‘Blinding Lights’, by The Weeknd, was basically the soundtrack to last year’s summer. It was a party-starter at a time when we weren’t able to have parties. Sonically it wasn’t so much a clash of genres but rather a coming together of them; new wave-inspired synthpop, electro-funk, hip-hop, Caribbean music, dark club music, and anything else that made us want to get up and dance. The track has spawned many covers, and probably the most creative one you’ll hear is this beachside instrumental reinterpretation from Faizan, along with saxophonist Husen, two of the best-known musical artists from The Maldives.
Master of the handpan, Faizan re-establishes the tropical roots of ‘Blinding Lights’ and fuses it to the melody. He retains the sophistication, and drama of the original, while imbuing it with bright sunshine. On the one hand, it’s relaxing AF, but on the other, Faizan still manages to capture the tone of the original – along with the edge of your seat excitement, even without a vocal track.
The clip for ‘Blinding Lights’, just like Faizan’s other videos, has been shot in The Maldives, and is filled with tropical sunshine. Using the backdrop of Ozen Reserve Bolifushi, an extraordinarily beautiful resort, we see the percussionist and saxophonist performing on the patio of a gorgeous seaside house, complete with swimming pool, gazebo, solar panels, and two vintage cars in the drive. Directed by Vishal Zaki and Vishal Amir, the musicians are captured in action on a pier overlooking the water, as boats drift by in the background. Faizan’s concentration on the handpan is worth watching for: he’s completely immersed as he plays, but from time to time we see flashes of joy and pride in his craft.
Watch ‘Blinding Lights’ below, and find out more about Faizan on his official website.
