Humnava’s new release, Noor-e-Nazar, is an Urdu love song recorded live in the historic Gulmit Old House in Gulmit, Hunza Nagar. The track explores companionship, tenderness and equality through a celebration of local tradition while reaching for a global sound.
The song draws its central image from a Hunza marriage ritual in which the newly married couple makes roti together on their first day, a simple act that symbolises partnership, vulnerability and shared responsibility. Noor-e-Nazar turns that quiet ritual into a musical meditation on togetherness, aiming to remind listeners of the foundational ideas that keep relationships honest and real.
Produced and curated by Xulfi and Sherry Khattak, who also led the creative vision behind Humnava’s earlier piece Jhol, the song forms the emotional centre of Humnava’s first chapter. The release features voices from Hunza, with lead vocals by Noman Asmet and Noorima Rehan, supported by an ensemble of musicians including Sherry Khattak, Amine Laroug, Melvin Arthur, Muhammad Hunaid, Adnan Karim, Lina Belaid, Blaise Merlin and Dorian Jonas Goetsh.
In keeping with Humnava’s cross-border approach, the composition brings together artists and instrumentalists from Pakistan, Algeria and several European countries, producing a sound that feels both intimate in its roots and expansive in its reach. The song was written by Shajar Hussaini, Imran Ullah Hunzai (Ramz), Ali Raza and Xulfi, and composed by Ali Raza, Shjr Hussain and Xulfi, with arrangement by Xulfi and Sherry Khattak.
Noor-e-Nazar was produced and mixed by Xulfi and mastered by Mike Hinton at MSTRD Mastering in London. The music video was directed by Aamir Mughal with consulting editor-director Xulfi, post-production by Mehroz Raza, grading by Leonardo Mareso, production design by Hashim Ali, art direction by Sara Vohra and styling by Wajeeha Badar, with hospitality support from Ambiance Hotel Hunza.
Co-founded by Xulfi and Muhammad Ibrahim, Humnava is a Pakistan-rooted global music and art platform. Season 1, set in Hunza, gathered more than 30 musicians and collaborators from Pakistan, France, Germany, Algeria and Zambia for an immersive camp focused on collaboration and cultural dialogue. Noor-e-Nazar continues to build that season’s narrative alongside upcoming tracks such as Qataghani, Holoyor, Sway, Lost in Love, Koi Achi Khabar, Isekta and Darmaan.
The release is now available to watch on YouTube, stream on Spotify and hear across broadcast platforms. With its Husnza-rooted symbolism and international ensemble, Noor-e-Nazar positions Humnava’s Season 1 as a project that merges place, culture and collaboration into a single musical conversation.
