax of the song.

“Woh dil torr day?/ Annoying/ I’m on my way/ Bin roye/ Ab teri yaad nahi aati/ Hum bhoolay/ Teri yaad nahi aati/ Hum bhoolay”

[She’s going to break my heart?/ Annoying/ I’m on my way/ Without shedding a tear/ I don’t miss you now/ I have forgotten [you]/ I don’t miss you/ / I have forgotten [you]]

TYNA is both a song of longing and vindication. Of being wistful and, yet, moving on. You wouldn’t think an EDM number would deal with such a complex emotion, but here we are.

Published in Dawn, ICON, December 18th, 2022