Murtaza Qizilbash. Photo: Express
KARACHI:
Spotify continues to spotlight Pakistan’s most compelling emerging voices through Spotify’s RADAR Pakistan programme, with Lahore-born Murtaza Qizilbash taking centre stage as the platform’s featured artist for Q2 2026, signalling the singer’s rapidly growing connection with audiences both in Pakistan and beyond.
As one of the rising voices shaping Pakistan’s evolving music landscape, Qizilbash represents a new wave of artists blending heritage with a distinctly modern sound. Spotify said his rapid rise is already resonating at scale, with listenership surging by more than 130% and streams growing by 160% since the beginning of April.
Rooted deeply in heritage, Qizilbash’s artistry draws inspiration from the sounds, sights, and stories of Lahore, particularly his ancestral home, Mubarak Haveli. To bring this connection to life, Spotify features him in a mini-docuseries exploring how the city and its history continue to shape his creative expression.
Tracks like ‘Hum’ and ‘Bhool’ are gaining strong momentum, with streams increasing by 130% and more than 80%, respectively, since the beginning of April. Adding to this momentum is his latest collaboration with Samar Jafri, ‘Har Baar’, which is currently charting at number three on Spotify’s ‘Top 50 – Pakistan’.
His music is also reaching listeners beyond borders, with top streaming markets including Bangladesh, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Notably, more than 50% of his listeners are aged between 18 and 24, highlighting his strong resonance with Gen Z audiences.
“Murtaza’s ability to blend Lahore’s cultural influences, poetry, and contemporary storytelling makes him one of the most exciting emerging voices in Pakistan today,” said Rutaba Yaqub, Spotify’s Artist & Label Partnerships Manager for Pakistan and the UAE.
Speaking about his RADAR Pakistan journey, Qizilbash said: “Being selected as Spotify’s RADAR Pakistan artist this quarter has been surreal. It’s a huge milestone in my journey as an artist, and bringing these stories to life through the programme has been an incredibly special experience.”
Qizilbash’s work stands out for its poetic depth and versatility, grounded in his love for the Urdu language and its timeless traditions. His tracks have been added to more than 200,000 user-generated playlists and featured on key editorial playlists, including ‘Hot Hits Pakistan’ and ‘Pakka Hit Hai’.
Through RADAR, Spotify continues to champion emerging talent by providing artists with a global platform for discovery and growth. Following in the footsteps of standout RADAR Pakistan alumni like Hasan Raheem, Shae Gill, and Samar Jafri, Qizilbash represents the next wave of artists shaping the future of Pakistan’s music scene.
