Album Review: VJ Dino - Sun Zara

The fallible debut

VJ Dino has finally launched his debut album, Suno Zara. The ten-track record is, in a word, forgettable. And here's why…

By Maheen Sabeeh


Artist: Dino
Album: Suno Zara

Dino has an unusual voice. It's neither as deep nor untainted like Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan nor does it possess that striking quality that is synonymous with Atif Aslam.

To be blunt, it is a forgettable voice. And that is never, ever a good thing.

Mix an unmemorable voice with an album that has its foot in everything from soft pop to hip-hop, dance, R'n'B, with a pinch of electronica and indie rock and it is everything an album shouldn't be: an incoherent and confusing record with weak lyrics and a singer who needs to assess his strengths before taking on the mike.

It's the same problem that hit Salman Ahmed in 2006 with his solo album Infinity where he attempted singing. But where Salman Ahmed had some interesting riffs to offer (if nothing else), Dino can't even offer these because he is not as accomplished a musician as Salman.


It was in 2004 when Dino sprouted on the scene with his debut single, 'Pari' - a song that dabbles in pop/rock genre with the traditional mix of guitars, drums (or maybe drum machines?) and lyrics about love that is magical and how it completes the protagonist - and it was not a good beginning.


There was nothing wrong with 'Pari' except it didn't possess that unique twist that makes a song memorable. Debut singles are hugely crucial for an artist because it is their first initiation to music fans.
Mauj understood this when they released the strangely worded, funk-laced 'Khushfehmi' as their first single. Another example is Kaavish's bluesy 'Bachpan'.

But of course being one of Pakistan's first VJs since media boom, Dino has plenty of fans who adore him and in all probability loved the song.

A little while later one heard Dino again on the re-done version of Najam Sheraz's 'In Say Nain' but in that particular song Dino's voice wasn't the only flaw. The entire version didn't do justice to Najam's fabulous original. If half the music industry couldn't deliver, what are the chances that Dino could've?

Dino sang jingles time and again but it is now that he has come out with a full-fledged album. And it is safe to say that Dino should stick to being a VJ.
What is the punch line?

On hearing Suno Zara, one is stumped. It is hard to decipher what the album is trying to achieve. Perhaps the biggest flaw is the absence of memorable melodies.

The melody is the driving force behind every song and on this album, they're just weak.

The title track is ample proof.

'Suno Zara' is one of the most minimalistic songs on this record. With subtle acoustic guitars forming the background, its treatment reminds one of Snow Patrol's 'Chasing Cars' where the tune goes completely crazy at the very end with heavy riffs and sensational drums. And that is what is happening here. But where 'Chasing Cars' had the incredible voice of Gary Lightbody and inspired lyrics, here one has Dino hitting notes he shouldn't be attempting. An odd accent creeps in when Dino sings this number. It just doesn't work.

The wordplay is equally boring.

"Faisalay Darmiyan/Khogaye Hum Kahan/Kya Huwa/Kya Khabar/Kyun Huin Dooriyan" (Distance between/We're lost/What happened/Who knows/Why the distance) - this is ordinary stuff.

Noori did a song on their 2005 album Peeli Patti Aur Raja Jaani Ki Gol Dunya, 'Aarzoo' and that tune spoke of distance, miscommunication and a sense of hopelessness. Brothers Ali Noor and Ali Hamza never made a video of this song but it remains one of their finest.

One can't help but be reminded of it because of the weak lyrics on 'Suno Zara' and how the very same theme came to life in Noori's 'Aarzoo'.

And this is another problem with this album. Every song reminds one of a better song done by another artist. And it isn't because Dino has plagiarized. Nope. The real reason is that there is nothing on this album that hasn't been attempted before.

This brings one to the remix of 'Suno Zara'. With its stomping beat, this tune is dull. A beat alone with some sonic trickery will not make up for the lack of originality. Locally speaking, the mix of Strings' 'Duur' at Coke Studio by Zeeshan Parwez and Abdul Lateef's lewa men was far more enticing and musically challenging.

