“Endangered, Not Extinct!” marked the first public interaction with fans on social media following the announcement of Mir Kashif Iqbal’s new rock band Hangul.
What followed was the release of three videos/singles, “Back in Time”, “Into The Fray” and “Cascades”, recorded live at the Root Down Studio in Toronto, Canada.
Kashif was joined by his new band members on these tracks. The three tracks were written and produced by Kashif during his time at the Independent Music Production course at Seneca College from where he graduated in the Fall of 2024.
The growth of this rockstar follows a quintessential Kashmiri resilient story. As a Kashmiri composer, singer-songwriter, guitarist and music producer now based in Toronto, Canada, Mir Kashif Iqbal began as rookie at 17 when he co-founded his first band Blank Noize.
That was two decades back, in Delhi. There was a clear influence of “Junoon”, the iconic rock band from Pakistan, in the music of the band, particularly in the vocal and lyrical style.
Kashif admits that as a schoolboy in Srinagar, he got inspired by Junoon’s music that greatly reverberated in his homeland back in the day.
The band released two full-length albums: “Blank Noize” in 2006 (before the YouTube era) and “Pukaar” in 2008. They were also the finalists of Channel V’s launch pad in 2008.
Kashif was the lead vocalist and lyricist for the band during this time.
In 2006, Kashif moved to Bangalore to pursue his studies, and he continued to travel between Delhi and Bangalore until the completion of their second album. It was at this point that the band discontinued working on new music due to multiple challenges, mostly logistical.
While in Bangalore, Kashif reconnected with his classmate from school, Khalid Ahamed, who had also moved to the city for studies, and shared the common interest. Kashif was still part of “Blank Noize” when the two met but after the band’s disbandment, the duo began spending a lot of time together. They listened to music, explored new genres, watched movies, and eventually began jamming together, which led to the creation of a new identity, the duo co-founded “Parvaaz”.
The story behind the name “Parvaaz” is interesting. Before forming the official band, Kashif and Khalid had participated in several college festival competitions, winning most of them.
When the duo needed a name for one such competition, they likely chose “Parvaaz” after the iconic album “Parvaaz” by Junoon. It was an easy choice that made sense, especially given the band’s growth in the years to come.
[Photo: Parvaaz Web Archives.]
During this period, Kashif and Khalid were introduced to legendary rock bands like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, whose influence began to shape Parvaaz’s sound. The band’s music began to mix psychedelic rock with blues and Urdu/Kashmiri poetry, giving birth to a unique style.
The initial line up of the band included Neil Simon on the bass, Somarashi Bhattacharjee on drums, Adarsh Deokota on Rhythm guitar.
In 2011, after Adarsh and Somarashi’s exit, Sachin Banandur joined the band as drummer, and together they released their first single, “Dil Khush”. However, before recording their debut EP “Behosh” in 2012, Neil Simon left the band. Although he is credited as a co-composer, his parts were played by Fidel DSouza in the studio.
This new lineup continued to work together for the next decade, producing a significant body of work.
[Photo Credit: Auditya Venkatesh.]
Parvaaz’s discography includes the acclaimed albums “Baran” (2014) and “Kun” (2019), the live concert film “Transitions” (2015), and successful singles like “Dil Khush,” “Khufiya Dastaan,” “Color White,” “Shaad,” and “Zubaan” (featuring Gazi Khan Barna).
Parvaaz’s sound defies a single genre categorization. It’s best described as cinematic, blending elements of psychedelic rock, blues, alt rock, progressive rock, and more. Mir Kashif Iqbal has been the lead guitarist, co-songwriter, and co-producer and co – lyricist for Parvaaz’s entire discography to date.
During Covid, in 2020, Kashif Co-Produced and performed on Mumbai based musician and film composer Sameer Rahat’s debut album Aamad.
In mid 2021, Kashif left Parvaaz and started his solo journey, releasing his first solo album, Peak Wave Descent in November 2021, followed by a concert film titled “Adaptation” in 2022, which featured songs from his debut solo album. In the same year, he released the single “Labov”, accompanied by a music video.
In his interview with Rolling Stone about “Peak Wave Descent” Kashif says, “the release marks the end of a dry spell in terms of creativity and writing material. Writing music and lyrics does require a spark and in my case it comes from different sources and usually in intense phases.”
The album also featured Leslie Charles (from Thermal And A Quarter) on bass, saxophonist Jayesh Malani and Key Board Player Jason Zachariah. The album was heavily Jazz and Prog Rock influenced.
In 2023, Kashif produced and performed on Gaekhir Republik’s critically acclaimed debut album, Mandnyan Shaam and also produced and performed on Ahmad Parvez’s commercially successful single Golabaw. Later that year, he moved to Canada.
The new chapter of Mir Kashif Iqbal is an intriguing one. Moving to a new territory and starting from scratch requires a great deal of willpower and perseverance. But following the announcement of formation of “Hangul,” it looks like he is looking ahead to the future.
Kashif’s personal evolution and journey is an inside peek into the resilient spirit of Kashmiri artistry—rooted in identity, but still unafraid to explore, and expand.
His music seems to bridge cultures, memories, and geographies, in a way that ‘home’ shapes it, but doesn’t confine it. The soundscape, like mountainous meadows, endures—loud, soulful, and unmistakably his.
As a friend, a fellow koshur, and a music enthusiast, I would like to dedicate this inspiring couplet by Dr Allama Iqbal to him:
“Tu shahin hai, parvaaz hai kaam tera,
tere saamne aasman aur bhi hai”
The author is an IT professional and musician based out of Bangalore. He has followed Kashif’s journey since the beginning of his musical career.
