Posted by Allah Las co-founder Pedrum Siadatian has been a devoted music fan since childhood.
Someone who uses his favourite recordings as a lens to view the world through, Pedrum has also leaned on these as pointed of inspiration.
A key part of what makes Allah Las so invigorating, his on-off solo project PAINT is another channel for his songwriting.
New album ‘Spiritual Vegas’ is out now on Mexican Summer, and its got a real West Coast flavour, featuring members of Oh Sees, White Fences, Tops and of course some friends from his day job.
Alongside Pedrum’s crate-digging tendencies, though, the record has a sprinkling of his Farsi ancestry – lead single ‘Ta Fardah’ is sung in Farsi.
Clash spoke to Pedrum about the influences behind PAINT.
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John Lurie – ‘Fishing With John’
Can listen to the intro for this on loop all day. I love its sparseness and subtle eeriness. As an off the cuff mood-piece it is very inspiring. The show is also essential viewing.
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The Residents – ‘Moisture’
Saw this many years ago at a Hallowe’en themed screening of short films and music videos at the now defunct “silent movie theatre” in LA. this song/video is my favorite part of The Residents’ “one minute movies”. Features a guitar solo from the late great Snakefinger, though that’s not him in the video.
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Kevin Ayers – ‘Caribbean Moon’
English tropical prog and banana fetishism – Ayers is a beacon of interesting, fun and poignant songwriting.
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The Folk Implosion – ‘Natural One’
I heard this on the radio a lot in Salt Lake City when I was a kid and I’ve always held a nostalgic attachment to it – 90’s teenage ennui and FM radio shlop definitely weaseled its way onto the new record.
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Gregory Corso talks and walks in Roma…
Corso is one of my favorite poets and excerpts of his public readings are on both of my records – this video makes me miss being on tour, strolling around, and attempting foreign tongues very poorly.
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‘Spiritual Vegas’ is out now.