Rohail Hyatt set to return to ‘Coke Studio’ as producer after five years

Musician, composer Rohail Hyatt is all set to return to Coke Studio as the producer five years after he parted ways from the widely acclaimed Pakistani musical program and international franchise.

As being reported Hyatt is set to return to Coke Studio as the producer after a gap of five years. The source claims that Zohaib Kazi and Ali Hamza who produced the show’s 11th season have already stepped down.

Hyatt’s much-awaited comeback is happening at a time when the show’s 11th season has met with a storm of criticism and unnecessary controversy.

The source further adds that the show’s new format, production team, and artist lineup are in the process of formulation.

Several prominent musicians were being considered for what is considered to be one of the most coveted job in the Pakistani music industry. Few sources also quote that Atif Aslam’s name was also being considered for the showrunner position.

Rohail Hyatt had parted ways with Coke Studio in early 2014, citing exhaustion, having conceived the show and helming it successfully for six straight seasons.

He worked with the company until February 2017 as a music consultant, advising it on replicating the show’s massive success in other international markets. In between, he was also developing a new music series for Sprite, Coke’s sister brand, which unfortunately was never aired.

Rohail Hyatt gave an interview to BBC Urdu in 2015, in which he expressed his wish to produce one more season of Coke Studio at some point, which would be his last ever.

After that interview, he was seen at Harvard, delivering a lecture on what led to the birth of Coke Studio. That lecture provided a rare insight into his idiosyncrasies. The music maestro spoke about years of contemplation and self-discovery in the field of music. He talked about his journey from quantum mechanics to organic food, Islamic philosophy to music theory.

This news has made music fans in Pakistan jubilant, as they wish the next season will bring something fresh and intriguing for the Pakistani music fans.