Pakistani music artists everyone should know include Young Stunners, Natasha Noorani, Quratulain Balouch, Farhan Saeed, Uzair Jaswal, Shiraz Uppal, Nabeel Shaukat Ali and The Sketches. Many are known in India through Coke Studio Pakistan and Bollywood songs such as Thodi Der, Kaari Kaari and Tere Bin Nahi Laage. Here are 14 names, from mainstream singers to indie acts.
Borders divide the two countries, but music has always crossed them. Indian listeners first met many of these artists through Coke Studio clips, film soundtracks and Pakistani drama title songs. This list covers singers, bands and producers across pop, Sufi rock, hip-hop and electronic music.
Quick list: Pakistani artists and what to start with
| Artist | Genre | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| Young Stunners | Hip-hop | Burger-e-Karachi, Gumaan |
| Quratulain Balouch | Pop, Sufi | Woh Humsafar Tha, Kaari Kaari |
| Farhan Saeed | Pop | Roiyaan, Thodi Der |
| Uzair Jaswal | Pop | Tere Bin, Nindiya Ke Paar |
| Natasha Noorani | Pop, electronic | Baby Baby, Choro |
| Shiraz Uppal | Pop, film | Tu Kuja Man Kuja, Raanjhanaa |
| The Sketches | Sufi rock | Nind Nashe Vich, Main Sufi Hoon |
14 Pakistani music artists everyone needs to know about
1. Natasha Humera Ejaz
An Islamabad-based singer-songwriter with an independent, personal style. She has named Bjork, Jeff Buckley and Esperanza Spalding among her influences, and her songs reward close, quiet listening.
2. Young Stunners
The Karachi duo of Talha Anjum and Talhah Yunus formed in 2012 and are often credited with bringing Urdu rap into the mainstream. Their early singles Burger-e-Karachi and Maila Majnu made their name, and Gumaan (2020) is a fan favourite. They signed with Mass Appeal Records in 2024.
3. Eridu
Eridu is the project of Adeel Tahir, a bass music producer based in Vancouver. His music is a good entry point for listeners who prefer bass-heavy electronic tracks to pop.
4. Danny Zee
Danny Zee is known for his vocals and for singing in more than one language, which gives his songs a wide reach.
5. Quratulain Balouch
Known to many as the Humsafar girl, Quratulain Balouch became famous for Woh Humsafar Tha, the title song of the 2011 drama Humsafar. She has appeared in several Coke Studio seasons, including Faasle with Kaavish.
Indian audiences know her from Kaari Kaari in the Hindi film Pink (2016), which earned her a Filmfare nomination. In September 2025 she was injured in a bear attack while camping in Gilgit-Baltistan, and has since spoken about recovering from it.
6. Farhan Saeed
Farhan Saeed replaced Atif Aslam as the vocalist of the band Jal in 2003 and went solo in 2011. Roiyaan (2014) won the Lux Style Award for Song of the Year. In India, he is known for Thodi Der from Half Girlfriend (2017), sung with Shreya Ghoshal, which reworked his Punjabi single Tu Thori Dair.
He is also a TV actor, with dramas such as Suno Chanda and Mere Humsafar. In 2025 he released the single Khwabeeda.
7. Tollcrane
Tollcrane is Talha Asim Wynne, an electronic producer from Karachi. His work is a good entry point into Pakistan’s electronic music scene.
8. Kaavish
Kaavish makes calm, atmospheric music that suits late nights. Their Coke Studio Season 10 song Faasle, with Quratulain Balouch, is the best place to start.
9. Uzair Jaswal
Uzair Jaswal started young and was the youngest performer in the first seven seasons of Coke Studio Pakistan, where he sang Nindiya Ke Paar and Bolay. His debut album Na Bhulana won Album of the Year at the Lux Style Awards.
His Bollywood debut was Tere Bin Nahi Laage in Ek Paheli Leela (2015), a recreated version of his hit Tere Bin.
10. Nabeel Shaukat Ali
Nabeel Shaukat Ali won the 2012 season of Sur Kshetra, a singing contest that put teams from India and Pakistan against each other. He sang in Coke Studio Seasons 8 and 10. In 2024 he featured on Duur Na Karin in the Hindi film Khel Khel Mein, with Vishal Mishra and Zahrah S Khan.
11. Natasha Noorani
A Lahore singer-songwriter and ethnomusicologist, Natasha Noorani is the co-founder and festival director of the Lahore Music Meet. Her breakthrough was Baby Baby (2019) with Bilal Maqsood, and Choro from her album Ronaq was one of the most played songs on CityFM89 in 2021.
12. Shiraz Uppal
Shiraz Uppal is a singer, composer and producer who runs his own studio in Lahore. He produced Atif Aslam’s Tajdar-e-Haram for Coke Studio Season 8. Indian listeners know his voice from A. R. Rahman songs, including Shakalaka Baby in Nayak (2001) and the title song of Raanjhanaa (2013).
13. The Sketches
Formed in 2003 in Jamshoro, Sindh, The Sketches mix Sufi poetry with rock. Founder Saif Samejo leads the band, and songs like Nind Nashe Vich and Main Sufi Hoon show their style.
14. Bayaan
Bayaan is an alternative rock band from Lahore, praised for its thoughtful lyrics and guitar-driven sound.
Can you listen to Pakistani artists in India in 2026?
After the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, Indian authorities restricted access to many Pakistani accounts. Business Standard reported in May 2025 that Instagram accounts of artists including Abida Parveen and Ali Zafar were not available in India, and the government told OTT and streaming platforms on 8 May 2025 to remove content originating from Pakistan.
In July 2025, Storyboard18 reported that some accounts had become accessible again, with government sources saying the blocks were subject to regular review. Availability of individual artists may differ by platform, so check before you search.
For more music and celebrity lists, browse our listicles and celebs section.
Frequently asked questions
Which Pakistani singers have sung for Bollywood?
Quratulain Balouch (Kaari Kaari, Pink), Farhan Saeed (Thodi Der, Half Girlfriend), Uzair Jaswal (Tere Bin Nahi Laage) and Shiraz Uppal (Raanjhanaa, Shakalaka Baby) have all sung for Hindi films.
Who are Young Stunners?
Young Stunners is a Karachi hip-hop duo of Talha Anjum and Talhah Yunus, formed in 2012 and known for Urdu rap.
Who sang Woh Humsafar Tha?
Quratulain Balouch sang Woh Humsafar Tha, the title song of the 2011 Pakistani drama Humsafar.
Are Pakistani artists banned in India?
Many Pakistani accounts were restricted in India from May 2025 after the Pahalgam attack. Some were reported accessible again by July 2025, but access varies.
Sources: Quratulain Balouch (Wikipedia), Business Standard, Storyboard18, Young Stunners (Wikipedia).
