Calgary-based artist Aleem Khan showcased some serious chops with last year's self-titled effort, and continued to impress with a killer performance at Sled Island last month. With the release of his sophomore album Urbana Champaign, however, one thing is abundantly clear — his musical success is absolutely no fluke. Today, Exclaim! is happy to premiere the release in full.
Speaking with Exclaim!, Khan explains that the release is something of a concept album. "Urbana Champaign is the story of a character exploring race, culture, and identity as well as pondering the question of what life would've been like had they not moved to Calgary, Alberta from Urbana, Illinois as a child," he says.
Further, the release is a major musical evolution for Khan. While his self-titled effort focused on guitar-based compositions, he abandoned the instrument almost entirely for this new album.
"On this record, I sought to use guitar as less of a focal point as I've done in the past and more as a texture," he says. "I was inspired by what Brian Wilson had to say in interviews about recording similar lines on guitar and piano lines to create a whole new instrument that didn't sound like either.... Composing with piano — which isn't my 'main instrument' — as opposed to composing with guitar allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and embrace the unfamiliar, bringing out things I didn't know existed up until this point."
Khan tells Exclaim! that he's already working on his third solo release, which will be a visual album. Before then, Urbana Champaign will arrive on July 15 via Slow Release. You can enjoy the record in full below.
Speaking with Exclaim!, Khan explains that the release is something of a concept album. "Urbana Champaign is the story of a character exploring race, culture, and identity as well as pondering the question of what life would've been like had they not moved to Calgary, Alberta from Urbana, Illinois as a child," he says.
Further, the release is a major musical evolution for Khan. While his self-titled effort focused on guitar-based compositions, he abandoned the instrument almost entirely for this new album.
"On this record, I sought to use guitar as less of a focal point as I've done in the past and more as a texture," he says. "I was inspired by what Brian Wilson had to say in interviews about recording similar lines on guitar and piano lines to create a whole new instrument that didn't sound like either.... Composing with piano — which isn't my 'main instrument' — as opposed to composing with guitar allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and embrace the unfamiliar, bringing out things I didn't know existed up until this point."
Khan tells Exclaim! that he's already working on his third solo release, which will be a visual album. Before then, Urbana Champaign will arrive on July 15 via Slow Release. You can enjoy the record in full below.
