Habibi (band)

Habibi is an American rock band from Brooklyn, New York. They are a blend of psychedelic rock and sixties girl group harmonies. The name Habibi means "my love,"[1] an Arabic word vocalist Rahill Jamalifard grew up using despite her Iranian origin (the term is not in use in Iran).[2]

Habibi
Background information
OriginBrooklyn, New York, United States
GenresPsychedelic rock/pop, garage rock, girl group
Years active2011–present
LabelsBurger, Born Bad, Kill Rock Stars
MembersRahill Jamalifard
Lenaya Lynch
Lyla Vander
Ana Becker
Yukary
Past membersCaroline Partamian
Erin Campbell
Leah Beth Fishman
Karen Isabel

Career

In 2011, former Detroiters, Lenaya Lynch and Rahill Jamalifard, decided to form a band blending their love of psychedelic garage rock and girl group harmonies.[3][4] They joined Erin Campbell and Karen Isabel, musicians from the Brooklyn rock and roll scene, who both went to LaGuardia School of the Arts. They grew in popularity and found themselves playing the SXSW festival in Austin and the CMJ festival.[5] They signed to Born Bad Records and released the self-titled 7-inch, Habibi.[6]

In 2012, Habibi's song "Sweetest Talk" was featured in actor/director James Franco's short film series Episodes of an Untitled Film.[7][8][9] Lynch left the band due to an emergency in 2012 and Habibi found a replacement with the guitarist Caroline Partamian, who toured with the band for a year and until the return of Lynch in 2013. In 2014, Burger Records released their debut full-length LP, Habibi.[10][11]

Influences

The sound of Habibi is influenced both by the garage rock/girl group sounds from Detroit as well as the Middle Eastern melody structures that were shared by Lynch and Jamalifard, who is herself of Iranian descent. Jamalifard influences are also related to her ancestry mentioning “Iran, gypsies, nomads, the inspiration of poets like Hafez . . . my travels within the country.”[12] In 2012, Interview Magazine wrote "Influenced by grunge, punk, hip-hop, and Motown, Habibi's sound—and band members—meet somewhere in the middle."[5]

Members

Current line-up
  • Rahill Jamalifard - Lead Vocals, Tambourine[3]
  • Lenaya "Lenny" Lynch - Guitar, Vocals[3]
  • Lyla Vander - Drums
  • Ana Becker - Guitar, Vocals
  • Yukary - Bass

Past members
  • Caroline Partamian - Guitar, Vocals
  • Erin Campbell - Bass, Guitar, Vocals
  • Karen Isabel - Drums

Discography

Studio albums
  • Habibi (2014)
  • Anywhere But Here (2020)[3]

EPs
  • Habibi (2012)
  • La Luz / Habibi (2015)
  • Cardamom Garden (2018)

See also

References
  1. Kitty (24 August 2021). "Habibi meaning and useful expressions in Arabic". Name Arabic.
  2. Stagg, Natasha. "It's Habibi, BB". V Magazine. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  3. Martin, Michel (March 28, 2020). "Habibi's Rahill Jamalifard On Iranian Pop Music And 'Anywhere But Here'". NPR.org. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  4. Jordan, Jerilyn. "Indie rock band Habibi on the future, sisterhood, and 'The Sopranos'". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  5. Greene, Caitlin (28 August 2012). "Discovery: Habibi". Interview. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  6. "Habibi". Born Bad Records. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  7. Stern, Marlow (4 November 2013). "James Franco On 'Sal,' Banksy, His Gay Fascination, and That Faulkner Cover". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  8. Kesa, Ingrid. "Australian Exclusive: James Franco x 7 For All Mankind Episode 4". Oyster Mag. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  9. Hadizadeh, Nasa. "Interview: Hanging with Habibi". Altcitizen. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  10. Plaugic, Lizzie. "Habibi - "I Got The Moves"". CMJ. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  11. "Habibi (2)". Discogs. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  12. Sales, Nancy Jo. "Persia in New York". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
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