Pakistan’s first homegrown global music platform, brought Season 1 to a memorable close with a special finale screening at Cue Cinemas Lahore, celebrating a journey that began in the mountains of Hunza and travelled across languages, cultures, and borders.
The evening gathered artists, creators, media, friends of the project, and members of the Humnava community for a full screening of the season. Conversations between the songs gave audiences a closer look at the world behind Humnava, the creative process, the collaborations and the people who shaped the season and brought it to life. The evening also featured a special live dance performance by The Colony, led by Saad Sheikh, set to Qataghani.
Co-founded by Xulfi and Muhammad Ibrahim, and conceived as a global music and art movement rooted in Pakistan, Humnava was created to connect artists from across the world through the universal language of music. Season 1 brought together a diverse community of musicians from Pakistan and abroad for an immersive 40-day music camp in Hunza, featuring over 30 musicians and collaborators, including artists from France, Germany, Algeria, Zambia, Hunza, and across Pakistan.
The event also marked the release of Darmaan, the closing song of Humnava Season 1. Filmed at Eagle’s Nest, Hunza, Darmaan brings the season to an emotional and reflective end. Written by Imran Ullah Hunzai, also known as Ramz, the song explores longing, absence, surrender, and the quiet truth of love. Rather than trying to resolve the feeling of longing, Darmaan leans into it, capturing how the very thing that breaks us open can also become the thing that holds us together.
Darmaan features vocals by Faheem Uddin Hunzai and Anushah Sadruddin, with Sherry Khattak on acoustic guitar, Blaise Francois Merlin on violin, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Ilhan Karim and Muhammad Hunaid on rubab, Lina Marie Marcelle on cello, Amine Laroug on electric guitar, Melvin Arthur on bass, Adnan Karim on percussion, and Veeru Shan on duff. The song has been arranged by Xulfi and Sherry Khattak, produced by Xulfi, and created as the final emotional chapter of the season.
Speaking about the close of Season 1, Xulfi said, “Over the past months, we have found friendship, community, and a family through music here in Hunza. But like all beautiful moments, this chapter will come to an end. We will leave, seasons will change, and even this landscape will not remain the same.
That is one of the ideas at the heart of Humnava. Nature is not just the backdrop to our journey—it is our Humnava, our companion and collaborator. And with that comes a responsibility to care for and protect it.
This experience has also shown us the limitless potential of Pakistan’s music, artists, and culture. Humnava has only scratched the surface. It is the first chapter of a much larger journey to discover extraordinary talent and share it with the world in an authentic way.
More than anything, Humnava has given us hope. Across Pakistan, there are countless stories, sounds, and artists waiting to be discovered. At a time when audiences are embracing emerging talent based on genuine connection, it feels possible for Pakistan to become one of the world’s most exciting music destinations.”
Humnava Season 1 featured nine songs, each created in conversation with a distinct location, language, and cultural context. From intimate performances rooted in Hunza’s landscape to collaborations between Pakistani and international musicians, the season explored how music can become a bridge between people, places, and memories.
Indeed, the finale screening at Cue Cinemas was a celebration of the community that supported the project throughout the season, while also offering audiences a chance to experience Humnava as a complete cinematic and musical journey.
Following the close of Season 1, Humnava will soon announce Season 2, continuing its mission to build new spaces for global collaboration, artistic exchange, and music rooted in shared human experience.
Darmaan is now available to watch on YouTube, stream on Spotify, and experience across broadcast platforms.
Watch the official video here: https://youtu.be/KP2mD5sXVGQ?si=r7cslm7VXUtPqJa5
Listen on Spotify here: Humnava on Spotify
Partners for Humnava include Spotify as Music Streaming Partner, IG Square as Media Partner, European Union Delegation to Pakistan, UNESCO, Ambiance as Hospitality Partner, Active Media as On-Ground Partner, Sahar Advertising Services as OOH Partner, Brand Active as OOH Partner, and Lotus as PR Partner.
For more information, visit:
https://www.instagram.com/humnavaworld/
