Photo Courtesy Adam Harding
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Imaad Wasif combines guitar ballads and ardent rock songs that can be characterized as dichotomous. The instrumentation and arrangements: warm and grimy. Vocal style and sound: soft and melodic.
There is a tension and edge to the songs but the vocals open you up. Imaad uses his voice and lyrics to put you at ease making you a willing recipient of his dirtied up sound. He can also change direction and give you soft, arrangements with floating electric solos layered over finger strung acoustic riffs.
The effects and processing on the guitars may remind of you post Blue Mask Lou Reed. However, his vocal styling is much more approachable than Lou Reed. Wasif ‘s vocals are extremely disarming and elevating. Listen to a track like Oceanic and the transcendental power in his work becomes apparent. Buried in the rich layers and warm production is a truly uplifting, ethereal sound. There is a familiarity and comfort in Wasif’s sound. And almost celestial calling creeps out of every song.
His third album, The Voidist, was recorded with Two Part Beast, plus guests Dale Crover (Melvins) and Greg Burns (Red Sparowes), by Chad Bamford (Weezer) with additional recordings by Mathias Schneeberger (The Obsessed, Gutter Twins), the release is due from Tee Pee Records in October 2009.
Click here for a new mp3.
Click to here to read his Paste Magazine interview.
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