Interview with TEE-M, an Unsigned Rock Musician from Pakistan

His Music is Addictive!

This is an interview I conducted with TEE-M, an unsigned rock musician who grew up in Karachi, Pakistan.

TEE-M has been deemed Music Connection Magazine's 100 Hottest UNsigned Artists 5 years in a row. He can be heard worldwide co-hosting with Mike Stark on WPMD's "TEE-M's UNsigned Music Show."

TEE-M has toured for Starbucks, and is featured in a short film, The Ultimate Song, along with Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Wayne Kramer (MC5) Tom Morello, Ice T, Steve Earle, and others. The film has been shown at Farm Aid and SXSW.

TEE-M recently completed his first album, titled "EARTHIOTIC...songsfromaoneroompalace," which made its worldwide debut on the "Rock 50" internet radio show on WPMD.org. The CD has received great reviews.

You can view the recent music videos on YouTube for one of EARTHIOTIC's songs, "Disappeared." You can also watch a video for another song, "Aao Aao Aao."

Thank you for your time TEE-M.

I know it's an abbreviation of your name but why did you choose the name "TEE-M" over, say, something like the "Artist Formerly Known As...or just "T"?

TEE-M: When I first arrived in the States from Pakistan, I said to myself, well, how can I make things simple for everybody as far as my name was concerned. So I started using TM, (Tariq Mirza) my initials, it's easy to remember, but then when I started performing in America, I thought I'd make it more like a performing name and added two ee's to the T and hence TEE-M. And now when I look at it, it just fits my EARTHIOTIC...ambitions. TEE-M could be from anywhere and everywhere. Besides Prince, 'Artist Formerly Known As" wasn't around when TEE-M was coined. (laughs)

Don't take this the wrong way when I say that when I first heard about a Pakistani rock singer, named "TEE-M". I was afraid that you would have a heavy accent but you don't one at all in your music. Did you make an effort to lose your accent in your English-speaking music?