American-Indian Artist Sheherazaad Releases New Mini Album, ‘Qasr’

Indian-origin and San Francisco-based vocalist and composer Sheherazaad releases ‘Qasr’ via London-based independent record label Erased Tapes.

Composed of five tracks and soaking in enchanting ambient textures and a folk/pop aura, the album also includes Sheherazaad’s previously released singles, ‘Mashoor’ and ‘Dhund Lo Mujhe.’ Produced by Grammy Award-winning Pakistani experimental artist Arooj Aftab, the record seamlessly twines works from violinist Basma Edrees, pianist Runar Blesvik, and kanun virtuoso Firas Zreik, amongst other stellar musicians.

‘Qasr’ is drenched in a magical sonic tapestry, with Sheherazaad’s tranquil voice complementing the gentle instrumentation on each track. ‘Koshish’ (meaning ‘try’ in English) dishes out a pristine soundscape with harmonizing vocals, and soothing percussive and string patterns. The music is about aging with affection for people or locations. Speaking about the Hindi-worded tune, Sheherazaad says, “It’s a way of paying homage to my Californian upbringing, revamping the surfer genre with brown beach bodies and hidden Oud as the axis of the song.”

Up next is the dreamy track ‘Khatam’ (‘Finished’), gorgeously laid over a grandiose piano melody with charmed vocal coatings, singing of time, apocalypse, and conflicts of civilizations while narrating a tale of a female traveler. Closing out the record and clocking in at seven minutes is ‘Lehja’ (related to language and speaking style), an eccentric presentation with subdued chimes, trickles, keys, and mild strumming. ‘Lehja’ discusses the turmoil that may surround the mother tongue, pronunciation, and the struggle to preserve fading ancestral languages.

Sheherarzaad’s ‘Qasr’ is a mellifluous voyage that grips you with its captivating accounts via Hindi-Urdu poetic forms, channeling questions of displacement, mother tongue, imagined homelands, and beyond. Post the album’s release, Sheherazaad is slated to co-host an artist residency with electronica producer Yuhina in Mumbai from March 9 onwards and perform in Brooklyn and San Francisco later in the month.

Credits –
Vocals: Sheherazaad
Classical Guitar: Ria Modak
Percussion: Gilbert Mansour
Percussion, Strings: Runar Blesvik
Violin: Basma Edrees
Percussion: Dave Brophy
Guitar: J. Valleau
Oud: Lion Tortolero
Piano: J. Valleau;
Synth: Arooj Aftab
Piano: Runar Blesvik
Percussion: Gilbert Mansour
Kanun: Firas Zreik
Synth: J. Valleau
Urdu Consultation: Bilal Sami
Producer: Arooj Aftab
Recorded at The Glass Wall in Brooklyn
Recording and Mixing Engineer: J. Valleau
Vocal Mixing Engineer: Runar Blesvik
Mastered by Heba Kadry

Find Sheherazaad on: Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify

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