Ian Persaud: Self and Sound

Ian Persaud, West-Indian American singer-songwriter from NYC. Photo Credit: Naeim Reza

Ian Persaud is a first generation West-Indian American, born and raised in NYC, but now based in Washington DC. He goes by his birth name on stage because “it felt inauthentic to sing [his] truths and write music bearing [his] soul under any other name.” He writes music in a variety of genres, but the golden thread lies in the emotional content and vulnerability he imbues each record with. When asked about his music and his relationship to it, he articulated his thoughts: 

I poured myself into my records, and hearing them back helps me understand purely what those feelings might have been.

— Ian Persaud

“I found music as an adult, at a time I needed it; it was there for me to listen when I needed to speak up, but was afraid to share with others. I poured myself into my records, and hearing them back helps me understand purely what those feelings might have been. I hope that anyone who hears my music feels the opportunity to be vulnerable with themselves, to feel the emotions they need to feel, so they can process them and live the next day with the confidence that experience brings. I’m pretty average, but I do feel a lot of feelings, so if anyone can relate and find solace in my music, my effort to articulate them was worthwhile.”

After singing in the choir in early childhood, Ian took piano lessons that he hated. Years later, he picked up a guitar and decided he was tired of bottling it up. After 8 years of self study, Ian plays the guitar, bass, ukulele, keys, and is skilled with sound design and composition. He’s currently studying up on audio mixing so he can use the sonic landscape as another layer to his artistic expression - something he seeks to do after hearing the music of James Blake, Galimatias, and others. As an artist, his vulnerability sets him apart; it’s emotional intimacy through MP3. His musical articulation will continuously improve as he searches through his more complex emotions as they require more complex compositions to capture. 

He told me tears fell during those writing and recording sessions, and I believe him; you can hear them.

After his debut album, Of Me & For You, Ian is working on a series of singles and small projects, investigating self and sound. His most recent project, a dual feature of Poor Boy feat. Ari Pluznik, and Every Day tell the story of the duality of human emotion - the capability of each individual’s ability to feel pain and passion. He shares his most painful memory, and the most passion he’s ever felt. He told me tears fell during those writing and recording sessions, and I believe him; you can hear them. You can find his music anywhere you stream or buy music - under his name, Ian Persaud.