In an era where creative boundaries are constantly being pushed, Faris McReynolds stands out as a trailblazer who refuses to be boxed in. Born in 1977 in Dallas, Texas, Faris McReynolds has emerged as a dynamic force in the worlds of both visual art and music. With a foot in two cultures—Indian and American—and an unwavering commitment to authenticity, his life is a symphony of fearless experimentation, global exploration, and a relentless passion for self-expression.
Faris McReynolds: Roots that Cross Continents
Growing up in Richardson, a suburb of Dallas, Faris McReynolds was shaped by a world that was anything but conventional. His Indian mother and American father raised him in two contrasting but equally vibrant settings—Texas and Mumbai. These transcontinental roots endowed him with a unique artistic lens, blending the raw energy of American subcultures with the vivid emotionality of Indian storytelling.
At just eight years old, Faris McReynolds had his first taste of the spotlight, appearing in the 1985 Bollywood film Shahadat. Though only a child, the experience planted the seed for a life spent communicating through image, sound, and emotion.
The Skate-Punk Chapter and a Pivotal Choice
In his teenage years, McReynolds turned to punk music, playing bass in the Dallas-based skate-punk band Family Values. From 1990 to 1998, the group toured across the American Southwest, playing raw, electric shows in gritty venues and sunburned towns. It was the soundtrack of youth, rebellion, and truth.
But as the high school years faded, a crucial crossroads emerged: music or visual art? While most young creatives struggle to pick one path, McReynolds made a strategic decision.
“I didn’t really want to live in a van and play bars my whole life, so I chose to go to art school,” he later explained.
Faris McReynolds enrolled at the prestigious Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles and received his BFA in 2000. By the age of 21, McReynolds was already exhibiting his paintings in public spaces—a bold step that would soon catapult him onto the international art scene.
A World Stage for Visionary Art
Faris McReynolds quickly garnered global attention for his compelling, often haunting visual narratives. His work is emotional, introspective, and at times, surreal—echoing the layered complexity of someone who has lived in the intersections of cultures and artistic disciplines.
His paintings have been showcased in major solo exhibitions across Tokyo, Berlin, New York, and Los Angeles. Media coverage followed, with Details, Art Papers, Flash Art Magazine, Tema Celeste, and ArtWeek all featuring his art.
Each brushstroke seemed to whisper untold stories. Yet, something within him was unsettled. The part of him that once roared on stage with a bass guitar couldn’t stay silent forever.
A Musical Renaissance: One Finger Riot and ExDetectives
After a decade of focusing on painting, Faris McReynolds found himself irresistibly drawn back to music. Under the monikers One Finger Riot and ExDetectives, he began composing and releasing music with a style that defied classification. Drawing influence from artists like Scott Walker, Cornelius, and even Hindi film soundtracks, his sound became a melting pot of nostalgia, experimentation, and pure emotion.
In 2013 alone, Faris McReynolds released four full-length albums, including Farthest Star and Fly By Life, both under ExDetectives. The sudden burst of output wasn’t planned—it just happened. Music, he realized, came more naturally than anything else.
“I learned to get out of my own way; I finally stopped doubting myself,” McReynolds said, reflecting on his musical evolution. “I became comfortable with my own voice.”
Whether he’s building a song with one finger on a keyboard or painting a portrait that captures a fleeting feeling, McReynolds isn’t chasing perfection. His process is intuitive, raw, and refreshingly honest. “Not looking for clues, not looking for answers, not looking to solve anything, and just going with it,” is how he describes his approach.
Creating Without Boundaries
McReynolds’ refusal to separate his identities as a musician and a painter is what makes his work so authentic. He doesn’t compartmentalize creativity—he lives it. For him, art is life, and life is unfiltered.
“I can’t really filter out where I’m at in life when I’m making something,” he explains.
Even as a shy artist with no current plans to tour, McReynolds continues to compose new music. His next ExDetectives album is already in progress, not out of commercial obligation, but because, as he puts it, “I just can’t turn off the tap.”
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