British Council Launches Second Edition of SoundScape, Celebrating Pakistan’s Evolving Music Landscape
Karachi – 29 November 2025 (MT Team) : The British Council launched the second edition of SoundScape, its flagship music programme designed to support Pakistan’s vibrant and evolving music ecosystem through learning, dialogue and international collaboration. Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2023, SoundScape 2025 brought together artists, educators, producers and industry leaders to explore the most pressing conversations emerging from Pakistan’s music sector today. The programme was curated by singer-songwriter Natasha Humera Ejaz.
SoundScape was conceived as a platform where curiosity, creativity and collaboration come together. The programme embraces Pakistan’s diverse musical heritage, rooted in centuries of rich tradition yet constantly reinvented and creates a space for intergenerational exchange. By bringing legacy artists and emerging talent into shared dialogue, SoundScape aims to strengthen the future of music in Pakistan.
The programme’s highlights included masterclasses with artists including Abdullah Siddiqui, Rakae Jamil and Natasha Baig. British broadcaster Haroon Rashid from the BBC Asian Network had conversations with artists Meesha Shafi and Faris Shafi. They were also performances including by legendary British DJ and writer Bill Brewster, DJ Lyla, a cohort of artists from Saffron Music UK and seven students of the Darsgah Project, piloted this year in collaboration with the All Pakistan Music Conference (APMC), Karachi.
Across masterclasses, talks and performances, participants were provided opportunities to share skills, reflect on challenges, and imagine new futures together.
James Hampson, Country Director, British Council Pakistan, said: “We’re proud of what was achieved two years ago, and everything that has taken place since, including supporting new Pakistani talent and connecting it with the UK. Our commitment is to connect the whole of Pakistan with all four nations of the UK through arts, culture and education. SoundScape reflects this mission by encouraging collaboration, strengthening skills, and building long-term cultural partnerships.”
Natasha Humera Ejaz, Curator, SoundScape 2025 said: “Curating SoundScape 2025 reaffirmed for me that this programme is a vital pulse check for Pakistan’s music community. It’s a space to reflect on who we are becoming, what we’re learning and how we can grow together. The insights shared by artists and practitioners shaped everything we built this year. If SoundScape offers even a moment of clarity, connection or relief to the people who make this sector what it is, then we’ve succeeded.”
