Abdullah Siddiqui
{{Short description|Pakistani musician}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=July 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Abdullah Siddiqui
| honorific_suffix =
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| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|ur|{{Nastaliq|عبداللہ صدیقی}}}}}}
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|8|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
| mother = Naureen Siddiqui
| father = Shoaib Siddiqui
| relatives =
| occupation = {{Hlist|Singer|Songwriter|Producer}}
| years_active = 2016–present
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| signature_size = 100px
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| module = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed = Yes
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| genre = Electropop
}}}}
Abdullah Siddiqui ({{langx|ur|{{nq|عبداللہ صدیقی}}}}; born 5 August 2000) is a Pakistani singer, songwriter, and producer associated with Urdu and English language music. He made his breakthrough appearance on Nescafé Basement season 5 with his song "Resistance",{{Cite web|last=Ishtiaq|first=Shanzeh|date=2019-08-06|title=Abdullah Siddiqui is the local indie musician you need to watch out for|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1183303|access-date=2022-01-26|website=Images|language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sultan |first=Asfa |date=2022-04-26 |title=In Abdullah Siddiqui's world |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2354286/by-gen-z-for-gen-z-unraveling-the-abdullah-siddiqui-aesthetic |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} and followed it up by making his album debut with Metannoya in 2019.{{Cite web|title=Meesha Shafi and EDM sensation Abdullah Siddiqui to collaborate for Amrit {{!}} MISCELLANEOUS - MAG THE WEEKLY|url=https://magtheweekly.com/detail/8752-meesha-shafi-and-edm-sensation-abdullah-siddiqui-to-collaborate-for-amrit|access-date=2022-01-26|website=magtheweekly.com|language=en}} He further released three albums, namely Heterotopia (2020), dead Beat poets (2021) and dead Beats poets: side B (2021).{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-09-18 |title=Abdullah Siddiqui is set to release his fourth album dead Beat poets: side B this weekend |url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1188424 |access-date=2022-01-21 |website=Images |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sabeeh |first=Maheen |date=23 January 2022 |title=NEWSBYTE:Abdullah Siddiqui discusses PSL anthem; Islamabad United merge art with cricket {{!}} Instep {{!}} thenews.com.pk |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/927081-newsbyteabdullah-siddiqui-discusses-psl-anthem-islamabad-united-merge-art-with-cricket |access-date=2022-01-26 |website=The News International |language=en}}
In January 2022, he was announced as an associate producer of Coke Studio season 14.{{Cite web|date=2022-01-06|title=Coke Studio 14: Abdullah Siddiqui thanks Xulfi for trusting him|url=https://www.somethinghaute.com/coke-studio-14-abdullah-siddiqui-thanks-xulfi-for-trusting-him/|access-date=2022-01-26|website=Something Haute|language=en-US}} This made him the series' youngest ever associate producer.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-04-12 |title=Abdullah Siddiqui: the new voice paving the way for others |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2462344/abdullah-siddiqui-the-influential-new-voice-paving-the-way-for-others-like-him |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} The same month, he produced the 2022 Pakistan Super League anthem "Agay Dekh".{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-01-25 |title=PSL7's Agay Dekh featuring Atif, Aima takes over Twitter |url=http://www.samaaenglish.tv/news/2510072 |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=Samaa TV |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-01-25 |title=PSL7 anthem 'Agay Dekh' is bound to get you grooving |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2340357/psl7-anthem-agay-dekh-is-bound-to-get-you-grooving |access-date=2022-01-26 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-02-24 |title=Abdullah Siddiqui breaks down the process of creating PSL anthem 'Agay Dekh' |url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1189587 |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=Images |language=en}}
Life and career
= 2000–2017: Early life and career beginnings =
Siddiqui was born in Lahore, Punjab to an Urdu-speaking Muslim family. By the age of 11, he had learned to play the guitar. He began producing and releasing English language electronic music on his Youtube account{{Cite web |title=Abdullah Siddiqui - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/c/AbdullahSiddiqui/about |access-date=2022-01-21 |website=YouTube}} as an independent artist when he was 16.{{Cite web |last=Sabeeh |first=Maheen |date=26 December 2021 |title=Abdullah Siddiqui confirms new album for 2022 {{!}} Instep {{!}} thenews.com.pk |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/919467-abdullah-siddiqui-confirms-new-album-for-2022 |access-date=2022-01-16 |website=The News International |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-04-20 |title=Producer Abdullah Siddiqui named in Forbes 30 list |url=https://nation.com.pk/21-Apr-2021/producer-abdullah-siddiqui-named-in-forbes-30-list |access-date=2022-01-26 |website=The Nation |language=en}} In 2016, he performed a half-hour long set at the Lahore Music Meet.{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-04-13 |title=Music Mela to start on April 21 in Islamabad |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1084028/music-mela-to-start-on-april-21-in-islamabad |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} Around that time, his single "Telescope Heart" gained nationwide airplay on CityFM89.
He then worked with independent platforms Forever South and True Brew Records. On the former, he released "Fiction" in December 2017{{Cite web|title=The Silver Linings Playbook {{!}} Instep {{!}} thenews.com.pk|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/564724-silver-linings-playbook|access-date=2022-01-26|website=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en}} and "Warm & Unredeemed" with in January 2018.
