Hotel Casino

What Lou Reed brought to the youth of the 1970's through The Velvet Underground: angst in the form of art. Sarosh Qadri brings that same angst to the youth of today through Hotel Casino. Hotel Casino approaches bringing angst to their listeners in a much more modern way. 

Qadri began Hotel Casino by writing music and needing help of other musicians to bring his songs to life. So, with the help of bandmates: Quincy Peterson, Bryan Hurtado, and Trevor Whelan, made an EP entitled "Control". 

"Control" is four songs, all of which hold similar energies. Qadri described "Control" as "cool, catchy, angsty, angry, and emotional"; all these verbs can also be used to describe the rock scene in 1970's New York City. The 1970's rock scene was home to The Velvet Underground, drugs, and Andy Warhol. Qadri finds inspiration in that era of NYC rock n roll as well as that same scene only 30 years later. The Strokes are one of Qadri's biggest inspirations. They come from a more recent version of the same scene. Hotel Casino is bringing the NYC rock feel to California. The listener can hear that Hotel Casino loves what they are doing and it makes the listener want to love their catchy songs even more.

As a person listens to the EP, "Control",  they might feel like they are back in high school bouncing around their room while they get ready in the morning. Hotel Casino brings that oh-so-high school angst back into the hearts of their listeners. 

Each member of Hotel Casino grew up with music. Music might even be the only positive thing Qadri can take from his childhood. His father, who was not very present, came from a family of musicians so he bonded with his son over music. Music is an escape for a lot of people and that does not pass Hurtado who found that music has been the one thing that has helped him cope. As he was growing up and even now during self isolation during this pandemic, it is extremely helpful to stay sane. Whelan's father played guitar for years. He, however, learned more from the kid down the block who taught him a few songs that were on Rock Band. Peterson sees music as almost a time machine. Any song can take a person back to a specific memory and a person can find a song they love and create a memory around that song as a way of remembering it. Maybe listeners of Hotel Casino will find a memory to associate with a song off of "Control".