Qayaas

Lore & Background

Qayaas started when Khurram Waqar saw Umair Jaswal performing at a jam with his band SilverSmoke at Root Gate Studio in Islamabad. Waqar, then in the band kNuMB, put that project on hold and invited Jaswal to work on material that initially was planned as an acoustic EP but later became a full-length album. The lineup was completed with Sarmad Abdul Ghafoor on rhythm guitar, Shaheryar Ghayas on bass, and Salman Rafique on drums. The band's name, Qayaas, meaning "deliberation," reflected their collaborative creative process.

The band rose to fame with the 2009 single "Tanha," whose music video ranked among MTV Pakistan's top 15 videos of 2009. The follow-up single "Umeed" became one of the most requested songs on City FM 89. In 2010, their song "Mera Wana" appeared on the Metal Asia Compilation, and they released the music video "Pukaar" dedicated to the 2010 Pakistan flood victims. That same year, Qayaas became the first Pakistani band to win the "Best Rock Band" award at the Rolling Stones-Jack Daniels awards in New Delhi, India.

In 2011, Qayaas released their debut studio album Uss Paar, recorded at Root Gate Studios and released by BIY Records. The album was critically acclaimed and led to the band becoming the first from Pakistan to be invited to perform at the SXSW music festival in America. In November 2012, three original members—Sarmad Abdul Ghafoor, Shaheryar Ghayas, and Salman Rafique—left the band for personal reasons.

Reader's Guide

Qayaas holds significance as a pioneering force in Pakistani progressive rock, a genre that was rare in the country's music scene at the time of their formation. Their debut album Uss Paar received critical acclaim and helped establish a cult following, while their international recognition—including being the first Pakistani band invited to perform at SXSW—marked a milestone for the nation's rock music. The band's song "Inquilaab" reached the semi-finals of the International Songwriting Competition out of 15,000 entries globally, underscoring their creative reach. Their legacy is also tied to their social commentary, as seen in the single "Mera Wana," which addressed the War on Terror and drone strikes, and the flood-relief dedication of "Pukaar." Despite lineup changes in 2012, Qayaas continued to produce music, including a collaboration with Atif Aslam on Coke Studio Pakistan in 2012. Their work remains a reference point for progressive rock in South Asia.

Did You Know?

• Qayaas was the first band from Pakistan to win the 'Best Rock Band' award at the Rolling Stones-Jack Daniels awards in 2010.
• The band's song 'Inquilaab' made it to the semi-finals of the International Songwriting Competition out of 15,000 entries.
• Qayaas was one of the first Pakistani bands to be invited to perform at the SXSW music festival in America.
• The band's music video 'Pukaar' was dedicated to the 2010 Pakistan flood victims.