Mapped, Music Without Borders: The Kominas

By Sharon Kavai

Mapped, Music Without Borders: The Kominas

A new feature showcasing international and foreign artists, music with multicultural influences, and by non-English speakers, that’s making waves in different countries and Boston.

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Mapped Spotlight of the week: The Kominas

If your Itunes is lacking its dose of modern Muslim punk rock, then your music collection is nowhere near complete. Enter stage right,The Kominas, a Pakistani Desi American Punk Rock band that formed in Lowell Massachusetts. The now Boston based band has gained a lot of international media attention for their controversial music, and with a name that means “scumbag” in Punjabi, it seems The Kominas abide by a go hard or go home approach. They blend a brazenfaced rock attitude with  a bhangra style and Hindi lyrics. Performing in both English and Punjabi, they merge punk rock beats with South Asian rhythms, creating a distinctively unique vibe.

The Kominas are making waves as part of an up and coming Muslim Punk Rock scene known as Tacqwacore, inspired by a fictional novel of the same name. They were even featured on the soundtrack for the movie adaptation of the Tacqwacore book. They are a band whose music is refreshingly and sometimes even uncomfortably honest, with songs covering topics from post September 11th religious and racial profiling, a critical look at fundamental Islam, and  homophobia within the Muslim community.

Their first album titled Wild Nights in Guantanamo Bay, was released in May of 2008, and was cited as one of that year’s top 10 CD’s by Boston Globe reviewer Siddhartha Mitter. The Kominas have stayed true to the ideology of punk-rock, writing ferociously honest music, with an enticing sound and glaringly deliberate lyrics, that seek to appease no one. Checkout their debut album, as well as their 7 song E.P. entitled Escape to Blackout Beach and hear for yourself.

The Kominas, Wild Nights In Guantanamo Bay Full Album

Mapped Playlist of the week, a reminder that music does continue to exist out of the United States.