Shoeb Ahmad’s “quiver” – is a minimalist, indie-pop exploration of identity as a trans-femme, Muslim, person of colour. The album strikes a delicate balancing act – at times creating chambers of sulk-ridden atmosphere, moments of clever minimalism and shining moments of indie-pop sensibility.
Art As Catharsis is proud to announce “pinpointed”, the latest single from Shoeb Ahmad’s noir-pop opus “quiver”, dedicated to the complexities of life and acceptance during a journey towards the centre of the self.
While many will know of Ahmad’s work in Agency, Oranges, Sensaround, Spartakand Tangents, the enigmatic songwriter’s solo project takes inspiration from artists such as Tindersticks, PJ Harvey, Stereolab, The Sea & Cake, Yo La Tengo and more.
From here, Ahmad takes her love for the psychedelic and spacious grooves of early 70s soul to personal lyricism that shares her quest for truth and acceptance as a transgender woman. The final product pushes through the depths of her trauma, bearing light in the form of a moody soundscape that shifts from poppy to sullen while maintaining an unflinching realness.
“My music as a solo artist is about creating music that is closest to my heart and creating an emotional tone,” says Ahmad. “The band projects represent my part in an idea and a chance to explore certain aspects of playing or lyricism, whereas writing for a solo record I can almost be confessional. I know that even if there is one person out there who hears my music and can feel that there is someone out there with a similar experience, then that’s all that matters.”
With an ensemble of instruments consisting of viola, backing vocals, electric piano next to the standard indie get-up, “pinpointed” proves that indie-pop can thrive through minimalism. Ahmad’s voice pushes through the instruments like a breeze through a curtain, setting a haunting and solemn mood on the shoulders of the listener. Her unrelenting train of thought almost reads like a journal entry – a tense battle between hope and despair set on the field of anxiety.
“All relationships go through peaks and troughs,” says Ahmad about pinpointed. “I’m a firm believer that a good relationship is built upon working through all issues and make sure you both lay it all out on the line. There came a point in time where I lost track of this. I lost sight of the line and left someone far behind but when I finally tackled the question around my identity, I realised I needed to apologise for this.“
“quiver” in its entirety strikes a delicate balancing act – at times creating chambers of sulk-ridden atmosphere, moments of clever minimalism and shining moments of indie-pop sensibility. Ahmad’s clear talent for catchy and mood-driven song writing has already earned critical praise from the likes of BBC Radio 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne, and will surely rest softly in the ears of soft-emo fans upon its full release.
