Pakistani actor and singer Farhan Saeed is widely recognised for his acclaimed television work, including the hit dramas Mere Humsafar and Suno Chanda. After nearly two decades in the music industry, he has recently released his first solo album, Khat. In this conversation, Farhan shares behind-the-scenes insights into the making of the album, his songwriting process, and the emotions that shaped its sound.

1. With Khat, there’s a strong sense of storytelling through restraint rather than excess. How did you decide what not to say in these songs, and why was that important?
   I’ve always written from my own experiences, but I also take inspiration from the people around me, my surroundings, and even the different characters Istep into as an actor. All of that comes together naturally in the songwriting.
   For me, melody is just as important as the lyrics. I’m a person of melody. If it feels right and connected, everything else falls into place. While writing these songs, I focused on keeping the melodies honest and true to the emotion, and that helped me decide what to leave out as well. The restraint was never about holding back for effect, it was about letting the emotion and melody
   speak for themselves so that the listener can really feel it.
2. The emotional tone of your latest single feels both intimate and universal. At what point do you know a song is ready to be shared with the world? For me, a song is ready when I feel I’ve given my best to it and it honestly reflects what I’m trying to say. I write from the heart, and once I’m satisfied creatively, I usually share it first with my wife and a few close friends. Their reaction matters to me. When they connect with it and give me a go-ahead, that’s when I feel the song has something special and is ready to be heard by the world.
   During the process of Khat, I felt that every song had the ability to offer something to the listener — an emotion, a memory, or a feeling they could relate to in their own way. When I sense that a song is no longer just personal, but can resonate with people around me as well, that’s when I know it’s ready to be shared.
3. Did working on Khat change the way you now approach songwriting or composition, especially when compared to your earlier music?
   In terms of songwriting, I’ve always stayed honest and it has consistently been my strength. My melody, sincerity, and emotional expression have always been at the core of my music, and my listeners relate to that. So I did not adopt a completely new songwriting approach for Khat.
   Where I did experiment was in the compositions and the musical direction of some tracks. There are a few songs where I intentionally stepped out of my comfort zone. For example, Yeh Kya Ho Gaya leans more toward a rock sound, which is quite different from what I usually do. Another one, Jave Mahiya, also pushed me into a space that’s outside my usual style. Exploring these sounds was refreshing for me, and I genuinely enjoyed doing something different while still staying true to my musical identity.
4. Many listeners describe your recent music as something they ‘sit with’ rather than just listen to. Was creating that kind of slow-burn connection intentional?
   I think it evolved naturally from the way I approach creativity. I do take inspiration from my own life, but not only from personal experiences, a lot of it also comes from my surroundings, the people I observe, and situations around me. And because I also work as an actor, stepping into different characters sometimes gives me new emotional perspectives, which subconsciously influence my songwriting as well. So the music grows out of that mix of experiences and observation. If listeners feel that these songs stay with them and take time to unfold, I feel that’s because the inspiration itself comes from layered spaces, not something created deliberately, but something that developed naturally.
5. As an artist constantly evolving, where do you see this phase of music taking you next—does Khat mark a pause, a transition, or a new beginning?
   I wouldn’t call it a major transition, because I’ve been creating music,
   performing, and enjoying singing for people throughout my career. That journey has always continued for me. But Khat definitely marks a new chapter, because it is my first solo album after almost two decades. I’m also excited because the Khat tour has already begun, and performing these songs live has added a new dimension to how I experience the album. So for me, it doesn’t feel like a pause — it feels like a strong forward step that is opening up a new direction for what comes next.

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