The Kominas
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The Kominas are a punjabi taqwacore punk band from the suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts. Current members are Basim Usmani (bass), both Shahjehan Khan and Arjun Ray on (guitar), Karna Ray on (drums), and Danny Dhol Drums on (dhol). They all share vocal duties with the audience. Former drummers include Adam Is, James "Jameelah" Drew, and David Pierce.
Their first release was a single titled "Rumi was a Homo (But Wahhaj Is a Fag)", which was written and uploaded by Muslim Wake Up! in response to recent homophobic comments made by the imam Siraj Wahaj. Since then, the next big singles to be released were titled "Sharia Law in the U.S.A", "Ayesha" and "Dishoom, Baby".
The music and imagery typically draws from anti-colonial and moghul art, American movements related to Islam, such as Moorish Science, five percenters ("9,000 Miles" is based on a line from the English Lesson C-1 in W.D. Fard's Supreme Wisdom Lessons, the studied text of the Nation of Islam), and Desi culture, such as Bhangra, punjabi folklore, Sufi saints from Punjab (Bulleh Shah), Hinduism and Bollywood ("Dishoom, Baby!" was a tribute to the film Sholay).
Their work has been featured on MTV Desi, Muslim Wake Up!, Chowrangi Magazine, and is being taught in an Honor's curriculum by the University of Arkansas along side other Desi artists, including Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Skidmore College's Music Against Hatred concert also showcased "Rumi was a Homo" in a segment dedicated to Muslim Punk, as a protest song against homophobia from within the American Muslim community.
April 18th saw the publication of an article titled "The Clash" in the Boston Globe, dedicated entirely to the Kominas, their fans, trials, etc.
With Basim Usmani moving to Pakistan to work for a newspaper, The Kominas are on a gigging hiatus but with all the lead vocals and bass recorded before Usmani left their full length CD is is still set to be released in the near future when it is finished.
[edit] External links
- Official Website
- The Kominas at MySpace
- Photostory by Kim Badawi
- Muslim Wakeup Article on the Kominas
- "Middle Eastern Popular Music" U. Arkansas Honors Colloquia Spring 2006
- "Never mind the Burkas" The Sun
- April "The Clash: Punk meets Islam in a local band that shreds stereotypes"Boston Globe
- The Kominas on MTV Desi
- Skidmore Press release on "Music Against Hatred"
