Rahill shares five favorites with us in anticipation of her debut headlining show on May 14th at Gold Diggers in East Hollywood.

Iranian-American singer-songwriter Rahill first caught our attention back in 2022 with her gorgeous “Covers Special” on NTS Radio which featured organist Emerson Kitamura and singer mmm’s electronic countryside version of George McCrae’s “Rock Your Baby,” blues singer Junior Parker’s haunting rendition of The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows,” along with a few of Rahill’s own intimate takes on treasured songs. Released on an EP entitled Sun Songs on Ninja Tune sub-label Big Dada, the four tracks signaled a new sound and direction from Rahill, who previously led the Brooklyn-based garage rock band Habibi. More delicate, personal, and introspective, the songs reach deep into Rahill’s bag of ’60s and ’70s jazz, psychedelic soul, folk, and international sounds. “Haenim,” in particular, is a moving cover of South Korean, psych-folk artist Kim Jung Mi, in which Rahill translates the Korean lyrics into Farsi.

Last year, Rahill released her debut solo album Flowers At Your Feet which included features from Beck and Jasper Marsalis (Slauson Malone) with production by Alex Epton (FKA Twigs, Arca). Drawing from trip-hop, jazz, alternative rock, and soul, the album is a wonderfully nostalgic trip through faded memories with a warm analog sound comprised of Mellotron, tape fuzz, breakbeats, and low-slung basslines. The album also incorporates deeply personal memories and melodies from the artist’s family, heritage, and Iranian roots. Above all, Rahill’s wistful songwriting and smooth vocal delivery draw listeners immediately and intimately into her world. “Flowers don′t mean he loves you / Troubles not something you run to / Hurts you almost everyday / How you let it get that way.”

Tuesday, May 14th Rahill will be playing her debut headlining show in Los Angeles at Gold Diggers in East Hollywood. She’ll be supported by Leaving Records’ Maral and dub-rock band Puli. Tickets are available now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rahill-gold-diggers-los-angeles-514-tickets-860993854797

In anticipation of the show, Rahill shared five favorites with us reflecting on her early love for Detroit hip-hop, current obsessions, influences, and more! For additional listening, we highly recommend checking out Rahill’s monthly NTS Radio show: https://www.nts.live/shows/rahill

Dion – Only You Know 

“Something really potent in Dion’s later work. Maybe it’s the gained perspective, the will to live, or his illuminating sobriety, but the album Born to Be With You, produced by madman genius Phil Spector, is a marvel and a very important record to me. Only You Know, is my favorite track on the record, so powerful and deeply introspective, from his wall of sound Spector built Dion a cathedral to cry out from with this one.”

Jaylib – Champion Sound

“As a kid growing up in Michigan, I loved hip hop, the Dilla legacy remains ever present, I used to go see slum village spin weekly in Detroit. I bought this album on CD when it first came out, heavily played in my youth, and still, I always find my way back to it. The title track has a sample from the theme song off the soundtrack to Dharmatma, an indian film, the sample features a haunting vocal that spills over the beat, it’s incredibly arresting and beautiful.” 

Mccoy Tyner – Contemplation

“Heavy, been on constant rotation in my mind. The song I’ve probably listened to the most in the past year. Every time I listen to this song, I can feel my soul searching to find an answer, the song begs for an inward exploration, a contemplation. I am so moved by it, and try to share it with others as often as I can.”

Larry Heard – Midnight Movement

“I love Larry, this record gets a lot of plays at home. So peaceful and infinite in its simple but transportive melodies. I never tire of this record.”

Les Rallizes Dénudés – Night Of The Assassin

“Glory to imperfections, glory to raw sound, untamed tones and emotions. Filthy. I love this song, it has guts, you hear it, I love that sloppy bass line lifted straight from the doowop era, I love the wailing fuzzed out guitar. Above all else this song achieves total freedom of expression, a piece of music that greatly influenced me.”