[Hunza/Lahore, 4th June 2026] Humnava, Pakistan’s homegrown global music platform, launched Isekta, the eighth song from its first season, at a special cultural celebration co-hosted with the British Council at the British Council Library in Lahore.
The evening brought together artists, cultural voices, creative professionals and audiences for an intimate listening session and conversation celebrating music as a universal language. The event featured selected Humnava screenings, reflections from the project’s creators, and a panel discussion on cultural exchange, inclusion, language exploration and the role of music in connecting communities.
The launch event reflects British Council Pakistan’s long-standing role in supporting arts, culture and creative exchange. Held at the British Council Library in Lahore, the launch also coincides with the 10 year anniversary of reopening of British Council libraries in Karachi and Lahore.
Ben Lawton, Deputy Director, British Council Pakistan, said: “Our work in arts and culture builds creative and collaborative global communities that inspire innovation, inclusion, and enterprise. Humnava is an example of how music can open new spaces for cultural exchange, while placing Pakistan’s creative voice within a wider global conversation. We were delighted to co-host this celebration and support a platform that brings together artists, languages and communities through the shared language of music.”
Isekta is an Arabic track with a deeply meditative and emotional aura. Written and composed by Bakrin Timlfati, the song carries a feeling of longing, memory and inner love. Its production brings together emotional guitars, traditional percussion and haunting vocals to create a soundscape that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Curated by Xulfi and Sherry Khattak, Isekta features Bakrin Timlfati, Eliza Khan and Shahid Hussain on vocals. The track has been arranged by Xulfi, Sherry Khattak and Bakrin Timlfati, and produced and mixed by Xulfi. The song also features Amine Laroug on acoustic guitars and backing vocals, Muhammad Hunaid on rubab, Melvin Arthur and Dorian Jonas Goetsch on synth bass, Xulfi on percussion and Adnan Karim on djembe. The music video has been filmed at Passu Ground in Hunza.
Speaking about the release, Xulfi, Curator and Producer of Humnava, said: “Isekta means souvenir — something you carry with you long after a moment has passed. At its heart, the song is about those final moments you know will never return. It could be the last conversation with someone you love, the last evening shared with friends, or the fleeting feeling of hope, connection, and harmony that exists only in a particular place and time. You are together now, fully present in the moment, yet somewhere inside you already know that when it ends, it can never be recreated in exactly the same way.
What made this song even more meaningful was that the day we recorded it happened to be Bakrin and Amin’s last day in Pakistan. The emotions woven into the performance were real. We weren’t just singing about parting and remembrance—we were living it.
For me, this is what Humnava is truly about. We bring artists from different corners of the world together and create a space where they can express themselves freely, connect deeply, and share pieces of their stories with one another. The music becomes more than a song; it becomes a keepsake of a moment that existed only once. And when the artists return home, what remains are these recordings—souvenirs of friendships formed, cultures exchanged, and memories that continue to resonate long after the mountains have fallen silent.”
As part of the evening, audiences also participated in a moderated conversation around music as inclusion, cultural exchange, preservation and innovation, and the role of platforms like Humnava in taking local sounds and stories to a wider global audience.
Humnava Season 1 has brought together over 30 musicians and collaborators from Pakistan and around the world, creating an artistic platform rooted in Pakistan but open to global voices, languages and traditions. From Hunza’s landscapes to collaborations across cultures, Humnava continues to present Pakistan as a creative meeting place for the world.
Isekta is now available to watch on YouTube, stream on Spotify, and experience across broadcast platforms.
Watch the official video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qe7VrG4x50
Listen on Spotify here: Humnava on Spotify
Partners for Humnava include Spotify as Music Streaming Partner, IG Square as Media Partner, European Union Delegation to Pakistan, UNESCO, Ambiance as Hospitality Partner, Active Media as On-Ground Partner, Sahar Advertising Services as OOH Partner, Brand Active as OOH Partner, and Lotus as PR Partner.
For more information, visit:
https://www.instagram.com/humnavaworld/
