User:Farhad.humayun/sandbox

Overload is a rock band from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Founded in 2003, by drummer/producer & now vocalist Farhad Humayun, who was soon joined by Sheraz Siddiq on keyboards, Hassan Mohyeddin on percussion and featured dhol players, Pappu Sain and Jhura Sain. Overload are regarded as the "Loudest band in Pakistan" by many critics.

Since their inception, the band has released two studio albums. The band's self-titled debut album, Overload, released in 2006, charted at #1 spot in the Pakistani music charts. After the release of the band's first album, Pappu Sain, regarded as the greatest dhol player in the world, left the band due to ill health. He was replaced by Nasir Sain. Farhad Humayun spotted the vocal potential of Meesha Shafi at a college event & asked her to try out a few songs he & Sheraz had written. She was recruited as the vocalist for one album. Farhad hired his kid cousin Mahmood Rahman, now husband & manager of Meesha, to play guitars on the album & in concert. This was followed by the band releasing their second studio album, Pichal Pairee, in 2009. Although, the album released exclusively as a digital download album, and has not been released on a physical medium, it still topped the charts locally. Singles from the album, "Pichal Pairee", "Mela Kariyay" and "Dhol Bajay Ga!" were critical hits.

Early Works and Dropping of Vocalist & Guitarist
Since their inception, the group has released two albums, one self-titled, released in 2006 and Pichal Pairee, released on August 14, 2009. Three songs from their debut album Overload were released as singles; "Cursed", "Dhamaal" and "Storm". Two music videos were also released from their second album; "Pichal Pairee" and "Mela Kariye". The band's first album charted at #1 spot in the Pakistan music charts, whereas their second album, even though released exclusively online for free, still topped the charts locally.

After the release of the band's first album, Pappu Sain, regarded as the greatest dhol player in the world, was asked to take a break from the band due to deteriorating health. Pappu Saeein was suffering from acute diabetes, and claustrophobia, which limited air travel. His lifestyle & habits didn't allow him to come back to the band even later. He was replaced by Nasir Sain of Daska village in Sialkot who is now one of the top dhol players in the world.

The Falling Out and "Batti"
In July 2010, Mahmood revealed to the band that Meesha was expecting a baby. Both original members Farhad & Sheraz blessed the couple. After a couple of months of touring, the doctor advised Meesha not to stand for long hours & soon she became unfit to sing in front of an audience. Farhad & Sheraz asked Haroon Shahid, singer of the band Symt to fill in for a few dates. However, this wasn't a permanent arrangement. Farhad asked Meesha to come back after having the baby but in a fit of rage she demanded that the band take a break for a year & perform no shows nor any videos without her. The band leader, Farhad declined her demand saying "There are people depending on the band for their livelihood & it is unfair to hold them hostage". Overload decided to continue without the husband & wife & went ahead with the shooting of the video of Dhol Bajay Ga in Farhad's voice. Sheraz, Farhad & Nasir Sain felt the band needed to be self sufficient & hiring another singer for a year, launching her/him would be a hassle at this point in the band's career. Initially Mahmood had agreed to this arrangement but due to growing pressure from his wife, he eventually sided with her. The couple issued a press release saying they left the band due to "creative and practical differences that were fast proving irreconcilable. The drummer and founding member Farhad Humayun stated that the couple had not left the band but had actually been 'dropped'. He said that Overload was a professional band & will still continue its work and that "Meesha is a very ambitious girl and she will go far, but she and Mahmood cannot come back to the band since they abandoned it".

The gravity of the rift in the band surfaced when Farhad released "Dhol Baje Ga" as "Batti" (Light) on YouTube and Meesha issued a copyright claim to the website that led to the video's subsequent removal. Farhad Humayun stated in the follow-up that he has legal rights over everything produced by Overload and remains the sole proprietor of Overload since 2003. Furthermore he said that "Batti" is an all together new song with different lyrics, different title and different music as compared to "Dhol Bajay Ga". "The whole world knows Overload is my band. I formed it in 2003. I own it legally & each person working for the band is hired by me", The video is available on Facebook for public viewing.

After all that has happened, "Batti" turns out to be an immense success nationwide. TV channels & radio stations still played the song, even though they had been issued warnings by Meesha Shafi's lawyer, due to the credibility & long time friendship of Farhad Humayun.

On the CD cover of Pichal Pairee it was made evident that the songs were property of Overload (which is owned by Farhad Humayun)

Humayun has taken over as lead vocalist. His vocals are comparable to classical rock that emerged during the 70s and 80s and has been well received by critics and the audience alike. The latest release by Overload which was a cover of a Syed Noor film song "Neray Aah" has been their biggest hit to date & the Overload Live At the Apartment sessions have won the band more respect & critical acclaim.

Overload will feature on the upcoming fifth season of Coke Studio in which Farhad has taken over as drummer in the house band.

Discography

 * Studio albums
 * Overload (2006)
 * Pichal Pairee (2009)


 * Live albums
 * Pichal Pairee Tour 2009 (2009)
 * Overload Live at the Apartment Sessions (2011)


 * Singles
 * Cursed
 * Storm
 * Dhamaal
 * Pichal Pairee
 * Mela Kariye
 * Batti

Band members

 * Farhad Humayun - drums, vocals
 * Sheraz Siddiq - keyboards

Collaborations with Other Artists

 * Collaborations - Current
 * Nasir Sain - dhol
 * Kaala Sain - dhol
 * Farhan Ali - Bass
 * Haider Hashmi - guitar
 * Ustaad Allah Lok - pakhawaj
 * Jaffer Hussain - clarinet
 * Shahzad Hameed - guitar
 * Umair Nadeem - guitar


 * Collaborations - Past
 * Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan Vocals
 * Mekaal Hassan - guitar
 * Hassan Mohyeddin - percussions
 * Pappu Sain - dhol
 * Jhura Sain - dhol
 * Mahmood Rahman - guitar
 * Meera "Meesha" Rahman - vocals, backing vocals

Awards

 * Overload won the 'Best Live Act Award' at the Lux Style Awards 2006.
 * "Dhamaal" was nominated for the 'Best Music Video' at the Lux Style Awards 2008.
 * Overload were nominated for the 'Best Music Artist' award at the Lux Style Awards 2010 for their album Pichal Pairee.
 * Farhad Humayun was nominated for the 'Best Music Producer' for "Pichal Pairee" & for the 'Best Music Video Director' for Mela Kariyay