The Commuters are:

Zeeshan Zaidi – Vocals, Guitar, Piano
Uri Djem… Read Full Bio ↴The Commuters are:

Zeeshan Zaidi – Vocals, Guitar, Piano
Uri Djemal – Guitar
Ben Zwerin – Bass
Paul Amorese – Drums

The Commuters might hail from New York, but their kinetic, personally revealing anthems capture an alt-rock essence that aspires toward worldwide appeal. Right from the outset of their debut LP, Rescue (mastered by White Stripes/Ryan Adams collaborator Fred Kevorkian), its signature attributes are front and center. Album opener and lead single, “As I Make My Way,” has it all: an unforgettable hook, huge guitars that ring and echo and a grounded rhythm section that anchors the track’s precise tension. Elsewhere on Rescue, you can hear the New York foursome’s density of influence on tracks like “Hope to Be,” which teems with traces of Peter Gabriel’s work with Daniel Lanois, while the delicate bite of Automatic/Monster-era R.E.M. is evident in the title track’s feedback thrust and circa-Bends Radiohead gets channeled via the poised, melodic moodiness of album standout “Fallen from Grace.” And what ties all this together are the Commuters’ poignant lyrics, which eschew cryptic sermonizing, focusing instead on transparently human experiences and emotions.

Such richness and diversity on an inaugural release is no happenstance. As their name suggests, the Commuters have traveled through a lifetime of musical influences, but it’s their own personal global journeys that have guided the foursome to something universal but prevailingly intimate. Before forming the Commuters in 2010, Canadian-born, Philippines-raised frontman Zeeshan Zaidi (whose parents were born in Pakistan and India) spent many years in the music industry. His early accomplishments included producing Grammy-nominated artist Ryan Leslie’s first demo, and he subsequently worked in the marketing departments of major labels in New York helping to develop the careers of other versatile artists, including OutKast and Cee Lo Green. During this time, Zaidi was also honing his craft as a singer, songwriter and musician, performing around New York’s open mic circuit. When the time arrived to put his own abilities as a performer front and center, he immediately shared a dozen demos of his songs with childhood friend, New York-based producer and soon-to-be Commuters guitarist Uri Djemal, who was also raised in the Philippines (by parents of Israeli and American descent). The two got to work co-producing the album at Djemal’s Madpan Studios in Manhattan, where he had produced many well-known artists in New York’s indie-rock scene. Says Zaidi: “Uri’s studio was a few blocks from my apartment and he was telling me for years to come work on my songs there. One day — when I knew it was time — I just walked over and we started.”

Soon, they were joined by Djemal’s previous collaborator, French-raised Ben Zwerin on bass and Italian-American upstate New York native Paul Amorese behind the drums, solidifying the current lineup. Zwerin, the son of an American rock critic and Jazz trombonist based in Paris, had previously played and toured extensively with many renowned world and jazz musicians. Amorese had been playing professionally since the age of 14, performing in numerous bands throughout New York City and state. The material that would become Rescue had firmly connected with its improbable shepherds.

Having established themselves at noted hometown venues in Manhattan and Brooklyn, including Arlene’s Grocery, Fontana’s and Spike Hill, and received blog acclaim in the U.S. and abroad, the Commuters are eager to build their US presence and also extend their experiences outward to an international audience. As Zaidi explains, the already-dynamic tracks on Rescue “sound energetic and alive” on stage. “We love creating songs in the studio but performing them for live audiences is even more exciting,” he continues. “A lot of our online fans in different countries ask when we’re going to play in their hometowns – and we want to make it to all those places.”

And while every band aims to last, the Commuters’ unique combination of its members’ personal histories and creative backgrounds leading up to this moment foreshadows a longer and brighter future than most. “Our hope and our goal is to be around for as long as possible,” says Zaidi. We want to build this over time — the first album is just the start.”

Lines On Your Hands
The Commuters Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I see the riches that you will amass
And fill your desires, your wealth is vast
The sun's ascending in your sphere
The world is yours
My vision's clear -- my vision's clear

I see the future written in the sands
And destiny is in the lines on your hands

I'll tell you everything that you want to know
First cross my palm with just a little bit of gold

I see the kingdom that you will build
and people will heed your every will
I see the lands that you will rule
Your power's great -- my vision's true
My vision's true

I see the future written in the sands
And destiny is in the lines on your hands
I'll tell you everything that you want to know
First cross my palm with just a little bit of gold
-- a little bit of gold -- a little bit of...

I see the victories you'll score
And all the glory that will be yours
And all your wishes will come true
'Cause fate is cruel
And beautiful -- so beautiful
So beautiful -- So beautiful

I see the future written in the sands
And destiny is in the lines on your hands
I'll tell you everything that you want to know
First cross my palm with just a little bit of gold

-- a little bit of gold -- a little bit of gold
-- a little bit of gold -- a little bit of gold

Overall Meaning

In "Lines On Your Hands" by The Commuters, the singer seems to be a fortune teller, claiming to see the future of the person they are addressing. They describe the wealth and power that the person will attain - they will amass riches, build a kingdom, and have people obey their every will. The fortune teller tells the person that their destiny is in the lines on their hand, and they can reveal all the details if they are given a little bit of gold.

The lyrics suggest a sense of fatalism, where the person's future is predetermined and cannot be changed. The repetition of the phrase "my vision's clear" and "my vision's true" reinforces the idea that the fortune teller's insights are accurate and unchangeable. The use of the word "cruel" in the final verse also implies that the person's fate will not always be pleasant, with victories and glory accompanied by cruel and difficult moments.

Overall, the song can be interpreted as a commentary on the human desire for control over their own fate, and the role that fortune tellers and other predictors play in fulfilling that desire. The fortune teller in the song is both reassuring and ominous, promising to reveal a future that is both beautiful and cruel, and potentially exploiting the vulnerability of the person asking for answers.

Line by Line Meaning

I see the riches that you will amass
I foresee the immense wealth you'll accumulate in the future

And fill your desires, your wealth is vast
Your wealth will fulfill all your desires, it'll be enormous

The sun's ascending in your sphere
You're on the rise, things are looking up for you

The world is yours
You'll have the world at your feet

My vision's clear -- my vision's clear
My ability to see your future is crystal clear

I see the future written in the sands
I have a clear vision of your future

And destiny is in the lines on your hands
Your fate is already outlined in the lines on your palms

I'll tell you everything that you want to know
I'm willing to share every detail of your future with you

First cross my palm with just a little bit of gold
To receive my predictions, you must pay me a modest fee

I see the kingdom that you will build
I envision a grand kingdom that you'll construct

And people will heed your every will
Your commands will be obeyed without hesitation