Buddahead's Ashes, the trio's second album, is at its heart the chronicle of a musical, geographical and emotional journey that frontman and songwriter Raman Kia found himself on, a thinly veiled life story that is as incendiary as it is cathartic. Look for Ashes to hit the street and Internet on June 17.
By any reckoning, Iranian native Kia has an extraordinary story to tell; he calls Ashes "music to lament to," and he is only half-joking. As a small boy, he fled Tehran for London with his father, after witnessing up close the internecine violence of the Islamic Revolution. In the U.K., he was reintroduced to the mother he'd virtually never known, since she'd left Iran years before him, and he found himself placed in the strange, regimented environment of a British military school. As he grew up, the feelings that Kia was unable to articulate in words alone found expression in songs. He was so intuitively skilled at this creative channeling that he attracted the interest of a major London music publisher. As Kia built a repertoire, he decided to go to the United States in pursuit of his first record deal.
After making the rounds in New York City and Los Angeles, he signed a deal with Interscope Records. So far so good, but it wasn't long before he discovered that the industry was more interested in molding him to suit the tastes of the moment than in exploring what he might really have to offer in his own right. One can understand why: Kia has an impressive, elastic vocal range, able to perform hushed ballads as eloquently as anthemic rockers.
As the powers that be tried to figure out how they wanted to present their find, Kia decided he would prefer to do it his own way. So he jettisoned the cadre of producers, mixers and constantly gear-shifting executives who surrounded him. He chose a tougher, more D.I.Y. approach to his fledgling career, touring relentlessly as a solo artist, opening for better-known acts. After meeting and working with bassist Toby Evers and Guitarist Simon Gibson, the trio began touring at an unrelenting pace, playing over 400 shows in less than two years. "It was on the road, in the crammed space of the tour van, that our new sound was formed and Buddahead was reinvented as a band", says Gibson.
Their 2004 debut, Crossing The Invisible Line, showcased a prodigious talent with the vocal prowess of Thom Yorke and a band so skilled at arranging that it recalled vintage U2 or contemporary Coldplay. But these artful tracks barely hinted at the roiling emotions lying beneath their sleek surface and the truly dramatic stories Kia had yet to tell. Ashes changes all that. Surrounded by the darker musical influences of Gibson and Evers, Ashes are Kia’s stories as he wants to – has to – be heard. "Urgent but less desperate, Ashes is the amalgamation of a band that is growing up."
Ashes has its origins in some of the darker moments of a few far-flung lives, yet these real-life scenarios connect in many tangible ways to our collective cultural and political history, and that makes them all the more powerful. In his lyrics, Kia doesn't offer answers to the dilemmas he presents, yet in the very act of creating these songs, articulating these emotions, Kia makes Ashes an uplifting experience. His catharsis becomes our own. Gazing into the ashes of torched relationships, Kia discovers a spark of hope for us all.
Hey guys! I hope everything's going alright with you. I just wanted to tell you that I am so in love with your song "Standing Still". I heard it on ONE TREE HILL a few months ago and I'm not proud of it but since then I had forgotten about it. But chance made me listen to the song again and I wondered how I could have stayed so much time without noticing it. Now the mistake is fixed so I'm telling you, this song is truly amazing, so beautiful and powerful! It's totally the kind of music I love.
Hello Buddahead, Thank your for your continued friendship and support. I am now booking anytime, anywhere. I am the "budget inn" of Christian artists, I only want what I need to live while I am ministering for Him. God has provided that for all of His servants, the priests who served at His temple were provided food, clothes, and shelter, and that's all I ask for. I would be honored if you booked me or knew someone that would and put the word out to them for me. Thank you and God bless you always
Thank you for your friendship and support. If you believe that these songs could reach people and draw them closer to God, please comment my page, or add one to your playlist, or add my banner to your page. I believe that "You're Nobody's Mistake" and "You're Not Second Place" could draw many hearts to God, but it takes comments for myspace to put me in the charts so more people will click and listen.
I'm no talent scout..but i should be, because everytime i find a band who is still "underground"...no more than a year later they are famous. Then i have to stop liking them and find another band who noone knows. just you wait!...you're gonna be big.
Thank you for your friendship! If you like Lucinda Williams you will probably like Rosy Nolan. Will you come check out my music and leave me a comment?
Why is it so hard for me to say hello, You’ve hit my heart like an arrow, Give me your endless breath, So I could cheat death, I feel your heart beat in my chest.
Hey Buddahead What's Been Good Wit Cha ? Wanted to Slide through And Grace Ya page with Some Grown Folks love. Yes The New Album Is Out "Shut Up When We Talk" Available Everywhere Check The Page. Ask How To Get Some Free Goodies And
You ROCK! Thanks for being a friend and for all your hard work. Hope to see you at the 2nd annual Utica Music Fest. Over 200 performers in over 15 venues for 3 DAYS! Visit our site for more info and early bird band submissions. Have a great day!
Bands::: Interested in performing at this years event?? Click the link! And while you’re there please take a moment to sign up for our mailers to stay informed.
hey guys! how are you? :) Just wanted to say that your music is fantastical! "standing still" is an amazing song and definitelly "profile-playlist" worthy! lol <33
hey, thanks for the add! i love checkin out new stuff and i bet you'll be needin some new merch :) check out my blogs for some pretty amazing prices. get in touch anytime, i love comments. take care!! kelly
Hey, thank's for the add. I'm Sophie and I'm 23 and I live in Tennessee. I really like your music. Your song's are great. I love listening to them. How was your Halloween? Mine was okay. What did you do on Halloween? I will tell you what I did for Halloween and all about my Halloween, if you want to hear about it. Best of luck with everything. later
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