Tariq Hussain is a songwriter / recording artist, and a non-fiction writer living in Vancouver. He began his artistic career as a songwriter in his late twenties when he released his first album, Splat. Soon after, his subsequent album, The Basement Songs (1997) earned him a Juno nomination with notable tracks receiving considerable airplay on Canadian rock radio including a top 20 hit with the song, “Chevrolet Way.” In the spring of 2019, Tariq released an album of ten new songs called,Telegrams which showcases his flare for storytelling. In 2010, he also joined the ranks of the six-piece experimental band, Brasstronaut and has since released two critically acclaimed albums with the group, including the Polaris Prize nominated Mount Chimaera. On the writing side, Tariq has penned non-fiction essays about music for the Walrus including his thoughtful examination of the modern pop song in “How To Write a Hit Song in 2018.” He is currently working on a memoir about his experiences growing up as a first generation Canadian kid who dreams of being in a touring rock band. Tariq is the winner of the 2011 Maxine Sevack award for creative nonfiction and he holds an MFA degree from UBC Creative Writing.