Bilal Maqsood () is a Pakistani singer-songwriter, composer, music video director and painter, better known for being a founding member of the pop-rock band Strings (1988–2021).

Early life and education

Bilal Maqsood is the son of the popular writer, actor, artist, TV host and comedian

Anwar Maqsood Anwar Maqsood Hameedi (born 7 September 1939; ), popularly known as Anwar Maqsood, is a Pakistani scriptwriter, television presenter, satirist, humorist, and infrequent actor. He is well known for his drama write-ups for PTV in the late 1970 ...

. His mother Imrana Maqsood is a novelist and playwright who has written children's books and cookbooks and is the recipient of numerous national awards. He is an alumnus of the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture.

Music career

Strings (1988–2021)

For Bilal and his band Strings, formed in 1988, success came in 1992 after the launch of the song ''Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar'', which was well received by the public. The quartet disbanded in 1992 so the members could concentrate on their studies and came back years later in 1999, with Bilal Maqsood and Faisal Kapadia now forming a duo even if other artists would complement them during the live performances. Generally, the band's music was composed by Bilal while the lyrics were penned by his father Anwar Maqsood. Strings made its entry into the

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...

music scene in 2006, when the band sung ''Yeh Hai Meri Kahani'' for the movie ''Zinda'', the single topping the charts. The band ended in 2021.

Solo career (2022–present)

After his departure from Strings following 33 years of activities, Bilal launched his solo music career with gigs in Karachi and Lahore. In May 2022, he released his first solo single, ''Naya Naya'', which he co-wrote with his father. Later during the same year he released the album ''Urdu Nursery Rhymes'', having written, sung and composed eight nursery rhymes so children could get closer to the Urdu language. He developed an online series for children named ''Pakkay Dost'' () in the vein of

Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational television, educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation, and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Worksh ...

to further bolster children's entertainment in Urdu; the first episode was released in September 2023.

Other work

Music production and music video direction

He was the director and co-producer of

Coke Studio Pakistan ''Coke Studio Pakistan'' () is a Pakistani television programme and a part of the international music franchise, Coke Studio, which features studio-recorded music performances by established and emerging artists. It is the longest-running annua ...

from 2014 to 2017 and has also directed a number of

music videos A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...

for his band as well for other artists. In 2020, he became the director and executive producer of another musical show, Velo Sound Station, for its first season.

Painting

Before seriously pursuing a career in music he was a painter, having his paintings exhibited at the Pakistan American Cultural Center in Karachi while he was still a student at the Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture. Since the end of Strings he's spending time on painting again, involving his son Mikael Maqsood in the process as well.

UNICEF

He has been a

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador is an official postnominal honorific title, title of authority, legal status, and job description assigned to those goodwill ambassadors and activists, advocates who are designated by the United Nations. The UNICEF, ...

for Pakistan since September 2005.

Strings discography

;Original albums * '' Strings'' (1990) * '' 2'' (1992) * '' Duur'' (2000) * '' Dhaani'' (2003) * ''

Koi Aanay Wala Hai Koi Aanay Wala Hai (Urdu: کوئی آنے والا ہے, literal English translation: "someone is coming") is the fifth studio album by the Pakistani pop band Strings, released on 16 May 2008. Track listing All songs are written by Anwar Maqs ...

'' (2008) * ''30'' (2018) ;Compilation album * '' Hai Koi Hum Jaisa'' (2003) * ''Tu Hai Kahaan'' (2003)

Videography

* ''Sar Kiye Yeh Pahaar'' (début video of his band Strings) * ''Maula'' (the last video shot by

Vital Signs Vital signs (also known as vitals) are a group of the four to six most crucial medical signs that indicate the status of the body's vital (life-sustaining) functions. These measurements are taken to help assess the general physical health of ...

)Hindustan Times
/ref> * ''Us Rah Par'' (featuring

) * ''Beirut (''Strings'')''

Gallery

References

External links

Strings band – Official website
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Maqsood, Bilal 1971 births Living people Pakistani male singer-songwriters Pakistani singer-songwriters Pakistani guitarists Pakistani pop singers Pakistani music video directors Pakistani painters Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture alumni Strings (band) members Artists from Karachi Musicians from Karachi Pakistani heavy metal guitarists Pakistani Muslims Pakistani people of Hyderabadi descent

Bilal __NOTOC__ Bilal may refer to: People * Bilal (name), or Belal or Bilel, including a list of people with the name * Bilal ibn Rabah, a companion of Muhammad, made calls for prayers * Bilal (American singer) * Bilal (Lebanese singer) Places * Bi ...

B. V. S. Parsi High School alumni UNICEF goodwill ambassadors Muhajir people