Live @ The Bohemian Shindig :: Friday, August 28, 2009

After taking nearly a year off since my last gig because of studio time, I can’t take it any longer! Jesse and I continue to work on the new album, but I miss performing for all of you. I will be part of the Bohemian Shindig @ Cinespace. Please save the date!!!

    Friday, August 28, 2009
    9:30pm
    Cinespace, Main Stage
    6356 Hollywood Blvd., Second Level,
    Hollywood, CA 90028
    Ages: 21+
    $10.00 cover

See you soon and don’t forget to tell them you’re there to see “Shaheen”!

In My Lifetime

I was raised an Indian Muslim in a small suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. Like many, I have faced ignorant racism. At age 7, a woman and her elderly mother shouted at my and my mother, “Go back to your own fucking country.” Even then I knew she needed medication. At age 25, I was in San Francisco when 9/11 happened and similar yelling and harassment became a common occurence in my life. I do not shy away from hatred. I stare it down. In my lifetime, I never thought I would witness my President addressing the 1 billion Muslims in the world. But it has happened. And I feel heard.

 

Eight Lines

I sit here staring blankly at a blank piece of paper, but for the faded blue lines that help me write straight across the page. My task is simple - to come up with 8 lines which when all said and done will make up 2 versus of a song. This canvas stares back at me pushing me to find poetry in explaining one word: Truth.

Word association games leave me with new words: fear, danger, strength, courage, compassion. Are these not some of the most complex human emotions? And what I have is 8 lines. I will massage the words and hopefully find poetry.

Arabian…thank you for your patience.