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Bollywood star Shilpa Rao to feature on Coke Studio Pakistan

Karachi - We heard her sing and just told her 'you are coming to Lahore!' - Ali Hamza, one half of popular Pakistani band Noori.

In what promises to be the most unique and exciting season of Coke Studio Pakistan yet, the ninth season of the hugely popular music show is set to spring a major surprise. Primed to launch in August this year, Coca-Cola Pakistan's musical extravaganza will feature Bollywood singing sensation Shilpa Rao performing with the evergreen Pakistani band, Noori.

The 32-year- old singer, who has blockbuster hits like Khuda Jaane, Subhanallah, Malang and Meherbaan to her credit, travelled to Pakistan recently to record the song for Noori, who are one of the six directors on Coke Studio Season 9.

"I met Noori in Delhi for lunch at a common friends' gathering," said Rao. "We hung out, sang songs together and that is when they asked me to come to Pakistan and sing for Coke Studio. I agreed - Ali took it very seriously and actually got me here to record the song. It's basically musicians bonding with each other. One song can make you friends for life - that is the power of music!"

Ali Hamza, one half of the Noori duo remarked, "We heard her sing and just told her 'you are coming to Lahore!'"

Rao will be the first Indian artist to perform on Coke Studio Pakistan - a collaboration which personifies the career the talented singer has had so far. From singing jingles to playback in

Bollywood and collaborations to winning hearts in live stage performances, she's done it all. Coke Studio Pakistan and Rao promises to be a great combo as the music on the show is a fusion of folk or classical melody with western beats - a formula that is also seen in many of Rao's hit numbers in Bollywood. The show gives you the best of both worlds with a musical integration that marries the old with the new and the contemporary with the modern.

"It (Coke Studio Pakistan) is a place where all the musicians are in an environment where they have their instruments, their space and the freedom to choose anything and convey it to the people in their own style; it's very powerful," Rao enthused, talking about her experience on the show. "It's an ideal situation to make music. It's a great place and I am fortunate enough to be here. As a musician, to have a place where you can do whatever you want is great and I think very few people get this opportunity."

The ninth version of Coke Studio Pakistan will see six music directors do their magic under the mentorship of executive producers, Strings, who will be in their third season on the show as producers. Over 30 artists will be featuring in this new season, representing different music styles and genres, something music lovers all around the world should keenly look forward to.