Artist

Kabul Dreams

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Kabul Dreams are pioneers of Afghan rock, formed in 2008 and recognized as the country’s first rock band. Led by vocalist and guitarist Sulyman Qardash with bassist Siddique Ahmed and drummer Raby Adib, the band built a bold sound that carried them from Kabul’s underground scene to international stages. Their music grew from both a passion for rock and a generation’s hunger for self-expression after years of war.

Their debut album Plastic Words (2013), recorded in Afghanistan and mixed by Grammy winner Alan Sanderson, introduced their sound to the world. After relocating to San Francisco later that year, they made their U.S. debut at SXSW in 2014. Their second album Megalomaniacs (2017), was inspired by the political climate and life in Kabul, while their 2019 EP With Love from Kabul Dreams revealed a brighter tone with songs in Dari and artwork by Afghan artist and photographer Fatimah Hossaini.

Their lyrics are deeply personal, reflecting their journey as refugees and the paradoxes of modern life. In 2016, the band appeared in the award winning film Radio Dreams alongside Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, who later praised them as one of his greatest discoveries from outside the western world. Beyond their music, Kabul Dreams inspired a new generation of Afghan artists and helped spark a movement for creative freedom.

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