Folk rock/fusion Peshawar-based band Khumariyaan released a cover of Game of Thrones‘ main theme song composed by Ramin Djawadi. The cover’s melodious mix of string instrumentals and electronic sounds is bound to captivate, whether or not you’re watching HBO’s phenomenal global success GoT.
Watch the cover’s video filmed at Haveli Sujan Singh in Rawalpindi and listen:
The band’s website says “Khumariyaan was born in the age of Talibanisation, sectarian violence, military operations and neo-imperialist expansions, in the region which is a gateway to Central Asia, in the city of Peshawar.” Its members include Aamer Shafiq, Farhan Bogra, Shiraz Khan and Sparlay Rawail. Their cover incorporates music played on the traditional string instrument rabab and hand drum zeerbaghli.
The Express Tribune writes that the music video’s location was chosen because “the band was going for a Winterfell/Casterly Rock/Rains of Castamere feel for the video.” An article from Voice of America, “Game of Thrones in the Land of Drones,” looks at the popularity of the series in Pakistan and Afghanistan and shares one band member’s comments on musically adapting the theme song.
Khumariyaan’s self proclaimed “Jon Snow”, and avid Game of Thrones fan Sparlay Rawail explained to VOA Deewa, “it was fairly easy [to adapt the song], it’s not actually on the 7 beat cycle that Pashto music normally is on, just the regular 6 beat cycle. But we’ve made it sound like it’s the Pashto beat.”
For more of Khumariyaan’s beautiful instrumental music, listen to the song “Tamasha” and other songs on Soundcloud.
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Pavani Yalamanchili is an editor at The Aerogram. Find her on Twitter at @_pavani, and follow The Aerogram at @theaerogram and on Facebook.
