About Saarey Music
Preserving the World’s Most Exclusive South Asian Classical Music
300M+ listeners worldwide, yet structurally underserved by mainstream streaming.
4,000+ rare recordings from 225+ legendary ustads and pandits, spanning 92 years — including exclusive live mehfils and concert recordings, in audiophile-grade audio.
- The world’s largest streaming platform for South Asian classical music — 4,000+ rare recordings from 225+ artists.
- 92-year archive (since 1934) — Hindustani, Pakistani classical, and Carnatic traditions.
- Founded 2019 in London by Faraan Irfan, Grammy Voting Member.
- Backed by Goodwater Capital and Innovate UK; partnered with Harvard, Oxford, SOAS, UNLV, and UT Austin.
- Recognized by Forbes Global Top 200, Fast Company #9 Most Innovative EMEA, Music Week Awards Finalist 2025, and the Mayor of London (UKSPF People’s Choice Award).
- Exclusive rights to ~90% of all Pakistani classical recordings.
- Available on iOS, Android, and Web — 500,000+ Play Store installs, 4.7★ from 3,850+ reviews.
- Audiophile-grade audio. Ad-free. Offline listening.
Why We Built Saarey
Faraan Irfan grew up in a family that has supported South Asian classical music since 1959 — preserving an archive of recordings that dates back to 1934. For decades he watched some of the greatest musicians in the world struggle for visibility, while audiences struggled to access their work. When he tried to listen to this music online, he discovered something surprising: despite mainstream streaming platforms, high-quality recordings were nearly impossible to find.
Yet millions of listeners were searching for them.
Saarey was created to solve that.
A Family Mission
What began as a personal mission to preserve a musical tradition has evolved into one of the most capital-efficient consumer music platforms emerging globally — not just to preserve this art form, but to build the digital infrastructure that allows it to thrive.
Exclusive Catalogue
Exclusive rights to ~90% of all Pakistani classical recordings. Long-term exclusive licensing, culturally designed metadata infrastructure, AI-driven discovery, and a deeply engaged global listener community.
London to the World
Headquartered in London, backed by Goodwater Capital, Innovate UK, and leading angels. Grammy Voting Member — the first Pakistani entrepreneur admitted to the Recording Academy.
Purpose-Built for the Genre
Unlike general music platforms, every feature is designed for South Asian classical music — browse by raag, time of day, gharana, or instrument. 43 hours average monthly engagement per user. The music comes with context, not just a play button.
Audiophile-Grade. Ad-Free. Offline.
Built for listeners who care how the music sounds, not just what's on next. Audiophile-grade audio. No ads, ever. Download for offline deep listening — on a long flight, in a quiet room, on a tabla teacher's commute.
Trusted by leading institutions
Awards & Recognition
Backed By
An Unrivalled Collection
An archive spanning 1934 to the present day — including 85–90% of all classical music recordings from Pakistan. Not available anywhere else.
Khayal
The pinnacle of South Asian classical vocal tradition — elaborate melodic improvisation in the Hindustani lineage, sung within a raag framework
Dhurpad
The oldest surviving form of South Asian classical music — austere, meditative compositions
Qawwali
Devotional music — powerful group performances rooted in centuries of spiritual tradition
Ghazal
Lyrical poetry set to classical melodies — exploring themes of love, loss, and mysticism
Thumri
Semi-classical vocal form — emotionally expressive with romantic and devotional themes
Kafi
Punjabi and Sindhi classical poetry sung in traditional raags — a living folk-classical tradition
New to these forms? Read the glossary →
Priceless Treasures You Won’t Find Elsewhere
Our catalog features rare recordings from legendary artists — many available exclusively on Saarey Music.
Roshan Ara Begum
Crowned "Malika e Mausiqi" (Queen of Music). Among the greatest classical vocalists in living memory.
Exclusive recordings from 1960
Ustad M. Hussain Sarahang
Court musician for the last King of Afghanistan. One of the foremost South Asian classical vocalists.
Exclusive recordings from 1965
Noor Zehra Kazim
The only living player of the Sagar Veena — a modern Pakistani version of the ancient Veena.
Exclusive recordings from 1980
Ustad Fateh Ali Khan
Maestro of the Gawaliar Gharana. Renowned for his powerful voice and mastery of Khayal.
Exclusive recordings
Ustad Salamat Ali Khan
One half of the iconic Nazakat-Salamat duo. A towering figure of the Sham Chaurasia Gharana.
Exclusive recordings
Mehdi Hassan
The "King of Ghazal." His velvet voice defined the ghazal genre for generations.
Rare recordings
Farida Khanum
The "Queen of Ghazal." Her soulful renditions have captivated audiences for decades.
Rare recordingsWhat People Say
Rated 4.7 ★ from 3,850+ reviews on Google Play — 500K+ downloads.
“A Classical Music Lover's Dream! Saarey Music has completely changed how I experience South Asian classical music! The app is beautifully designed and easy to navigate, with a vast library of ragas and artists to explore. The sound quality is exceptional, and the curated playlists are perfect for every mood.”
“It's Phenomenal! From Interface to Music, Vocals And Instrumentals — a Huge Music Canvas full of Different Melodious Colors, Soulful Shades, Dancing Vistas And Serene Floating Emotions, filled with All the fragrances of Ragas, Thumris, Kajris, Instrumentals, Bandish.”
“Certainly an appealing, rare and valuable niche digital resource.”
“Saarey Music is a brilliant product that will be very useful for our students and faculty.”
What the Press Says
Recognition from the publications and programmes that have written about, awarded, or featured Saarey Music.
Featured In
Awards & Lists
Press Coverage
Foundervine
Real Founder Journeys to Growth — speaker, 2026
UK at SXSW 2025
Speaker — Department for Business & Trade
Fast Company
#9 Most Innovative EMEA 2024
Wellfound
Startup directory profile (formerly AngelList)
ProPakistani
The streaming startup saving classical music
Innovate UK
From concept to global recognition
TechJuice
Columbia Venture Competition winner
Podcasts & Interviews
Grow Music Keynote
Premium streaming in emerging markets — Grow Music 2024, Abbey Road Studios
The Business Spotlight
How I Built My Business — Faraan Irfan
Hotbed
How I approached my pre-seed fundraise
American Pakistan Foundation
Saarey Music featuring Faraan Irfan
Sound Connections Interview
Turning cultural gaps into a streaming business
BAEHQ
Founder profile — podcast interview