Kabul Dreams

Kabul Dreams
Kabul Dreams band members from left to right: Raby Adib, Sulyman Qardash, Siddique Ahmed
Background information
Origin Kabul, Afghanistan
Genres Indie rock, rock and roll
Years active 2008 (2008)-present
Website http://kabuldreams.com/
Members Sulyman Qardash
Siddique Ahmed
Raby Adib
Past members Mojtaba Habibi Shandiz

Kabul Dreams is the first rock band from Afghanistan, established in 2008 in Kabul. The band consists of Sulyman Qardash (lead singer and guitarist), Raby Adib (drummer) and Siddique Ahmed (bassist). The band has paved the way for a modest but growing rock scene in Afghanistan, rebuilding itself after decades of war. The band’s motivation to perform came from their own love for music, but also from a public hunger for a new life after war – a life that included new music and art.[1]

History

All of the band members were born in Afghanistan, but they were displaced to neighboring countries as refugees during the Taliban reign – Sulyman Qardash in Uzbekistan, Siddique Ahmed in Pakistan, and Mojtaba Habibi Shandiz in Iran. After the fall of the Taliban regime, the band members returned to Afghanistan and met each other in Kabul. Since the bandmates originate from different regions, they do not share a common first language, and perform in English. Their musical influences include Sex Pistols, Metallica, Nirvana and Oasis.[2]

In April 2013, Kabul Dreams released their first album, Plastic Words. The album was mixed by Grammy winner Alan Sanderson, who has previously worked with artists including Michael Jackson and The Rolling Stones.

In 2014, the band relocated to Oakland, California to grow their presence in the American music scene.[3] While the band had experience performing in Europe and Asia, they made their North American debut that year at the high profile arts festival, South by Southwest.[4] They have played several more shows since then, located primarily in the Bay Area. In 2016, they partnered again with Alan Sanderson to release their second album, Megalomaniacs.

Band members

Current members

  • Sulyman Qardash - lead vocals, guitar (2008–present)
  • Siddique Ahmed - bass (2008–present)
  • Raby Adib - drums (2013–present)

Former members

  • Mojtaba Habibi Shandiz - drums (2008-2013)

Timeline

Discography

Plastic Words (2013)

Track Listing
No. Title Length
1 Crack in the Radio 1:53
2 Plastic Words 4:28
3 Can You Imagine 3:38
4 A Flower After Storm 2:59
5 Life is Rubbish Without You 3:10
6 Grip it 3:38
7 Air 2:49
8 I Wanna Runaway 2:11
9 Good Morning Freedom 3:15
10 Mirror 3:41
11 Speed of Love 3:15

Megalomaniacs (2017)

Track Listing
No. Title Length
1 Rush 1:53
2 Thousand Pieces 3:00
3 Brain Drain 3:28
4 Torn Apart 2:49
5 Ghost 3:23
6 Saturated Hope 2:51
7 Out of My Mind 3:44
8 Head Hurts 2:58
9 Angel Mika Kemp 3:54
10 We Are Who We Are Not 2:54
11 Hyper Colors 2:53

Filmography

Radio Dreams (2016) – as themselves

Radio Dreams is a film about a Persian language radio station located in the Bay Area that tries to arrange a jam session between the Afghan rock band Kabul Dreams and the metal legends Metallica. The film is a fictional story, and features Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich.[5]

In 2016, Radio Dreams won the Hivos Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.[6] In 2017, the North American rights to the film were acquired by Matson Films in Los Angeles. It was slated for theatrical release in late April and May 2017.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Band". KABUL DREAMS. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  2. ↑ "Kabul Dreams". REORIENT - Middle Eastern Arts and Culture Magazine. Retrieved 2017-09-16.
  3. ↑ "Afghan Rockers Start New Musical Life in Oakland". KQED News. 2017-03-12. Retrieved 2017-09-16.
  4. ↑ "Afghanistan's first rock band Kabul Dreams to make U.S. debut at SXSW". CultureMap Austin. Retrieved 2017-09-16.
  5. ↑ "Afghan rockers live 'Radio Dreams'". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2017-09-16.
  6. ↑ "Radio Dreams". IFFR. 2016-01-18. Retrieved 2017-09-16.
  7. ↑ McNary, Dave (2017-03-01). "Iranian Immigrant Comedy 'Radio Dreams' Gets Spring Release (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2017-09-16.
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