Comments on: Music: Meet Imaad Wasif

By: DJ Drrrty Poonjabi

DJ Drrrty Poonjabi — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 00:29:01 +0000

Great post Sid, I found out about Imaad while looking for news on "Folk Implosion" and have been looking for his music ever since. (The mp3 for "Out in the black" can be found here.)

I like Imaad's soft and sincere sounds: it's retro without being derivative and indie without being pretentious. Comparisons to Nick Drake and Iron Butterfly would not be unfounded.

Rano: post your list of desi artists here, I'd love to listen to the new talent.

By: Apu_is_innocent

Apu_is_innocent — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 00:51:51 +0000

kudos to SM for bringing some light to this young brother. I found him through a friend on myspace some time ago – diggin it fa sho.

By: siddhartha

siddhartha — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 03:07:09 +0000

Thanks n00b, glad you enjoyed it. As for nervous, I don’t really think so — I think that’s just the way he is, a kind of low-key guy. I do think that he was most fully in his element when playing, but hey — he’s a musician, that’s the whole point

By: n00b

n00b — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 02:25:04 +0000

Siddhartha, Thanks for the great post and interview.

Somehow, I had the feeling that Imaad was nervous in the radio interview. There was a discernible quiver in his voice. Did you get the same feeling too?

By: kavita

kavita — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 09:54:53 +0000

"...he credits as an influence the old Indian records from his fatherÂ’s collection that got damaged in a flood, so that the labels all peeled off, leaving him to listen to the vinyl without knowing who was playing"

Even while it reminds me of the time my brother decided that the industrial chic of aluminum-sans-labels would improve the aesthetic sensibility of a Green Giant canned corn display at the local Stop-n-Shop, I am also thrilled that Sunday morning brought me this beautiful image of a young Mr. Wasif being so moved by music with no name.

By: Sita aur Guitar

Sita aur Guitar — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 05:44:55 +0000

He sounds very laidback, with syrupy vocals. Almost Beck’s Sea Change-esque.

By: Prashant

Prashant — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 05:18:54 +0000

The Raagini is a staple on Carnatic / Hindustani concert stages the world over now. As a singer myself, I can testify that it’s no substitute for an actual tanpura since it can’t [as yet] simulate the complex harmonics that occur between strings as they are plucked, as well as the tempo variation that results when a tanpura is being played. However, it’s a fantastic effort with a pleasant, deep sound and it’s a perfectly acceptable alternative when an instrument isn’t available. Nice to see it being used in other musical settings…

By: rano

rano — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 04:51:43 +0000

Out in the black is an amazingly haunting song. I’m gonna have to get that album- reminds me of some of my faves, Nick Drake, Duncan Sheik, Jeff Buckley. Y’all oughta consider posting some ipod mix suggestions of desi artists.

By: siddhartha

siddhartha — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 00:28:59 +0000

there's a lot of desi hip-hop; here is a partial listing...

By: tinku

tinku — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 00:26:59 +0000

Great, but when are we going to see an indian eminem?