𝙊𝙪𝙧’ 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝘽𝙮 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙠’ 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨’ 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙘.

We love pulling back the curtain on the stories and inspirations behind intriguing new releases. It’s always fascinating to hear the personal anecdotes, creative processes, and little-known tales that shaped each track, giving us all a deeper appreciation for the artistry that goes into crafting these musical gems.

Qur’an Shaheed‘s Pulse, out via Leaving Records, is a strong debut that channels personal insight into a clear sound. Building on classical piano while embracing improvisation, the album seamlessly transitions through jazz, neoclassical, R&B, and ambient soul, each style blending effortlessly. Over 11 tracks, Shaheed’s voice and piano create a fluid, emotional world.

‘Dreams’ opens with crystalline poise, blending meditative vocals and sparse piano, gradually building into a mantra of resilience: “I still dream. You can’t take away the things that I know.” The result is both prophetic and introspective. By contrast, ‘Doo Doo Doo’ settles into a confident groove, maintaining focus with clear intent: “I’m not here for you. I’m here for me.” Production remains understated, inviting close, attentive listening to each moment of personal assertion. Throughout Pulse, Shaheed treats each track as a shimmering reflection, fragmented, glowing, and true. The album does not call for dissection, but rather for immersion and emotional connection. Experience Pulse for yourself: stream it, pick up the limited vinyl, or attend a live performance.

Without further ado, wrap your ears around the album and read Qur’an’s exclusive track-by-track guide below.

 

Dreams

My lyrics for dreams

I dream of a place where I belong

I dream of a place where we all get along

I dream of a place where we all can be

I dream of a place, I dream

I dream

I dream

I dream of a place

where we all can talk about the things that

Discouraged us that makes us full

I dream

Do you still dream

I dream of a place where all can talk the things that

Discourage us that makes us full I dream

I still dream

 

I made this track with the feeling of being stuck in a place of frustration with myself and the world around me. During the quarantine I had a moment to deeply reflect and process my emotions. I discovered that I wasn’t satisfied with how I was showing up for myself and for the people around me. But I still had this passion for growth and understanding, a dream of peace. I just wanted to create a simple worded sound that incapsulated those feelings.

Fix it part 1

You can’t take away the things that I know

You can’t take away

Ahhhhh

And all the things that I know to be true

I know that

There will be a me and you

I just know I just know I just know

Ooooo

X2 I just know

x2You can’t take away my intuition

I just know

I just know

Just like 1 and 1 is 2

Just like the sky is blue

I just know I just know

You can’t take away my intuition

I know

I just know

 

There’s just too many things that I have to figure out in my mind

 

But I’m not sure what that means

What that means

In my mind

I know I know

But I..

 

This song starts off very sweet melodically I would say. It’s a conversation with myself. This deep exhausting feeling from working multiple jobs and trying to stay afloat. I was also processing the death of my grandmother who raised me and taught me piano. I was going back and forth in my mind during that period, with what I was projection and what was actually happening in real time. Relationships, jobs, interactions again just processing the last 10 years of my life.

Fix it part 2

In fix it 2 I wanted to get to the peak point of everything mentioned on part one. The chaos of everything and wanted answers that I wasn’t getting immediately.

 

Variation 1

In this track I wanted to pay tribute to improvisation and freedom of thought. I do a lot of thinking and its deep relief to turn my brain off and just create from everything and nothing. It’s my way of finding the answers to the unknown and being comfortable with being uncomfortable. Being able to share that with other person gives me hope and support in these times where listening is not always what happens first. Having a true conversation.

Doo Doo Doo

Yea this is so much better

so much better

I’m not here to make you cry

I’m not here to make you have a bad time

I’m not here to hold you

I’m not here to help you

I’m not here to pull you up (no no no no)

I’m not here no no I’m not here for you

I’m here for me

And if you want to join the journey hurry up

X4Hurry up

So much time has been wasted

Feeling not enough

Enough for me

Enough for the jobs that won’t even pay me

not enough

Enough for me

Enough for the jobs that won’t even pay me not enough

Enough for me

Enough for the jobs that won’t even pay me not enough to worry

X4When will I learn

Enough for me

Enough for the jobs that won’t even pay me

Not enough

Enough to worry

When will I learn

During this time I was getting over the toughest break up I had ever experienced. Left with so many questions unanswered, I felt slapped in the face and embarrassed. How I had missed all of the signs. I wanted to create something that would help me take the power back that I had so freely given away not only to him but that I had often given to others.

3am wine drunk

I am here

Always looking to the future

To give us what the past forgot

The next day isn’t promised either

And the focus should be center

Desire is what ruins

But what is worth living

Ugh I don’t have the answer

But know that I’m here

I am here with you

Experiencing burdens

X2 I am here with you

Here with you

I’m here with you

Know that I’ll keep your secret safe

With me

Nothing will harm you when I’m here

I can’t predict the future

But I know it’s with you

I know it’s with you

In times of uncertainty

It’s easy to think

That it’s not coming

But please be here with me

x5 I promise to keep you safe

I promise

To keep you safe

This song was made as a way to say to everyone listening, this is where I stand in the present. What I had learned in the last 10 years of being an adult and pursing a career as an artist. Seeing and experiencing emotional trauma. I wanted to speak to myself and anyone that feels alone in asking themselves “why am I experiencing this deep feeling of sadness/loss”.

Urgay

A sweet conversation between one of my dearest and best friends Sharada. Being weird, saying whatever comes to mind. Capturing a friendship that makes me feel 10 again. Shar’s sweet singing with my piano accompanying while we read a random book that I found in the studio. Almost as if were communicating to our inner child tell them its all good to do whatever you want. Be gay, be silly let’s just play.

Mixing Colors

I wrote this originally for just piano but I wanted to expand on my idea. It was the first song I recorded in my room back in 2020. I always loved the melody but I thought how can I expand on that idea and make it so it could almost be apart of a film.

Variation 2

The rain is what really stands out to me in this track. It really just makes the mood of how everyone was feeling during the time of recording. Again all improvised, it seemed like the day of recording the vibe was let’s just pay attention to everything.

Variation 3

This piece starts off with the sound of us getting into Spencer hartlings the producer and engineers car. He decided that this day we would go to the Altadena library and each walk around and record the space. Timing it so that we would have the same but different experience. We came back to the studio and just hopped on the piano and started playing. Devin Daniels came over shortly and recorded over my keys. All one take

Somber eyes

Little girl with the somber eyes

They see you cry

When things get hectic tell your self that it’ll be alright

 

I wanted to end the album with the a song/lyrics that I had been sitting on for a few years. Again just making a point to myself to validate my first writing. With the help from artist and friend Colloboh and Spencer they help me really bring my song to life. The second part to the song I’m having a conversation with myself, like a check in. From the start of the album dreams to somber eyes I felt I had come full circle. Letting most things ago and just making sure to be in the moment.