Zamin channels classical and global influences through an indie rock amp

Zamin channels classical and global influences through an indie rock amp

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Though the Chicago band Zamin considers itself strictly an indie rock band, its conservatory-trained, classical music pedigree and global influences belie such a simple categorization. Zamin’s self-titled debut has more than a touch of singer Zeshan Bagewadi’s heritage imbedded in the music — singing in his ancestral language, Urdu.

Despire their worldly influences, the band shies away from the “World Music” label, Josh Fink remembers being categorized in their early days, “When we first started, we didn’t know why people were calling us that, but now we do.  It’s because we use a lot of… eastern and western style classical instruments.”

Whatever you call what they do, “World Music” or “Hindi-Indie” or “Indian World Pop,” the band firmly places itself in the context of indie rock, and some of the more adventurous mainstream acts like Bjork, Radiohead and Sigur Rós. 

The band performs next week on Tuesday, September 11th, as part of Fulcrum Point’s Annual Concert for Peace: Harmony – East Meets West. The event takes place at the Chase Auditorium in downtown Chicago and will feature music from Chinese, Israeli, Indian-American and Native American artists.