Imaad Wasif
Posted by Editorial Intern on 31-May-06 @ 02:33 PM|
HQ: Echo Park, CA
NOW PLAYING: Imaad Wasif (KILL ROCK STARS) THE STORY SO FAR: Imaad Wasif, 30-year old guitarist of alaska! and Folk Implosion fame, has, in a certain way, always been working on his solo project. "It's sort of difficult to say when the solo project started; it's always been a solitary thing, even in a band," Wasif says. His self-titled solo debut, recorded last October in Nashville in just eight days by Mark Nevers (Will Oldham, Silver Jews), has earned Wasif praise by many in the music world, including Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who recently made him the "fourth member" of their band. Wasif will be performing onstage with them, as well as opening a couple of dates with his solo material. "I'm playing bass guitar and keyboards and doing weird vocal stuff [with Yeah Yeah Yeahs]," Wasif explains. "It's been really interesting. I'm going to be on tour with them for most of the year." WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW 'EM:"It's an acoustic record. There's many differences [compared to my previous bands], but ultimately, the thread is still running through," Wasif explains. Wasif's music is slow and melodic, but the feeling conveyed is not at all melancholy. On the contrary--it's hopeful. If Wasif were his own PR team, he wouldn't try to sell his record with words, though. "I would [just] play it for them. I'm not trying to make some grandiose statement or anything; just listen to the music," Wasif says. "That's why I write songs; I can't communicate through sentences. I can't have conversations with people about what I do--I just do it." --Kira Wisniewski YOU LIKE? YOU'LL LIKE: The Folk Implosion / Nick Drake / Bonnie 'Prince' Billy |
