Habibi

Habibi is an indie rock band with a distinct sound that combines elements of garage rock, surf rock, '60s girl band vocal harmonies, and bits and pieces of Iranian pop music from the '70s. As diverse as these styles of music may be, they have found the common sonic denominator between them and puts it up front and center. It was started by singer Rahill Jamalifard and guitarist/singer Lenaya Lynch, both of whom had grown up in Detroit, with the garage sound in mind and an ear towards Iranian and middle eastern pop of the '70s. Except in a few songs, the latter is not a dominant factor in their music and generally hides in plain sight. Clearly, Jamalifard and Lynch can write catchy songs with the best of them. The rhythm section is also in complete synch with the vision of the leads, and the result is a slightly unconventional band that can instantly breathe life into any dull party out there.