New Orleans based, Kuwaisiana, are a seven-piece band with Aziz on guitar/vocals, Matthieu on drums, John Soltrane on bass, Nick Ferreirae on sax, Patrick Driscoll on hand percussion, Michael Stalios on synth, Dehal Elcin on trumpet and Jonathan Rizner on second trumpet. The new disc, Chapter 1, is a collection of songs that bring together Middle Eastern and New Orleanian heritages. The indie rock outfit is laced with a ton of other genres, all of which they can be credited for magically mixing. The prospect of ending Islamophobia through music without being insulting or arrogant is on full display in every track.
“Vintage (ڤِنْتِج)” is a gorgeous way to begin the disc with a positive cut that is so catchy it doesn’t matter what language it is in or what it’s about, which quickly establishes Kuwaisiana as a force to reckon with when you hear the variety of music in it, going from zydeco to pop and jazz without any hesitation to blend them evenly. “Murra (مُرّة)” is one of the more complex blends of different music on the disc, which gives it a live feel that most of the other tracks don’t have, disbarring one or two of them to be more detailed about it. The tracks with a clear celebration going on, which is driven by both primary elements on the disc.
It’s pleasantly surprising how the language crosses barriers without losing anything to English-only speaking ears, which is something most evident on “Gahsxi (گشِّي)” with its stunning outbursts and killer use of the horns. As well as “Gabba Barra (گبَّة بَرَّة)” with even more outbursts, especially in the vocal department. This is where the middle eastern theme comes on the strongest, still meeting the New Orleans counter-part with impeccable precision. You feel for the pleading vocals in these tracks, as the first half of the disc pours on the emotions and unites cultures with no question of the positivity behind it. This is a brilliant thing.
After the senses get fully attacked by the previous tracks, you’re left wondering what’s next at every turn on the disc, just when “Nada (نَدى)” brings you back up for some more fresh air, as the final track of side one before the English sung tracks take up side two. It’s amazing how it works so well, knowing the meanings of the language or not. The roots seem to come out even more as “Virgin” comes in with a laid-back and very slow groove at first, with some cool effects.
The influences this band clearly go from folk and country to other western styles mixed with the same amount of eastern influences. “Men In Power” throws you off at first, like the former track, but it winds up the big ballad in the first half, which not to mention changes in tempo and showcases a blazing synth solo just before riding the rest out with grace and perfection. You get the message in the process, without having to think too much about the subject, and that’s some of the magic to go with it. There’s a lot to enjoy and my pick is “The Journalist” with its funky flow and incendiary vocals.
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/kuwaisiana/
-review by Scottie Carlito
