AJ Subat

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Subat is the perfect delivery of melodrama

by Karla Liu

“I sometimes feel like songwriters are like pioneers…the good ones dare venture into uncharted territory…sometimes scary lonely places,” proclaims AJ Subat, the 25 year old Orange County native, who now resides in Downtown LA.

Strongly rooted in his Afghan heritage, the UCLA alum’s musical experiences didn’t stray far from his cultural identity until five years ago when he caught soul crooner John Legend performing "If You're Out There" on the Bill Maher show. “I was really into the elections and that song showed me that change can happen through art.” recalls Subat, who then made the “official” decision to dip his hands into popular music.

The result is a compelling dichotomy of East meets West. A unique of Afghan inspired cadences and structure, blended with Western melodic progressions. Musically, Subat is the perfect delivery of melodrama. His tracks are more often than not moody and somber, an earnest self-reflection of his self-perceived shortcomings. “I’m always looking for that perfect place,” laments Subat, and it is precisely that strive for the unattainable that allows him to create painstakingly honest and relatable music. As a self-proclaimed “creator”, Subat looks to every element of his songs to come together as one cinematic soundboard. If it’s regret that he wants the listener to feel, every word, note and drum snare will reflect that exact sentiment. Take Subat’s song “I Think I Love You Now”, a blatant admittance of regret involving a breakup. Melancholy strings and heavily reverberated vocals adds a level of sincerity and complexity to his literal lyrics: “I said I loved you/I played you like a game/…even though you said goodbye/I have to show you what you what I realized/I think I love you now.”

Subat’s track, “Fighting For”, brings that notion of audio storytelling to life. On one hand, the song is a ferocious battle track dedicated to Subat’s doubters; on the other, it is a dejected admittance of defeat: “My dreams/my war/what am I fighting for?” The production provides the right amount of ruggedness the song deserves. The piano serves to maintain a mid-tempo pace needed to give off a sense of determination; the generous use of the guitar amp throughout every instrument, including his voice, initiates the rawness and destitution of Subat’s message.

“The Walls” features two very different personas, one riddled with insecurities and a voice that appears to Subat in a dream, a voice of encouragement and reassurance. Throughout the whole song, the two opposing forces debate and dance back-and-forth. The track opens to a simple and tender piano rift, followed by a soft and clean orchestral back track, as he sings, “I said I’m in so much pain/I said I don’t feel sane”. The confident counterpart replies “You must search your heart/you will see it all.” Simultaneously, the song picks up in tempo, and the orchestral backdrop is warped and synthesized to give the song an energizing effect. Just before the chorus, the music rapidly swells to an assertive chorus, as Subat realizes his potential: “I believe that I can see it all so clearly now/so clearly now.” “The Walls" is subtle, but pleasant reminder that all is not hopeless in Subat’s world, and deep down in his seemingly tortured musical voice lies much deserved self-confidence.

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