Pakistan's youngest Qawwali band Zain Zoheb enters Spotify’s viral 50-global list

Pakistan: Zain Zoheb, said to be the youngest qawwali band in the subcontinent, is making headlines once again.

Best known for Thagyan from Coke Studio Season 14, featuring Quratul Ain Baloch, the duo is now trending globally with their 2022 track, Ranjheya Ve.

As of March5th morning, Ranjheya Ve has secured the 9th spot on Spotify’s Viral 50 – Global list, adding to its growing success. The song’s music video has also amassed 9.7 million views on YouTube.

For those unfamiliar, Zain and Zohaib are the grandsons of Ustad Haji Rehmat Ali Khan, who played the second harmonium for Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan for over 40 years. The duo first gained widespread recognition with Haiderium, an eight-minute qawwali from Nescafé Basement Season 5. With Ranjheya Ve, they continue their exploration of mysticism, delving into themes of higher love and self-surrender. The track blends traditional qawwali with contemporary elements, featuring guitar refrains by Balaj Hussain.

Directed by Lahore-based photographer and visual artist Saad Ayub Yratta, the song’s video is set in one of the city’s iconic heritage sites. It stars Fatima Amjed, Hassan Raza, and Hamza Khwaja, who was last seen in Sarmad Khoosat’s award-winning film Kamli opposite Saba Qamar.

Earlier this year, Zain Zoheb premiered their new album, Back to Live, on Apple Music and Spotify. However, Ranjheya Ve remains their biggest hit. In 2023, they contributed to the OST of Abdullahpur Ka Devdas, a Bilal Abbas-led Pakistani drama serial produced for Zee Zindagi. They later collaborated with Indian musicians Amrita Kaur and Manna Singh on Guru Nanak Tu for Purab Mubarak Season 1—a project by RasAmrit Studios in Rupnagar that brought together global artists to share Guru Nanak’s message of peace, humility, and unity through music.

With their fusion of tradition and innovation, Zain Zoheb is cementing their place in the global music landscape.