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.”

Rescue
The Commuters Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I drifted out as far as I could be
Found myself in the middle of the sea
I wondered how I would get back to me
My home was out of sight, I couldn't reach

Did you even know -- could you even see?
Did you even know -- that you rescued me?

Surrounded by the doubts I could not shake
Drowning in mistakes that I had made
But then you happened to go by my way
You pulled me out and back to shore again

Did you even know -- could you even see?
Did you even know -- that you rescued me?

Shaken faith and disconnected from this life
You never left my side
Putting distance between others and the pain
You never walked away

Did you even know -- could you even see?
Did you even know -- that you rescued me?

Did you even know -- could you even see?

Did you even know -- did you even know --
that you rescued me?

Overall Meaning

In "Rescue," The Commuters describe an experience of feeling lost and disconnected from oneself, and then unexpectedly coming across someone who rescues them. The singer describes how they had drifted as far as they could be, and found themselves in the middle of the sea. They wonder how they will get back to themselves, and home feels out of reach. But then, someone comes along and rescues them, pulling them out and back to shore again. The singer asks if this person even knew that they rescued them, highlighting the gratitude and relief they feel for this act of rescue.

The lyrics suggest that the singer had been struggling with doubts and mistakes, feeling disconnected from life and shaken in faith. However, the rescuer never left their side, putting distance between the singer and their pain. This person provided comfort and support, ultimately rescuing them from a difficult situation. The repetition of the questions, "Did you even know? Could you even see?" highlights the idea that sometimes we don't realize the impact we have on others and the ways in which we can help them when they are struggling.

Overall, "Rescue" is a hopeful and grateful song that describes the experience of being rescued from a difficult situation by someone who provided support and comfort. The lyrics convey a sense of relief and gratitude for someone who provided an unexpected rescue, and highlight the impact that we can have on others without even realizing it.

Line by Line Meaning

I drifted out as far as I could be
I found myself lost in my own mind, far away from where I should be

Found myself in the middle of the sea
I found myself feeling lost and alone, with no way of knowing which direction to go

I wondered how I would get back to me
I was unsure of how to find my way back to who I truly was and what I truly wanted out of life

My home was out of sight, I couldn't reach
I had lost touch with my sense of home and belonging, and had no idea how to get back there

Did you even know -- could you even see?
Were you aware of the pain I was going through? Could you see the struggles I was facing?

Did you even know -- that you rescued me?
Did you know that your kind actions helped me find my way back and saved me from my own despair?

Surrounded by the doubts I could not shake
I was constantly plagued by self-doubt and had trouble finding a way to move past it

Drowning in mistakes that I had made
I was consumed by regret and the weight of my past failures

But then you happened to go by my way
You came into my life unexpectedly, and showed me kindness and compassion when I needed it most

You pulled me out and back to shore again
You helped me find my footing and get back on the right path, bringing me out of my despair and back to a sense of safety

Shaken faith and disconnected from this life
I had lost faith in myself and the world around me, feeling disconnected and lost

You never left my side
You were always there to offer support and encouragement, even during my darkest moments

Putting distance between others and the pain
I had pushed others away in an attempt to avoid further pain and disappointment

You never walked away
Despite my fears and doubts, you remained a constant source of comfort and support, never giving up on me

Did you even know -- could you even see?
Were you aware of the impact you had on my life? Could you see how much you meant to me?

Did you even know -- did you even know -- that you rescued me?
Did you know how much your kindness and compassion meant to me? You were the one who pulled me out of my despair and gave me hope for the future.

Contributed by John J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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