Ali Soomro-produced track opens six-song series with a surreal story of love, distraction and finding the way back home
PAKISTAN, September 4: Coke Studio Nu.WAV has launched its new music series with “Dil,” a collaboration between singer and rapper Afusic and vocalist Zoha Waseem, produced by Ali Soomro.
The track is the first of six releases planned under Coke Studio Nu.WAV and explores love, distraction and the emotional pull of the person who remains at the centre of a relationship.
“Dil” reportedly began with Soomro playing his guitar, with a beat taking shape within around 20 minutes. Later that night, Afusic received the idea and returned a voice note featuring vocals recorded on his phone.
By the following morning, the creators decided there was little reason to alter what had emerged so naturally. Soomro describes the creative process as aamad — an idea arriving before it is consciously sought.
Afusic and Zoha Bring Two Perspectives
The song takes a personal approach to love, with Afusic’s verses addressing a woman who knew him before his rise to greater recognition brought increased attention, distractions and a constantly demanding environment.
Zoha Waseem’s arrival changes the dynamic, turning what begins as a personal address into a dialogue and bringing another perspective to the relationship.
The collaboration also reflects the contrasting musical backgrounds of the two performers.
Hyderabad-born Afusic, a singer, songwriter and rapper, has emerged from Pakistan’s independent digital-first music scene as a growing voice in contemporary South Asian pop and hip-hop. His breakout track “Pal Pal” has accumulated hundreds of millions of streams and reached audiences outside Pakistan, including chart success in the UK and Canada.
Zoha Waseem brings classical and ghazal influences to contemporary pop. After gaining recognition through classical performances in Lahore, she reached a wider digital audience with releases including “Majboor,” developing a sound that combines traditional vocal training with modern production.
‘Dil’ Gets a Surreal Visual Treatment
The music video, directed by Kamal Khan, builds on the song’s theme of disruption through a surreal visual narrative.
Loosely inspired by classic hero’s journey stories, the film follows Afusic as he struggles to find his way back home. At the same time, Zoha exists in a world where familiar surroundings have been turned upside down, with furniture hanging from ceilings and everyday objects appearing out of place.
The visual world changes when the two characters finally find themselves in the same room, at which point everything returns to its proper place.
Khan, who is also Executive Producer of Coke Studio Nu.WAV, said “Dil” was chosen as the opening track because it captures the platform’s focus on artists bringing personal ideas and making them their own.
He said the song comes from a real emotional space, while the visual treatment uses the idea of love being tested by distraction to create a surreal world around the performers.
Creative Team Behind ‘Dil’
“Dil” is written and composed by Afusic and Ali Raza, with music arranged and produced by Ali Soomro. The track was mastered by Sean Tallman.
The film’s creative team includes Aamir Mughal as Director of Photography and Syed Hammad Sohail as Production Designer. The project was produced by Gali Films, with Iman Khan serving as Producer.
“Dil” marks the beginning of Coke Studio Nu.WAV’s six-release series, with new songs and accompanying creative worlds scheduled to roll out over the coming weeks.
The track is now available across Coke Studio’s official digital platforms.