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semitones
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this piece is called semitones.
we start with a verse from the Qur’an sampled via youtube creator Al _ Qur’an _Al_ Kareem (translation below) and then move into some freestyle in the same key on the nord lead 2x synth. the scales are G# and some Yaman, with a lot of khayal in the midst. the goal is always to allow myself to dance and feel as I go, to not overthink, to make mistakes and learn from them.
we then move into a spoken word about people who may feel like they are semitones. the spoken word starts in English and moves to Urdu.
semitones live in the in-betweens. they do not seem to fit, and because of this, are exquisite creatures. they are God’s favorite creation, perhaps, because they embody the variance and the precision of Mother Nature.
semitones can be weirdos, from the distant future or ancestors misplaced; they can be gender queer; they can be at the outskirts of cultural norms, at the intersections of many languages. many semitones have superpowers, being able to sense and intuit sharply.
completion of a cycle
completion of a cycle is the debut project of Khayaalat that explores the journey of the inner child as a dynamic spiral, in which she swings from extreme levels of clarity and elation, to depression and delusion — ultimately learning to float in her curious acceptance of insanity.
the fourteen track collection includes seven songs stripped of nothing but her electric guitar and voice, interspersed with seven interludes that paint the context within which the songs were channeled.
inspired by Laozi’s Daoist philosophy, Khayaalat hopes to create a space to reflect on the pendulum of emotions within our worlds, and the contractability of time to provide relief from the demands of the self.
Khayaalat invites listeners to experience the album as a meditative story, perhaps during a long drive or a cozy night in, with a cat on the lap and a tea in hand.
released April 19, 2025