Pakistani band Khumariyaan to play ABQ, Santa Fe

The five-piece Pakistani group Khumariyaan wants you to feel drunk on the beauty of music.

“‘Khumariyaan’ literally means ‘the intoxicated ones’ or those who bring intoxication, metaphorically describing a trance-like connection with music,” band leader Farhan Bogra said.

AMP Concerts is bringing them to New Mexico for a week-long residency, Saturday, July 5, to Friday, July 11, before they start their United States tour. Their first concert will also be a welcome party at Flock of Moons on Monday, July 7.

Khumariyaan’s trip is part of Center Stage, a public diplomacy initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

“Music is one of the most powerful emotional connectors. It crosses language, politics, class and even conflict,” Bogra said. “As a band from a region often misrepresented globally, we’ve seen how music can soften perceptions, challenge stereotypes and bring communities together.”

Khumariyaan has performed around the world, including in places of political instability, and Bogra has seen the transformative effects of music firsthand.

“We’ve played in regions of conflict and conservatism, and witnessed people regardless of age or background coming together to celebrate music,” he said. “In refugee camps, cultural festivals and international stages, music has brought moments of joy, healing and unity. We’ve seen people cry, dance and even hug strangers at our concerts.”

Although Khumariyaan fuses many influences, their sound is rooted in their ancestral Pashtun music, which can still be heard throughout northwestern Pakistan.

“The concept of Khumariyaan grew out of a love for Pashto folk music and a desire to reinterpret it in a modern, globalized context,” Bogra said. “The band never aimed to be traditional or purely Western. Rather, the goal was to bridge both worlds. The mix of instruments rabab, zerbaghali (traditional clay drum), Western guitar and modern rhythms came naturally as each member brought their cultural and musical identity to the table.”

The band met organically in Peshawar, Pakistan, through a shared passion for traditional folk music. The founding members included Bogra, Shiraz Khan (zerbaghali) and Aamer Shafiq (guitar).

“The rabab (or rubab) is considered the ‘lion of instruments’ in Afghan and Pashtun culture,” Bogra said. “It has a wooden body, gut strings and produces a deep, earthy tone, and it’s plucked with a plectrum.”

It is probably lesser known than its cousin, the sarod, popularized in India by masters like Amjad Ali Khan, who played Albuquerque earlier this year.

“They share a common ancestry from Central Asia,” Bogra said, “but differ in design, sound and playing technique.”

Bogra’s rabab playing retains its traditional Pashtun essence but blends it with modern improvisation, helping to revive and modernize the instrument for new generations.

The zerbaghali is a goblet-shaped clay drum, similar to the West African djembe, which is played with the palms and fingers.

“Shiraz Khan has modified its tuning and technique for contemporary settings,” Bogra said.

The original members of Khumariyaan have been playing together for over 15 years.

“We first began jamming casually during university and community events in 2007,” Bogra said. “In 2009, we crossed paths with Sparlay Rawail, a talented guitarist and percussionist from Islamabad with a background in architecture and fine arts. Our meeting at a music session turned into a powerful musical collaboration.”

“From the beginning, the band wanted to preserve traditional instruments like the rabab and zerbaghali while making them accessible to a global audience through guitar riffs and structured compositions,” he said. “The idea was to celebrate local heritage while sounding fresh and exciting.”

In 2021, they added the classically trained vocalist Obaid Khan, introducing a vocal element to their previously instrumental style. But unlike many bands with lead vocalists, Khumariyaan does not make Khan the center of attention. His voice is simply another instrument — an extra “flavor,” as they call it.

“Instrumental music is universal. It doesn’t require translation. A person in Lisbon or Tokyo can feel what a rabab melody is trying to say, even if they don’t speak Pashto,” Bogra said. “That’s a central part of Khumariyaan’s philosophy.”

“When Khumariyann started, the idea was to let the instruments tell the story, especially because rabab and zerbaghali can express joy, sorrow, nostalgia or celebration without words,” he continued. “It allowed the band to travel internationally and connect with global audiences, many of whom had never heard Pashto music before.”

Central to Khumariyaan’s practice is the inducing of a trance-like “khumaar” experience through their music.

“That feeling is not scripted,” Bogra said. “It arises when the musicians and audience become part of the same wave. It often starts with a deep rhythm, builds up through rabab and guitar layers and culminates in a collective energetic release often felt in live performances.”

He said there is “no fixed formula” for achieving khumaar, but they recognize it when it happens.

“We know we’ve reached that state when the audience becomes still or starts dancing without hesitation,” he said. “That trance or ‘khumaar’ might last just minutes, but the memory of it lingers much longer.”

Bogra said the band is “absolutely thrilled” to be visiting New Mexico.

“As a band rooted in the rich cultural traditions of the Pashtun region, we feel a deep connection to places that value Indigenous heritage, storytelling and artistic expression, and New Mexico embodies all of that,” he said. “From the desert landscapes to the vibrant Native American and Hispanic cultures, the state’s spirit feels familiar and inspiring.”

During their week-long residency in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, the band hopes not only to share their music, but to form meaningful connections with local musicians.

“We’re especially looking forward to sharing our music with new audiences, exploring local art and traditions, and connecting with fellow musicians for potential cultural exchanges,” Bogra said. “We’ve also heard amazing things about the food, sunsets and the artistic energy of places like Santa Fe and Albuquerque. It feels like the perfect place to experience a new kind of inspiration and bring our music to a space that already resonates with soul and rhythm.”

Pakistani band Khumariyaan to play ABQ, Santa Fe