Humnava has released Sway, a new single recorded at the Nasir-e-Khisrow Model Academy in Ghulkin, Gojal, Hunza, that seeks to recapture the spontaneous joy of childhood. The track uses the mountain school setting as more than a backdrop: its air and energy shape a sound that invites listeners to return to an unguarded, playful self.
Curated by Xulfi and Sherry Khattak, Sway features lead vocals by Elijah Bwalya and Joshua Bwalya from Zambia alongside a cast of international and local musicians, including Peter John Christopher on saxophone, Mujeeb Ur Rehman on rabab, Melvin Arthur on acoustic guitar, Amine Laroug on electric guitar, Ilhan Karim on Chitrali sitar, Dorian Jonas Goetsh on synth, and a range of percussion and backing vocal contributions by Adnan Karim, Muhammad Hunaid, Veeru Shan and Faheem Uddin Hunzai. The song was written by Xulfi and Zyad Ahmed Tariq, composed by Ali Raza, Shjr Hussain and Xulfi, and arranged by Xulfi with Dorian Jonas Goetsh. Production and mixing were handled by Xulfi, who shapes the track around a light, uplift-driven arrangement rooted in Hunza’s sonic identity.
‘For me, Sway carries a very pure kind of happiness,’ says co-founder and creative director Xulfi, reflecting on how the project found its home amid mountains and children at play. The single aims to remind listeners that joy is both sacred and expansive, a theme that runs through Humnava’s Season 1 work.
The official music video was directed by Soheb Akhtar with cinematography by Zain Haleem and post-production by Mehroz Raza and Hunain Shamim. Production design and art direction were led by Hashim Ali and Sara Vohra, while wardrobe, styling and grooming were managed by Fatima Butt, Wajeeha Badar and Trio Salon respectively. The video is available to watch on YouTube and the single is streaming on Spotify and other platforms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOxOFetHMRU
Beyond the recording, Humnava is framing Sway within a broader community practice: Season 1 in Hunza brought together more than 30 musicians from Pakistan and abroad for an immersive creative camp, and the platform continues to host intimate listening sessions and gatherings that connect artists, collaborators and audiences. Partners supporting Humnava include Spotify, the European Union Delegation to Pakistan, UNESCO and a range of local production and media collaborators.
Sway extends Humnava’s Season 1 narrative following earlier releases and reinforces the project’s mission to build cultural bridges through music, film and shared experiences rooted in Pakistan’s mountain communities.
