Ustad Noor Bakhsh, from near Pasni, Balochistan, is a master of the Balochi Benju—a keyed zither with origins in a Japanese toy, the taishōkoto, later transformed by Baloch musicians into a unique folk instrument. Noor Bakhsh plays an electric Benju using an old pickup and a small Phillips amp he bought in Karachi over 20 years ago. Though long celebrated across the Makran Coast, he gained wider recognition through recent recordings and videos.
A student of legends like Bilawal Belgium and Misri Khan Jamali, Noor Bakhsh’s style is rooted in Balochi traditions but reaches far beyond. His music incorporates South Asian Raags, rendered in a distinctive, experimental way. His repertoire spans Persian, Kurdish, and Arabic melodies—echoes of ancient cultural flows that predate modern borders. He also performs folk and popular tunes from across Pakistan’s linguistic spectrum, with his Sindhi pieces highlighting the rich musical dialogue between Sindh and Balochistan.
Beyond tradition, he plays Bollywood songs, bird-inspired originals, and more—absorbing sound like a sponge, from the natural world around his village to the pulse of regional and global genres. His debut album, Jingul, was released digitally in 2022 and on vinyl via the UK’s Hive Mind Records in 2023.
To unfamiliar ears, Noor Bakhsh’s sound may evoke Ali Farka Touré—with polyrhythmic grooves, sixes and eights, and fluid ornamentation that echo both West African and Indian Ocean musical currents. His music is a living testament to the deep, cross-cultural migrations and seafaring histories of Balochistan, revived through the melodies of his Benju.