Disarming both in its diversity and breathless drive, Calgary songwriter Tariq’s latest release, While You’re Down There, is an invigorating record from a resilient artist. Bouncing back from a heavy amount of attention and a major-label deal, Tariq (pronounced TARR-ick) turned a series of well-crafted basement recordings into a full throttle alt-pop onslaught.
“It’s pretty high energy considering we did it in a small home studio in a guy’s basement,” he laughs. “I was signed to EMI for a while back around 1997-2000. Part of the process for that record involved a lot of co-writing which was a new experience for me. It was a great opportunity to go work with other artists and travel a little bit. I went everywhere – from Woodstock, N.Y., to write with Jules Shear to Los Angeles to write with Charlotte Caffey and Richard Feldman – lots of cool experiences writing with really experienced people. I had a bunch of songs, but, in the end, I was relegated to do the album on my own. But it was good because I had the songs.”
With the songs in hand, it only took a conversation with a friend to start the process. I was sitting around one day with my friend Russ (Russell Broom), and he was getting into the producing thing and suggested that we try to do the record.”
The resulting record is a loop–and melody-driven thrust through the finer points of pop, soul and alternative rock. Tariq’s sound is painted with such broad strokes that it calls to mind both Peter Gabriel and Sugar Ray within three songs. And he does it with range of taste and sound, not through desperate gimmickry.
With a topnotch and easily accessible record in his hands, Tariq put his major-label experience to work. “I really took the template of the pattern I had when I was with the label,” he explains. “I thought I’d go for the big golden egg of getting it on the radio. So I got a distributor first, and I hired a radio tracker. Those were the first two things I had in place, so I knew the records would be out in the stores when the radio tracker went to promote the singles. We managed to get some radio play in Calgary, and nationally, we’re cracking the top 50 in pop radio. I had gotten radio exposure with the label, so when things landed on some programmers’ desks, they may have had some familiarity with the name. That helped a lot as well.”
Comprehensive in style and soul, Tariq’s music is approachable and honest, ranging from frenetic to moody. It’s damn fun too, and drawn from a serious place. “As far as philosophically or spiritually for me. It’s kind of a necessary thing,” he says. “I always feel better when I’ve taken the time to write. Even if I don’t get anything absolutely great.”
Clay Steakley
Performing Songwriter
September/October 2003