Rocking Afghanistan

by Una M. · 2009-11-22 12:00:00 UTC
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No country should be reduced to its problems, even if those are the things that define everyday life. In that spirit, I want to draw your attention to something hopeful and awesome: Afghanistan's first all-Afghan indie rock band, Kabul Dreams.

Kabul-based journalist, intimidating blogger, and self-described "video camera wielding geek" Ruth Owen drew my attention to Kabul Dreams on Twitter first. Owen's expat band, White City, gigs with them. "We're healing the world through the the power of massive distortion," she writes.

Formed in February 2009, Kabul Dreams comprises lead singer and guitarist Sulayman Qardash --who has the indie frontman haircut down -- drummer Mujtaba Habibi, and bassist Siddique Ahmed. On their official facebook page, the rockers explain, "We live in Kabul – the capital of great Afghanistan and therefore we are named 'Kabul Dreams.' Our main goal is to express the voice and dreams of Afghan youth through our songs." They list among their influences Greenday, Oasis, and the Subways.

On 20 Nov. Kabul Dreams and White City played L'Atmosphere, a popular expat hangout in downtown Kabul. The next morning, one of my field colleagues posted in his facebook status, "Kabul Dreams - A-Stan's first indy rock band! Great live! (No BS, I was shocked.) Check out their peace and love song on Myspace." I immediately did as my colleague suggested and listened to Sound of Peace and Love, and, sure enough, I was humming it happily on my walk to work today.

Good job, guys. This blogger hopes to hear you in person one day!

Una M.
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