Mekaal Hasan Band
Mekaal Hasan Band brings South Asian classical melodies, Sufi poetry and Punjabi folk music into progressive rock, with guitar, bansuri and soaring vocals at its heart.
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MHB’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus their backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Overview
- Home
- Lahore, Pakistan
- Founder
- Guitarist, composer and producer Mekaal Hasan
- First album
- Sampooran (2004)
- Sound
- Sufi poetry, South Asian classical music and jazz rock
Mini bio
How it started.
Mekaal Hasan returned to Pakistan after studying at Berklee College of Music. The band took shape in Lahore in the early 2000s around an idea that still guides its music: give South Asian classical and folk traditions a contemporary setting.
Finding their sound.
Their 2004 debut Sampooran paired Javed Bashir’s vocals and Mohammad Ahsan Papu’s flute with Mekaal’s guitar. Its arrangements drew on 1970s jazz rock, including Weather Report and Mahavishnu Orchestra. Saptak followed, and Andholan introduced Indian vocalist Sharmistha Chatterjee on the band’s third studio album.
Keeping the conversation going.
Mekaal’s Rivayat series records Pakistani grassroots musicians, with selected performances joined by international guests. More recently, MHB has toured a tribute to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Michael Brook’s Night Song, connecting qawwali with the band’s progressive rock approach.
Creditschronological, newest first
- 2026The Night Of SongRecording artist
- 2023RivayatMusic series created and produced by Mekaal Hasan
- 2014AndholanThird studio album
- 2010SaptakSecond studio album
- 2004SampooranDebut album
Awards
Quotes
I don’t want perfect. Perfect is boring.Mekaal Hasan, This Being Human, Aga Khan Museum
Speaking with Mai Habib about his approach to music and bringing traditional and contemporary sounds together.
Trivia
- The bansuri, a traditional flute played by Mohammad Ahsan Papu, is central to the band’s sound.
- Sampooran’s credits include British percussionist Pete Lockett and bassist Michael Mondesir.
- Rivayat’s international guests include bassist Shez Raja, bassist Anton Davidyants and guitarist Gwen Lafitte.
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