Coke Studio Nu.WAV has officially begun its musical journey with the release of its first track, ‘Dil’, bringing together emerging artists Afusic and Zoha Waseem in an intimate song exploring themes of love, distraction and emotional connection.
The track marks the first of six planned releases under the Coke Studio Nu.WAV project, which aims to introduce a new generation of Pakistani musical voices and sounds.
‘Dil’ Came Together Naturally
According to the project’s creative story, ‘Dil’ began almost spontaneously when producer Ali Soomro picked up his guitar and started developing the initial idea.
Within around 20 minutes, a beat had started taking shape. Later that night, the idea reached Afusic, who responded with a voice note featuring vocals recorded on his phone.
By the following morning, the team reportedly felt little need to change what had emerged naturally during the creative process.
Soomro described the experience as “aamad”, referring to an idea arriving naturally rather than something being deliberately forced or searched for.
Afusic and Zoha Waseem Join Forces
The track brings together Afusic and Zoha Waseem, creating a musical conversation between two different perspectives.
While Afusic’s contribution establishes the song’s initial emotional direction, Zoha’s entry adds another dimension to the story. Her voice transforms the track from what begins as a personal expression into a conversation between two people.
The collaboration also highlights the project’s focus on bringing emerging Pakistani artists together and allowing them to experiment with contemporary sounds while retaining their individual musical identities.
Surreal Visuals Accompany the Track
The visual world of ‘Dil’ expands on the song’s themes of distraction and emotional distance.
Directed by Kamal Khan, the music video uses surreal imagery to tell the story of Afusic’s character, who struggles to find his way back home.
The narrative is loosely inspired by classic hero’s journey stories, with the character moving through an unusual world while trying to reach his destination.
Meanwhile, Zoha’s character exists in a world where everything appears physically out of place.
A World Turned Upside Down
One of the video’s central visual elements is the strange environment surrounding Zoha.
Furniture appears suspended from the ceiling, while ordinary household objects are positioned in unexpected places. The unusual setting creates a visual representation of disruption and separation.
The surreal world remains disconnected until the two characters eventually find themselves in the same room.
At that moment, the visual disorder is resolved and everything falls back into place, reinforcing the central emotional idea behind the song.
Coke Studio Nu.WAV Introduces New Voices
The release of ‘Dil’ marks the beginning of Coke Studio Nu.WAV’s six-track series.
The project is positioned around emerging artists and contemporary Pakistani music, providing a platform for new collaborations and fresh creative approaches.
With Afusic and Zoha Waseem opening the series, ‘Dil’ combines an organic songwriting process with a visually ambitious music video.
The track also represents another step in the continuing evolution of Pakistani music, where emerging artists are increasingly blending different influences and experimenting with new forms of musical storytelling.
As the first release from the series, ‘Dil’ sets the tone for the remaining Nu.WAV tracks, with further releases expected to introduce more artists, collaborations and sounds.
Also read: Coke Studio Season 15 Opens With “Aayi Aayi”
