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Natasha Noorani (Urdu: نتاشا نورانی) is a Pakistani musician, singer, songwriter, playback singer, voice-over artist, and ethnomusicologist from Lahore. She is the co-founder and festival director of Lahore Music Meet (LMM). She is known for her "Lolly-Pop" style, which is a combination of retro subcontinental and electronic pop music. Natasha has also performed at Boiler Room's first-ever Pakistan edition.

Early life and education

Noorani has been passionate about music from a young age, coming from a musically inclined family. She has a BSc in Political Science from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and an MMus degree in Ethnomusicology from SOAS University of London. Natasha was the only Pakistani to be awarded the Goethe Talents Scholarship in 2019.

Career

Natasha began formally began her music career in 2014 as a part of the duo indie band, Biryani Brothers. Her debut EP Munaasib, was noted by the indie music scene prior to her receiving the Goethe Talents Scholarship. She was launched into mainstream music in 2019 with her first Velo Sound Station single "Baby Baby", made in collaboration with Bilal Maqsood. Noorani's first song from her debut album RONAQ called "Choro" was one of the most played songs on CityFM89 in 2021. She has been an ambassador for Spotify's EQUAL Pakistan campaign.

Noorani has experimented with various genres including R&B, progressive rock, neo-soul and Lollywood pop. She has been trained in khyal gayaki by the Pakistani qawwal and Sufi singer, Akbar Ali. Her collaborations are with versatile artists such as Hasan Raheem, Abdullah Siddiqui, Takatak, Talal Qureshi, Sikandar Ka Mandar, Shorbanoor, and Strings.

Additionally, she has experience as both a playback singer and voice-over artist. Noorani has also recorded soundtracks for local films such as Baaji (2019) and Chalay Thay Saath (2017).

She has received UNESCO recognition as a Creative Entrepreneur and actively serves as a consultant for diverse cultural projects, including the British Council Pakistan and Music Connect Asia. Noorani has also been a promoter of local talent via curating music for various entities such as NTS. She has also curated the 2020 and 2021 Pakistan Super League (PSL) anthems and Coke Studio Season 14. In Coke Studio Season 10, she held the position of General Manager. This led to her managing Strings, overseeing the release of their album 30. In addition to her various endeavors, she has worked as a Marketing Executive at CityFM89 radio station.

Peshkash, the brainchild of Noorani, is a notable undertaking that seeks to archive and promote 20th century Pakistani music. Insights derived from her archival work have found publication in Dawn and Herald.

Her social work also includes creating a song "Pyaar Banto" for Down Syndrome awareness in collaboration with Ali Hamza, Nafisa Khalid, Bilal Ali, and Haroon Shahid.

Discography

Singles and collaborations

Lollywood

EPs

Studio album

References

1. ^ Rehman, Sonya (16 December 2022). "In Her Element - Natasha Noorani". Forbes. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
2. "Natasha Noorani drops two singles from 'RONAQ'". The Express Tribune. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
3. Mossadiq, Zainab (24 September 2022). "Natasha Noorani's Laiyan encapsulates the yearning for a beloved in a long-distance relationship". Something Haute. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
4. "Natasha Noorani". Boiler Room. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
5. Syed, Madeeha (21 June 2022). "'A celebration of Pakistani music': Local artists meld EDM, folk and pop music for the Boiler Room". Images. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
6. Bhutto, Fatima (19 December 2022). "Superheroes, jazz, queer art: how Pakistan's transgressive pop culture went global". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
7. ^ Nasreen, Gul. "Natasha Noorani". The News International. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
8. Rashid, Ayesha binte (15 June 2018). "SPOTLIGHT: YOUNG GUNS OF MUSIC". Dawn. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
9. "About". Natasha Noorani. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
10. ^ "Musician Natasha Noorani Selected For Goethe Talents 2019". Academia. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
11. ^ Siddiqui, Saman (7 August 2019). "Natasha Noorani selected as the only Pakistani for Goethe Talents 2019". Oyeyeah. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
12. Abbasi, Sindhu (5 September 2019). "Biryani Brothers are a retro musical duo that isn't afraid to laugh at themselves". Images. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
13. Britto, David (23 March 2020). "Watch Pakistani Singer-Songwriter Natasha Noorani's Face Blurring Video for 'Apocalypse How?'". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
14. beehype (27 November 2018). "Pakistan: Natasha Noorani - "Munaasib"". beehype – Best Music from Around the World. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
15. ^ Baji, Band (3 December 2020). "It's Natasha Noorani's turn to enjoy the spotlight". Images. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
16. "It's not worth it, don't do it: Natasha Noorani dedicates 'Faltu Pyar' to women". MM News. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
17. "From Hasan Raheem to Natasha Noorani: The 13 most played Pakistani songs on CityFM89 in 2021". Images. 28 December 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
18. "Singer Natasha Noorani breaks down her hit single 'Choro'". Images. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
19. "Natasha Noorani lights up New York City's Times Square". Daily Pakistan Global. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
20. ^ "Natasha Noorani". www.thewildcity.com. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
21. "On the radar: 5 Pakistani artists you must start following". The Express Tribune. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
22. Mahmood, Arif (21 July 2014). "Akbar Ali - another tale of Pakistani talent shining in India". Dawn. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
23. "Takatak Reimagines 'Flash Your Bones' With Natasha Noorani & Talal Qureshi". www.thewildcity.com. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
24. ^ "Natasha Noorani – +92D". Retrieved 24 May 2023.
25. "Natasha Noorani announces the launch of her new album 'Ronaq'". Daily Times. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
26. "Wild City #199: Natasha Noorani". www.thewildcity.com. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
27. Sabeeh, Maheen. "Natasha Noorani debuts Munaasib EP". The News International. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
28. "A Library, A Time Machine, A Contact Zone: Natasha Noorani's Peshkash Maps Postcolonial Pakistani Music". www.thewildcity.com. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
29. Noorani, Natasha (13 March 2019). "In transit: A brief history of PIA's in-flight music". Dawn. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
30. "KDSP celebrates Down Syndrome Awareness Month with new anthem, 'Pyaar Baanto'". Images. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2023.

• Living people
• Pakistani musicians
• Lahore University of Management Sciences alumni