If You Like: Kevin Morby, Jack Johnson, Jaguar Sun
To create music that doesn’t just hinge on wordplay is something to behold. It’s like tapping directly into human emotions and engaging in the silent tango for the heart. Since Philly native Ali Awan has been performing music for half of his life, it seems fitting for him to navigate the woes of a more mature teenage soft rock sound. At first glance, the 28-year-old artist has the makings of a young Bob Dylan, before all the fame. In his music, Ali attracts wanderlust thoughts usually reserved for the older wiser rockers. It’s no wonder why Ali Awan has shot to the forefront of the Philadelphia indie music scene.
After a few years of performing in other bands and projects, Ali Aween ventured out to crave his path. With some background in punk, the man we see today is unmatched. Despite growing up all across the world (Turkey and Saudi Araba), Ali has managed to capture the essence of Americana folk and psychedelic rock. His music love letters a cry for music that once shook the West. Dig a little deeper and you come across influences of middle eastern culture.
Since his 2018 debut single, “Citadel Blues,” Awan has continued to rise through the ranks of the music scene. Ali followed his few singles with his 2019 debut album, Butterfly. Not just a musical masterpiece, the project pulls from varying degrees of rock while painting across the ever stretching sky. The album would only open the door for Ali Awan to take more chances with his music.
Ali’s released his latest EP, Moon Mode, eailer this year. The 6 track project dives into love and how it affects us. It’s the most vocal we see Ali Awan as the album relies heavily on folk rock. “Dogs of Fire” excels as middle eastern/drum influnce track elopes us in warmth. Other standout tracks include “Cherry Pits” and “Run With You,” both acheiving varying degrees of feeling. Ali Awan is bridging a gap that once seem lost to the new age of rock. By slowing the pace and forcing us to look inward, the outer world can let us dream again.