Do you know that Shahzad Ismaily is a biochemist by training? In the music world, however, he is more like an alchemist capable of fusing elements of diverse origins into an innovative, cohesive whole. He has played on hundreds of albums yet considers himself first and foremost a listener, a perspective that greatly aids his work in both film scoring and music production.

Growing up in Pennsylvania as the son of a doctor and a civil engineer, he found that the natural aptitude he had for the sciences translated into the challenges he embraced in music. He was prompted to reflect on music’s capacity to alter the mood of a space, even at a biochemical level, not only through his travels and direct engagement with music in specific environments (such as discovering the gamelan in Bali or Gnawa music in Morocco) but also through the study of traditions in Pakistan, India, Mexico, and Türkye. His sources of inspiration extend further still; the artist also draws upon psychedelic journeys into the self, though a key goal in his work is to achieve a similar state without the aid of psychoactive substances. Transforming the atmosphere of a venue and shifting the minds of performers and listeners through sound alone. That is the mission.

The exact location of Ismaily’s performance remains undisclosed and will be revealed at the last minute, as the event is intended to be a truly unique and intimate affair. We don’t know which instruments, beyond the bass guitar, the American multi-instrumentalist will play, or which sounds he will select from his rich palette. With such a wide range of possibilities, just imagining what might unfold during the concert becomes an intriguing adventure, especially given that the artist has long felt comfortable about uncertainty.