In the ever-revolving doors of Atlanta music, Haseena Peera is known primarily as the lead singer of Cinema Novo and Surrogates. Both groups made their mark by playing gripping, evocative music heavy on prog-rock riffs and emotional drama. In that context, it makes perfect sense for Peera to find herself collaborating with producer Jordan Manley, drummer for local stalwarts Mattiel, Lightning Orchestra, and Black Linen. What is surprising, however, is the bright, pop-heavy sound the duo conjure on their debut EP, I Will Wait Within. While the emphasis on guitars remains throughout, it’s intermingled with punchy hooks and hip-hop-inspired beats.
According to Peera, each of the three songs on the record represent a stage in life that we all eventually experience. “Wait,” with its sweltering pop-funk rhythms and pulsing grooves, emulates the carefree exhilaration of letting your hair down and living free. “These are our deeper nights / I cut through your weight / We pull off your fright,” she sings at the song’s onset. It’s a declaration of self-liberation that helps tie the EP together thematically.
“‘Wait’ symbolizes the playful part of life that breathes freedom, late nights, and non-commitment,” she explains. “All the tracks collectively say, ‘I Will Wait Within,’ a message to my loved ones and myself that my truest form of peace lies within me. I’ve found myself trying to defend my need for space from others and saying this sentence in my head in various forms throughout my life. This is the mantra I say to myself to bring me closer to feeling whole in times of need.”
Directed by Peera for her own Shadow Tribe Productions, the split-screen video shows Manley and Peera alternating between rocking out, kicking back, and cutting loose. With both musicians wearing masks and remaining separated, the clip feels very much of the pandemic moment, suggesting that even in times of enforced isolation, we can stay connected and maintain our passion and creativity.
Watch/listen above.
Stream I Will Wait Within in its entirety here.
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Instagram: @haseena_peera
Instagram: @snarejordanrocks