zerobridge Havre de Grace video

"Havre de Grace" EP available at iTunes! http://www.myspace.com/zerobridge It's not often you hear about a band like zerobridge. Lead singer/guitarist and songwriter Mubashir "Din" Mohi-ud-Din and drummer Mohsin "Mo" Mohi-ud-Din are two brothers whose parents are from the disputed territory of Kashmir, nestled between northern India and Pakistan. "The Quota", seasoned NYC bass player, rounds out the trio who have been playing their own unique brand of melodic, guitar driven rock n' roll for the last three years. With two independent releases behind them, zerobridge released the Havre de Grace EP that illustrates the band's penchant for classic song writing and a passion to become the only band that matters.

The name zerobridge comes from an actual bridge in Kashmir's capital, Srinagar, which earned the lesser known epithet of the "the city of seven bridges." The story goes that when they built an 8th bridge, no one knew what to call the original first bridge. The solution is a case of pragmatics taken to the extreme: they decided to name it zerobridge. Along with being a provocative name evoking many meanings, zerobridge is a sentimental place for anyone familiar with Kashmir. Just across the bridge, after passing through military checkpoints and barbed wire fences, is a cafe called the Zero Inn; a place where the bothers, family and friends go when reunited in Kashmir to hang out and have "cold coffees" (which are like frapuchinos, but far better according to the brothers).

To describe the sound of a band as distinctive as zerobridge can be tough. Din answers this question simply: "We're just a rock n' roll band." This is true, but upon closer listening one can hear their South Asian heritage weaving its way through their Western influences to create a unique musicality and tonality. While bands like U2, The Beatles, The Clash, Joy Division/New Order, Bowie and The Replacements are major influences, Din also cites South Asian music like The Sabri Bros and Hindi film composers like RD Burman, A.R. Rahman, and Nadeem Sharavan as inspirations.

The name and title track comes from a town in northern Maryland, close to where the brothers grew up. "It means Harbor of Grace," explains Din. "I always just loved the sound of it and what it could mean. The tune itself sounds fresh and defines who we are right now and where we have been as a band. I think it's the best thing I've written to date and the band's best performance." A video accompanies the track, directed by Musa Syeed, who won Best Documentary Short at 2007's Tribeca Film Festival for "A Son's Sacrifice."

Other songs on the EP include "Late Bloomer," a soaring track that celebrates and questions a passionate but fleeting relationship. The incendiary political satire of "The Shake" sheds light on the hypocrisies of religious extremism. A reworking of "Suffering Moses," originally off the bands first LP, is an unabashedly beautiful ode to Kashmir which is followed by the razor edged bravado of "This is My Version," a live favorite that sounds like a mashup of the Smiths and the ragged snarl of Iggy Pop. Mo passionately adds, "No gimmicks. We put our hearts, souls and sweat into whatever we do. It's about love, war, and curiosity I suppose. It's just painfully true, good rock n' roll."

Category:

Music

Tags:

• zerobridge
• zero
• bridge
• desi
• havre
• grace
• rock
• indie
• south
• asian
• din
• mo
• mohsin
• quota
• band
• MD
• maryland

[Weallfalldown6]

Havre De Grace, as in havre de grace, maryland?

[zerobridge]

Yeah, the name and title track from our new EP comes from a town in northern Maryland, close to where the two brothers in zerobridge grew up. "It means Harbor of Grace," explains Din (lead singer/songwriter). "I always just loved the sound of it and what it could mean. The tune itself sounds fresh and defines who we are right now and where we have been as a band. I think it's the best thing I've written to date and the band's best performance."

Thanks for checking it out!!!

[Muslimailana]

It's literally 3 in the morning as i write this--I wonder if this increases my sincerity as i listen to lyrics that a couple of years ago I would narrowly would have considered nonsensical and for only the past year made prefect sense with true spiritual depth...

[tru886jnd]

keep doin what you doin fellas, shit will happen

[dirtbikehero450]

dude i live in havre de grace, its a shit hole dont let the song make it sound cool

[noomaanjones]

AWESOME... You guys rocked at Srinagar..

[abfall99]

Good stuff... nice to meet you at Shireen's the other day...

[kashurludka]

Ver nice song. Thanks for uploading. I would ahve liked to see these kids post some English songs using great Kashur poetry by habba Khatton and other kashmiri poets. I still remember crossing Zerobridge in srinagar like i was only yesterday...Alas, it has been decades since I last went to kashir. Anyway, god bless.

[dakonaisakoala]

i love this song. puts me in such a good mood!

[000abcd1231]

Kashmir belong to NEITHER India and CERTAINLY NOT Pakistan. It belongs to KASHMIRIS. Zerobridge are from a region (Kashmir) in between present nations of India and Pakistan. You Porkis need to UNDERSTAND that Kashmir does NOT belong to you either. Kashmiri culture is very distinct from your Porki culture.

[keashur]

New York City-based rock trio Zerobridge features the talents of lead singer/guitarist Mubashir Mohi-ud-Din and drummer Mohsin Mohi-ud-Din. Growing up in Maryland, the sons of immigrants from Indian occupied Kashmir, Pakistan, the brothers were sensitized to the political unrest in the region. They bring this vantage point to their angular, modern rock. Taking their name from a bridge in Kashmir, the brothers formed Zerobridge in the early 2000s and later added bassist Greg Eckelman to the trio.

[Robert4LA]

A thousand thanks for your great music! Zerobridge is definitely a group to follow. You make Srinagar rock! Your newest fan!

[agenthj]

You guys are absolutely wonderful! I had come across your music while listening to Pandora. I go to your guys website every so often to check if a new song is in works. The last things you guys posted was the New Order cover which I thought was awesome. It's been a while since you've guys last posted anything. I hope you guys haven't given up. I'm looking forward to seeing you guys in concert one day. Hopefully, you'll make a trip to the south soon specifically Louisiana.