After Parvaaz, Mir Kashif Iqbal fuses Kashmiri identity with global rock in a rising cross-border sound storm.
“Endangered, Not Extinct!” marked the first public interaction with fans on social media following the announcement of Mir Kashif Iqbal’s new rock band Hangul.
What followed was the release of three videos/singles, “Back in Time”, “Into The Fray” and “Cascades”, recorded live at the Root Down Studio in Toronto, Canada.
Kashif was joined by his new band members on these tracks. The three tracks were written and produced by Kashif during his time at the Independent Music Production course at Seneca College from where he graduated in the Fall of 2024.
The growth of this rockstar follows a quintessential Kashmiri resilient story. As a Kashmiri composer, singer-songwriter, guitarist and music producer now based in Toronto, Canada, Mir Kashif Iqbal began as rookie at 17 when he co-founded his first band Blank Noize.
That was two decades back, in Delhi. There was a clear influence of “Junoon”, the iconic rock band from Pakistan, in the music of the band, particularly in the vocal and lyrical style.
Kashif admits that as a schoolboy in Srinagar, he got inspired by Junoon’s music that greatly reverberated in his homeland back in the day.
The band released two full-length albums: “Blank Noize” in 2006 (before the YouTube era) and “Pukaar” in 2008. They were also the finalists of Channel V’s launch pad in 2008.
Kashif was the lead vocalist and lyricist for the band during this time.
In 2006, Kashif moved to Bangalore to pursue his studies, and he continued to travel between Delhi and Bangalore until the completion of their second album. It was at this point that the band discontinued working on new music due to multiple challenges, mostly logistical.
While in Bangalore, Kashif reconnected with his classmate from school, Khalid Ahamed, who had also moved to the city for studies, and shared the common interest. Kashif was still part of “Blank Noize” when the two met but after the band’s disbandment, the duo began spending a lot of time together. They listened to music, explored new genres, watched movies, and eventually began jamming together, which led to the creation of a new identity, the duo co-founded “Parvaaz”.
The story behind the name “Parvaaz” is interesting. Before forming the official band, Kashif and Khalid had participated in several college festival competitions, winning most of them.
When the duo needed a name for one such competition, they likely chose “Parvaaz” after the iconic album “Parvaaz” by Junoon. It was an easy choice that made sense, especially given the band’s growth in the years to come.
[Photo: Parvaaz Web Archives.]
During this period, Kashif and Khalid were introduced to legendary rock bands like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, whose influence began to shape Parvaaz’s sound. The band’s music began to mix psychedelic rock with blues and Urdu/Kashmiri poetry, giving birth to a unique style.
The initial line up of the band included Neil Simon on the bass, Somarashi Bhattacharjee on drums, Adarsh Deokota on Rhythm guitar.
In 2011, after Adarsh and Somarashi’s exit, Sachin Banandur joined the band as drummer, and together they released their first single, “Dil Khush”. However, before recording their debut EP “Behosh” in 2012, Neil Simon left the band. Although he is credited as a co-composer, his parts were played by Fidel DSouza in the studio.
This new lineup continued to work together for the next decade, producing a significant body of work.
[Photo Credit: Auditya Venkatesh.]
Parvaaz’s discography includes the acclaimed albums “Baran” (2014) and “Kun” (2019), the live concert film “Transitions” (2015), and successful singles like “Dil Khush,” “Khufiya Dastaan,” “Color White,” “Shaad,” and “Zubaan” (featuring Gazi Khan Barna).
Parvaaz’s sound defies a single genre categorization. It’s best described as cinematic, blending elements of psychedelic rock, blues, alt rock, progressive rock, and more. Mir Kashif Iqbal has been the lead guitarist, co-songwriter, and co-producer and co – lyricist for Parvaaz’s entire discography to date.
During Covid, in 2020, Kashif Co-Produced and performed on Mumbai based musician and film composer Sameer Rahat’s debut album Aamad.
In mid 2021, Kashif left Parvaaz and started his solo journey, releasing his first solo album, Peak Wave Descent in November 2021, followed by a concert film titled “Adaptation” in 2022, which featured songs from his debut solo album. In the same year, he released the single “Labov”, accompanied by a music video.
In his interview with Rolling Stone about “Peak Wave Descent” Kashif says, “the release marks the end of a dry spell in terms of creativity and writing material. Writing music and lyrics does require a spark and in my case it comes from different sources and usually in intense phases.”
The album also featured Leslie Charles (from Thermal And A Quarter) on bass, saxophonist Jayesh Malani and Key Board Player Jason Zachariah. The album was heavily Jazz and Prog Rock influenced.
In 2023, Kashif produced and performed on Gaekhir Republik’s critically acclaimed debut album, Mandnyan Shaam and also produced and performed on Ahmad Parvez’s commercially successful single Golabaw. Later that year, he moved to Canada.
The new chapter of Mir Kashif Iqbal is an intriguing one. Moving to a new territory and starting from scratch requires a great deal of willpower and perseverance. But following the announcement of formation of “Hangul,” it looks like he is looking ahead to the future.
Kashif’s personal evolution and journey is an inside peek into the resilient spirit of Kashmiri artistry—rooted in identity, but still unafraid to explore, and expand.
His music seems to bridge cultures, memories, and geographies, in a way that ‘home’ shapes it, but doesn’t confine it. The soundscape, like mountainous meadows, endures—loud, soulful, and unmistakably his.
As a friend, a fellow koshur, and a music enthusiast, I would like to dedicate this inspiring couplet by Dr Allama Iqbal to him:
“Tu shahin hai, parvaaz hai kaam tera,
tere saamne aasman aur bhi hai”
The author is an IT professional and musician based out of Bangalore. He has followed Kashif’s journey since the beginning of his musical career.