= 2018–2020: ''Nescafé Basement'' and nominations =
He released his original song "Resistance" in 2018,{{Cite web |last=Sabeeh |first=Maheen |title=Introducing the prodigious Abdullah Siddiqui |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=The News International |language=en}} for which he picked up a nomination in the Best Emerging Talent (Music) category at the 17th Lux Style Awards.{{Cite web |last=Sabeeh |first=Maheen |title=Abdullah Siddiqui on early beginnings |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/instep-today/390866-abdullah-siddiqui-speaks-to-bbc-asian-network-about-music |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=The News International |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Abdullah Siddiqui speaks to BBC Asian Network about music |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=The News International |language=en}} The song was also featured on season 5 of Nescafé Basement.
He sang Peshawar Zalmi's anthem for 2021 Pakistan Super League titled "Kingdom"{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-05-21 |title=Who is Abdullah Siddiqui? The electropop prodigy opens up about his journey |url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1187265 |access-date=2022-01-21 |website=Images |language=en}} along with Altamash Sever. In 2021, he was included in the Forbes list of 30 Under 30 - Asia - Entertainment & Sports.{{Cite web|title=Abdullah Siddiqui|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/abdullah-siddiqui/|access-date=2022-01-16|website=Forbes|language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-04-20 |title=Three Pakistanis make it to 'Forbes' |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2295764/1?fbclid=IwAR38BOgKIzr8SGd-Cpuglksl3XX4YeXXaZgpXRDwn9xYCRGmYJJHJr_CSoA |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} On 25 December 2020, Siddiqui released "Be Myself" with singer Aima Baig. The track also featured on his second album, Heterotopia.{{Cite web|last=Baji|first=Band|date=2021-01-19|title=This Abdullah Siddiqui and Aima Baig collaboration will make you self-reflect|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1186418|access-date=2022-01-21|website=Images|language=en}}
= 2022–present: ''Coke Studio'' and Pakistan Super League =
On 5 January 2022, Siddiqui announced via his Instagram account that he would be an associate producer on season 14 of Coke Studio.{{Cite web|date=2022-01-11|title=Abdullah Siddique; a surprise addition in Coke Studio|url=https://www.bolnews.com/entertainment/2022/01/abdullah-siddique-a-surprise-addition-in-coke-studio/|access-date=2022-01-21|website=BOL News|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2021-12-09|title=Exclusive: Coke Studio 14 line-up and all that is happening|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2333129/exclusive-coke-studio-14-line-up-and-all-that-is-happening|access-date=2022-01-21|website=The Express Tribune|language=en}} On 13 January 2022, it was announced that he would be writing and producing the 2022 Pakistan Super League anthem featuring vocals by Atif Aslam and Aima Baig.{{Cite web|author=Images Staff|date=2022-01-14|title=Atif Aslam and Aima Baig to sing the PSL 7 anthem|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1189244|access-date=2022-01-21|website=Images|language=en}} The anthem, named "Agay Dekh" was released on 24 January 2022{{Cite web |date=2022-01-24 |title=PCB releases official anthem of PSL 7 'Agay Dekh' |url=https://nation.com.pk/24-Jan-2022/pcb-releases-official-anthem-of-psl-7-agay-dekh |access-date=2022-01-24 |website=The Nation |language=en}} to a mixed reception.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-01-25 |title=Atif Aslam, Aima Baig and Abdullah Siddiqui's PSL anthem is out and it's getting mixed reactions online |url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1189333 |access-date=2022-01-31 |website=Images |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sabeeh |first=Maheen |date=30 January 2022 |title=Musical Notes |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/928836-musical-notes |access-date=2022-01-31 |website=The News International |language=en}}
Siddiqui was also involved with the film score of the 2022 Pakistani film, Joyland, which had its world premiere at the 75th Cannes Film Festival.{{Cite web |last=Sabeeh |first=Maheen |date=30 January 2022 |title=Ushering in the age of Abdullah {{!}} Instep {{!}} thenews.com.pk |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/928829-ushering-in-the-age-of-abdullah |access-date=2022-01-31 |website=The News International |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-04-23 |title=Abdullah Siddiqui is grateful to have made music for Pakistani Cannes selection Joyland |url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1189975 |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=Images |language=en}} He was planning to release another album in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Sabeeh |first=Maheen |date=23 January 2022 |title=NEWSBYTE:Abdullah Siddiqui discusses PSL anthem; Islamabad United merge art with cricket |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/927081-newsbyteabdullah-siddiqui-discusses-psl-anthem-islamabad-united-merge-art-with-cricket |access-date=2022-01-31 |website=The News International |language=en}}
In 2024, he collaborated on Peshawar Zalmi's anthem "Zalmi Yama".{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-02-18 |title=Peshawar Zalmi’s latest anthem is a feisty merger |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2456828/zalmi-yama-peshawar-zalmis-latest-anthem-is-a-feisty-merger-of-electronic-and-folk |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} The next year, he produced the official song for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, titled "Jeeto Baazi Khel Ke".{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-02-07 |title=Official song for ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 released |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/champions-trophy-2025/news/official-song-for-icc-men-s-champions-trophy-2025-released |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=International Cricket Council |language=en}}