The same can be said for the futuristic 'Bahon Mein Aja'. While the tune is definitely catchy, it is plagued by Dino stretching notes which is disastrous. And the sound isn't as funky as Timbaland's Shock Value which was extraordinary.

And then there are the English lyrics that remind one of a bad version of American rap sensation Usher mixed with British-Indian Bombay Rockers.

"In the day time, I wanna dance with you/In the night time, I wanna dance with you/Baby girl I wanna dance with you cause you're my lady" - have we not heard such lyrics before?

Speaking of Usher and the genre of R'n'B music, there are songs like 'Dekha Tujhko', 'Aja Tu' and 'I need to love ya' - all heavily influenced by the genre but none doing justice to it.

It seems that everything is thrown on the sound wall together through keyboards, clanging beats, sonic effects, guitars, rap (which is neither as hard-hitting as Eminem nor as fun as Snoop Dogg or Usher) and it just doesn't click.

Then there is 'Tere Naal Naal' where Dino samples Modjo's 'Lady' and puts words to that music right up till the end where Modjo and Dino sing together.

Sampling tunes is attempted worldwide, especially by DJs who will mix U2 and Sarah Mclachlan. But Modjo's 'Lady' is a fabulous number. And hearing Dino singing "Tere Naal Naal Mainay Raina" - is another disaster. He can't carry the notes.

The only two songs on this album that are remotely listenable are 'Armaan' with its soft and melancholic guitars and the ominous tone which Dino takes while singing. The other being 'Raat Bahar' with subtle orchestration, its air of gloom and missing one's beloved.

The verdict

Debuts are tricky business. It is the introduction to the world of music and to possible fans. Often debuts can't be daring. Not everyone will pull out a Social Circus like Ali Azmat or a Huqa Pani like Ali Zafar. But a debut record will only last if it is inspired enough to entice a listener from its first single.

In Dino's case, things are different. He is a known veejay who has been around for years and he has a following. That ensures Suno Zara's future with fans, at least the ones who enjoy watching Dino on the small screen and hearing him on his radio show.

Beyond that, Suno Zara has nothing going for it. The album cover, which is the first look at the album, is off-putting. Three different poses of Dino on the cover - that seems too narcissistic.

The press release that accompanied the album stated: "Suno Zara is a fusion of funk, soul, rock and pop all rolled into one sound." And that is exactly why this debut album from Dino is flawed. There is everything from morbid ballads to electronica-inspired tunes, hip-hop laced sonic tricks, tunes drenched in R'n'B influences but it doesn't work.

Why is Timbaland hailed by everyone from critics to fans worldwide? It isn't because he throws everything at the sound wall and sticks it together. It's because he has entered musical dimensions with such a glimmering style that he has made his own unique signature. This is why he has us hooked.

Coming back to Suno Zara, it is clear that it is a love album. But sadly, even with the powerful emotion of love, there is nothing emotionally raw about this album, which makes it hard to connect with the man singing.

Fuzon's 'Khamaj' was beautiful yet fragile, Ali Azmat's 'Teri Parchaiyaan' gave a feeling of vulnerability which is interesting because it is not easy imagining a vulnerable Ali Azmat. Most recently Zeb and Haniya's playful yet melancholic 'Aitebaar' is a great example. It's exceptional not just because of the music but the kind of desperation and desire that Zeb and Haniya fused in the vocals.

Add all this to the fact that the lyrics are don't experiment or offer anything new and one is disappointed even more. There is no harm in attempting love lyrics but it has to be done with some style.

Zeb and Haniya's Chup, Atif's Jalpari and Fuzon's Saagar all used love as a pretext to the songs and it worked. It was simple yet effective but ordinary they were not.

All said and done, this debut from Dino is disappointing. He neither delivers as a composer nor as a songwriter. In all probability, this album might work. It is VJ Dino after all. But for those who have heard music from around the world and are familiar with artists like Usher, Kanye West, Raghav, Jay Sean and Timbaland, this is not the album to grab.