The Taqwacore Network
Hardcore/Punk/Metal/
I first learned about what I'm calling The Taqwacore Network in the most unsuspected of places, the pages of Rolling Stone magazine. While not terrible the article only scratched the surface of exactly what Taqwacore is. Needless to say I was intrigued. Now don't go thinking this is some mainstream fad, Taqwacore has it's roots in a novel written by one Michael Muhammad Knight (aptly named The Taqwacores) about a group of rambunctious, stinky, and outspoken punks living in Syracuse, New York. Knight's fictious musical genre has since it's written premiere in 2003 become a reality. That is, the reality of Islamic punk music. The book, called by one professor "The "Catcher in the Rye" for young muslims", has inspired several groups to form Islamic hardcore, punk, and even metal bands similar to those in the novel. Though few and far between Taqwacore bands began to emerge as early as 2004 and several of the most prominent groups have recently united for the nationwide Taqwatour. (The word Taqwacore itself is a portmanteau of Taqwa, The Islamic concept of a constant awareness of God's omnipresence, and Hardcore.) It is fairly easy to assume that the bands catch criticism from inside the Islamic community however when I recently spoke to Michael Muhammad Knight he had this to say: "There are all kinds of Muslims, so we get all kinds of reactions. Some wish death upon us, others identify with us, and some are much more conservative than we are but they still respect and appreciate what we're doing."
Despite requests to abstain from quoting The Koran, common themes within the genre include The nature of prayer, The meaning of being a "True" Muslim, Anti- Drug/Alcohol themes, And a healthy dose of political criticism. In the end I suppose Taqwacore can be summed up by the words of Islamic playwright Riazatt Butt "(Taqwacore) means being true to myself, having my own faith, and interpreting Islam the way I want to, without feeling guilty..."
Links:
The Taqwacore Forum on Myspace
Several other articles on or around Taqwacore:
Hardcore/Punk/Metal/
I first learned about what I'm calling The Taqwacore Network in the most unsuspected of places, the pages of Rolling Stone magazine. While not terrible the article only scratched the surface of exactly what Taqwacore is. Needless to say I was intrigued. Now don't go thinking this is some mainstream fad, Taqwacore has it's roots in a novel written by one Michael Muhammad Knight (aptly named The Taqwacores) about a group of rambunctious, stinky, and outspoken punks living in Syracuse, New York. Knight's fictious musical genre has since it's written premiere in 2003 become a reality. That is, the reality of Islamic punk music. The book, called by one professor "The "Catcher in the Rye" for young muslims", has inspired several groups to form Islamic hardcore, punk, and even metal bands similar to those in the novel. Though few and far between Taqwacore bands began to emerge as early as 2004 and several of the most prominent groups have recently united for the nationwide Taqwatour. (The word Taqwacore itself is a portmanteau of Taqwa, The Islamic concept of a constant awareness of God's omnipresence, and Hardcore.) It is fairly easy to assume that the bands catch criticism from inside the Islamic community however when I recently spoke to Michael Muhammad Knight he had this to say: "There are all kinds of Muslims, so we get all kinds of reactions. Some wish death upon us, others identify with us, and some are much more conservative than we are but they still respect and appreciate what we're doing."
Despite requests to abstain from quoting The Koran, common themes within the genre include The nature of prayer, The meaning of being a "True" Muslim, Anti- Drug/Alcohol themes, And a healthy dose of political criticism. In the end I suppose Taqwacore can be summed up by the words of Islamic playwright Riazatt Butt "(Taqwacore) means being true to myself, having my own faith, and interpreting Islam the way I want to, without feeling guilty..."
Links:
The Taqwacore Forum on Myspace
Several other articles on or around Taqwacore:
Article about The Kominas (Includes Mp3)
Rolling Stone Article
The Bands:
The Kominas (Boston, Massachusetts)
Think- The most visible Taqwacore band can be described as straight punks that bust out guitar hooks that sometimes harken to ska or reggae and sometimes resemble surf music. The Kominas, in the punk tradition, all contribute to vocals and share duties with the audience themselves.
Try- Basim Got Beat Up and CHAKU
Total Downloads- 5 including the one found on the Muslim Wake Up! link found above.
Myspace
Lyrics
Vote Hezbollah (San Antonio, Texas)
Think- The two man group straight from our little hometown, offers only one track to listen to on it's myspace page, but I simply fell in love with it.
Try- Poppy Fields
Total Downloads- 0
Myspace
The Dead Bhuttos (Pakistan)
Think-A band much calmer (in my option funner) then the rest. Catchy verses, chorus in a different language, and I swear to god I hear a kazoo somewhere in the mix.
Try- The Teri Assi Ki Tassi album version
Total Downloads- 2, a radio and an album version of the same song.
Myspace
Al-Thawra (Chicago, Illinois)
Think- Al-Thawra is definitely the hardest band here. With growling metal vocals, ugly distorted bass, machine gun blasts and explosions breaking through the music, and the seemingly most out of place Tablas and, Sitar? loops.
Try- Whadi
Total Downloads- 4
Myspace
Sagg Taqwacore Syndicate (Hotel Divisadero Barrancas, AL-Safran)
Think- Probably my favorite, The Sagg Taqwacore Syndicate claims to have no political or religious affiliation but, come on it's in the name. The STS differs from most the other Taqwacores because it is based more in Hip Hop then any of the harsher rock genres. Slow, beat heavy, cool near rap vocals but with obvious reggae inclinations.
Try- Steal This Government
Total Downloads- 3
Myspace
Al-Qaynah ("Afghanistan" and elsewhere)
Think- Self-described "Eastern Metal" Al Qaynah is actually a group of collaborators from around the world. The music itself sounds precisely what they call it, metal from the east, think Al-Tharaw but with cleaner production.
Try- Ground Zero Pilgrims
Total Downloads- 3
Myspace
1 comment:
Just quick clarification, the play right is Sabina Alam, not Razia Butt.
There are NO taqwacore songs currently about abstaining from Alchohol, or being an upright Muslim. Remember, the Kominas have songs like "I want a hand job", or "Suicide bomb the Gap", which is considered blasphemous to many. Don't forget "Rumi was a Homo", "Blow Shit Up", or really, any cuts from the forthcoming album for clarification :)
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