Humnava has released its fifth song, Sway, a bright, carefree composition recorded at Nasir-e-Khisrow Model Academy in Ghulkin, Gojal, Hunza. The track channels the natural ease and spontaneous movement of childhood, using the mountain school setting as both soundstage and emotional anchor. Sway invites listeners to reconnect with an unguarded joy shaped by memory, landscape, and communal life.
The recording brings together an international ensemble whose voices and instruments shape the song’s playful textures. Vocals come from Elijah Bwalya and Joshua Bwalya of Zambia while Peter John Christopher of France contributes saxophone and backing vocals. Pakistani and regional instruments and performers include Mujeeb Ur Rehman on rabab, Ilhan Karim on Chitrali sitar, Faheem Uddin Hunzai on Dadang and backing vocals, with Melvin Arthur on acoustic guitars and Amine Laroug on electric guitar and backing vocals. Percussive layers were added by Adnan Karim, Muhammad Hunaid and Veeru Shan, and synth by Dorian Jonas Goetsh, creating a cross-cultural sonic fabric across the arrangement.
Creative credits reflect the collaborative spirit of the project. The song was written by Xulfi and Zyad Ahmed Tariq, composed by Ali Raza, Shjr Hussain and Xulfi, and arranged by Xulfi with Dorian Jonas Goetsh. Xulfi also produced and mixed Sway, curating a sound that stays rooted in Hunza while opening toward global influences. The piece is positioned within Humnava’s Season 1 initiative, which brought over 30 musicians from Pakistan and abroad together in an immersive camp of creative exchange.
The music video, directed by Soheb Akhtar with Xulfi as consulting editor-director, was shot against the dramatic mountain backdrop and features cinematography by Zain Haleem. Post-production included editing and grade work that emphasize the natural light and movement of the school setting, with production design by Hashim Ali and art direction by Sara Vohra. Wardrobe and styling teams contributed to a visual language that complements the song’s sense of play and memory.
Beyond its musical and visual elements, Sway carries a social and emotional dimension by foregrounding a remote kindergarten where children play, learn and form early friendships. Humnava has framed the release within community listening sessions and gatherings that invite artists and audiences to experience the work collectively, reinforcing the project’s aim to connect people, places and stories through sound.
Sway is now available to watch on YouTube and to stream on Spotify, and it expands the first chapter of Humnava’s Season 1 alongside earlier releases. The project continues to partner with cultural and institutional supporters as it builds a global platform rooted in Pakistan and informed by collaboration and cultural dialogue.
