WORDS BY ZEE AHMED

IG: @zeelikeacookie

Acclaimed Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, Imaad Wasif, released his sixth studio album, ‘So Long Mr. Fear’, in August this year via label Sonic Ritual. The record was produced by Bobb Bruno (Best Coast) and mixed by GRAMMY®-nominated Lewis Pesacov (Best Coast, Nikki Lane, FIDLAR, Local Natives) and features Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Jen Wood (The Postal Service, Tattle Tale) on vocals.

If you’re not familiar with Imaad’s electrifying riffs and guitar solos for Electric Flower Group, Grim Tower and ACID, you may have heard his crunchy tones as a touring member of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Imaad has played on a variety of essential recordings, including early slowcore noise rock duo, lowercase (whose records for Amphetamine Reptile are ripe for rediscovery); psychedelic folk group, Alaska!; and Sebadoh/Dinosaur Jr. member Lou Barlow’s project, the Folk Implosion.

With ‘So Long Mr. Fear’, “we built a tunnel through the goddamned pandemic,” Wasif says. Recorded mostly in isolation during the first COVID-19 lockdown in the US, Imaad and producer Bobb Bruno never saw each other in person during its making; though Bruno played bass, drums, and synths for the songs on the album.

The album as a whole features whimsical tones, open-tuned guitars and rich instrumental arrangements that reflect the remote-tracking underlying its production. A childlike innocence and vulnerability are reflected in the ten-track album. It’s largely atmospheric, using warm acoustic tones, texture and reverb to allow Imaad’s vocals to stand out, while capturing depth in melody and rhythm. Although the general focus is on guitar, it’s the tracks on the album are supplemented elegantly by piano, offering a sense of luxury and mystery. Imaad says the album is a "rejection of perfection" – recording most of his master takes live to excavate authenticity and creativity without overthinking.

A close look at the lyrics reveals a complex contrast of topics, which may not be easy to spot on first listen. The title track mentions the fear of COVID and the vaccinations, deemed as the ‘new disease.’ The album’s artwork portrays Imaad’s self-portrait, in which he wears a tilaka on his forehead to reflect his mixed religious heritage and personal secular spiritual beliefs.

Imaad also released an ethereal music video for the album’s title track, directed by Jeff Hassay. Jeff, who had his infant son strapped to him throughout the entire shoot, says that it added “a tinge of chaos that was fun to navigate," which inspired the film throughout. To capture these reflective feelings Jeff explains, "I tried to make the video look a little like Neil Young's ‘On the Beach’. It was shot near where I grew up, with the grainy fevered fog, oblivious passersby and the creepy darkness that settles into places where we were young, shrouding everything in mystery and wonder." 

Released on 9th August 2022, ‘So Long Mr. Fear’ is available to download and stream online. You can also follow Imaad on Instagram @imaadwasif.

About Zee

Zee Ahmed is a drummer who enjoys exploring the underground music scene and particularly loves all things punk and electronic. She currently lives in Toronto, Canada where they work as a research consultant. Zee is passionate about diversity and inclusion in all spheres and is learning to play bass guitar.