Hidden gems: Underrated Coke Studio performances

Editor’s Note: Every month, we feature a fantastic playlist of the best indie music by our partners first.wav.The company works as creative partners for artists—with producers, songwriters and engineers—to help them succeed. The cool bit: first.wav is entirely run by artists—who really know and care about music. For this month, first.wav curates some lesser-known Coke Studio performances that truly deliver and hit that sweet spot.  

Written by: Adi Verma, a music producer, drummer and songwriter.  

While Coke Studio's biggest hits often steal the spotlight, there's a treasure of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. 

In our third collaboration with splainer, we list down some of the lesser-known Coke Studio performances and must-hear tracks from these artists that showcase diversity and ability to push musical boundaries.

‘Chaddh De’ by Clinton Cerejo ft. Master Saleem (Coke Studio India - Season 2): This introspective ballad, penned by Manoj Yadav, urges us to let go of anxieties and embrace life's flow. Clinton Cerejo's masterful composition complements the lyrics and Master Saleem's vocals take centre stage, soaring with controlled emotion that perfectly embodies the song's introspective nature. His voice effortlessly carries the weight of the lyrics. The cello's mournful melody and sweeping strings evoke acceptance and release, making it a perfect piece for reflection.

‘Aaja Re Moray Saiyaan’ by Zeb Bangash (Coke Studio Pakistan - Season 9): Deceptively familiar yet refreshingly original, this song by Zebunisa Bangash explores love's essence through beautiful melodies and layered harmonies. Written by Zehra Nigah, the lyrics explore love in all its forms, with a classic romantic feel. Zebunisa's powerful vocals shine, while Ali Hamza and Ali Noor's harmonies blend beautifully, all set against a lush instrumental backdrop. ‘Aaja Re Moray Saiyaan’ is a guaranteed sing-along with a classic romantic feel.

‘Bharatiyar Trap Rap’ by Ram Sampat, Tony Sebastian & Rajesh Radhakrishnan (Coke Studio India - Season 4): Bharathiyar's timeless poetry, sung by Vidya HariKrishna, transcends generations to deliver powerful messages about freedom and justice. His words remain strikingly relevant in today's world. Meanwhile, Rajesh and Tony inject modern Tamil poetry into the mix, reflecting the lives of their generation before and after independence, and weaving in contemporary realities. Viveick Rajagopalan's intricate konnakol rhythms—which is the art of  performing percussive syllables vocally in Carnatic music—add a layer of complexity, further enriching the narrative. 

‘Haq Maula’ by Dhruv Sangari & The Humble Mystic (Coke Studio India - Season 2): Dhruv Sangari & The Humble Mystic take a familiar path on ‘Haq Maula’—a rendition of the classic qawwali. Lyrically, the song remains true to its roots but Dhruv & The Humble Mystic breathe new life into this qawwali, infusing it with their own vibrant energy. The song opens with a soulful drone, setting the stage for Dhruv’s soaring vocals and eventually the rhythmic pulse of the drums and tabla drives the song forward, creating an infectious energy that's impossible to resist.

‘Kya Karie Korimol’ by Alif, Noor Mohammad & Aashima Mahajan (Coke Studio Bharat - Season 1): ‘Kya Karie Korimol'’ delves into the bittersweet emotions of a father and daughter on her wedding day. Their enduring love and protectiveness are woven into the lyrics, capturing the tender journey they share as they prepare for the wedding feast with an upbeat instrumental that backs the composition. Mohammad Muneem Nazir, recognised for his poignant lyrical compositions is accompanied by the very soulful Aashima Mahajan and Noor Mohammad, an Indian traditional Sufi music performer and songwriter, from Baki-Aker village in North Kashmir.

‘Ye Dunya’ by Karakoram, Talha Anjum & Faris Shafi (Coke Studio Pakistan - Season 14): This potent blend of modern hip-hop and traditional Pashtun music delivers a powerful message. Faris Shafi's socially-conscious verses demand change, while Talha Anjum's rap offers hope and positivity. Their flows intertwine with Sherry Khattak's soulful vocals, emphasising both struggle and unity. Xulfi's masterful production creates a dynamic soundscape with dhol, rubab, and electronic melodies, leaving a lasting impression and urging listeners to reflect and create a better world.

‘Glorious’ by Karsh Kale feat Shruti, Benny & Mandeep (Coke Studio India - Season 2): The song opens with a pulsating rhythm section, layered with traditional Indian beats and contemporary electronic textures. This foundation sets the stage for Indian folk influences to seamlessly blend with elements of funk, electronica and drum ‘n’ bass. Shruti's vocals effortlessly soars over the track, conveying both power and fragility, as Benny Dayal's rhythmic chanting and percussive vocalisations add a layer of raw energy. 

Like these artists? Here are some must-hear bonus tracks

‘Ride Home’ by Alif and Noor Mohammad: Imagine cruising down a sun-drenched highway, the wind whispering through your hair as the landscape unfolds before you. "Ride Home" by Alif and Noor Mohammad perfectly captures this feeling. Alif's smooth vocals, reminiscent of warm summer days, intertwine with Noor Mohammad's soulful voice, creating a mellow emotion.

‘Kyun’ by Karakoram & Hasan Raheem: This contemporary song pulsates with energy, driven by Karakoram's signature sound. But amidst the electronic beats, there's a beautiful thread of folk melodies, woven in seamlessly to create a unique sonic soundscape. Hasan Raheem's vocals soar above the mix, adding another layer of intrigue and depth to the track. 

‘Shiva’ by Karsh Kale: An instrumental masterpiece by Karsh Kale. This track effortlessly blends the Indian elements like sitar and tabla with electronica and other contemporary elements. The result is an immersive soundscape that washes over you, transporting you to another dimension. Karsh has beautifully bridged the gap between tradition and modernity with this track. 

Listening with first.wav 

first.wav is a music company run by artists that helps connect listeners to new music. With a team of writers, producers, singers, first.wav is a creative partner to artists that helps them navigate the tricky music world by giving them a platform to scale-up. Head over to our Spotify page to find out all the music we've been listening to.