Album Notes

One can never decide if Ami Saraiya’s songs are sad or not. If so, it’s a living sadness, vibrant, flushed with heart-stuff, anger and hopefulness. Archaeologist is a collection of half heard stories, ghost myths, and magical realism. As with Saraiya's other work, there has always been the voice- a beautiful instrument of power, soul and infinite sadness. It's hard to tie her to to one genre of music. For her debut as a solo artist, Saraiya shows new depth with dark gypsy waltzes (featuring herself on accordion), chamber-ish pop (with string arrangements by Mark Messing of Mucca Pazza), and a touch of Bollywood cheekiness. Archaeologist is Saraiya taking those seemingly disparate elements and forging a new style that is entirely her own.

Saraiya is a native to Chicago. She formerly lead the band Radiant Darling (Tense Forms), has toured regionally and performed throughout the city playing the Metro, Fitzgerald’s, the Empty Bottle, Hideout, Martyrs’, the Subterranean, the Beat Kitchen, and more.

Ami Saraiya’s full length album Archaeologist is available now featuring Marc Piane on Bass, Ben Gray on drums and
percussion. Guest performances by Robert Pleshar and Ehsan Goreishi (both of Black Bear Combo), Jim Becker
(Califone), Matt Martin (World Leader Pretend), Ryan Boyles (Judson Claiborne), Sam Johnson (Mucca Pazza),
Jim Becker (Califone), Ethan Stoller, Greg Hirte (Mucca Pazza), Mike Racky (Umphrey's McGee), Mark Messing
(Mucca Pazza), and Casey Meehan. Nathan Poetzscher provided the lush artwork. Archaeologist is a remarkable
document of submerged memories of events forgotten, of country lullabies, furiousness and remorse.

"Ami Saraiya has one of those voices that gives you a bit of pause when you first hear it because it seems that so few vocalists truly have that special something that can turn heads on their own." — Aaron Coleman, Almost Cool

"Because of their epic, mythic elements and Saraiya's conscious tapping of various historical genres at once, her songs radiate with the energy of some treasured long-lost thing rediscovered." — Kate Steele, Cokemachineglow.com

"If you took Billie Holiday, added a little Lhasa, some Bjork, and a smattering of Tom Waits, you'd have a vague idea of what Ami's voice sounds like. It's full-bodied, playful, edgy and lithe; it roars, growls, belts, thrashes, and purrs... continually rousing the ears with its contortionist capabilities." — Karen M., 75 or Less