No more fieldwork ’til February makes Pourya happy!

IRI and the Ghomayshi vs. Ghomayshi case

The official government newspaper, Iran Newspaper INN, has suddenly decided to use the Ghomayshi vs. Ghomayshi case in what seems to be a calculated move in order to argue its case against current popular music. The paper very unconventionally brings up details of the kind that a sanctioned media inside the country never brings up, not to mention an indirect acknowledgement of an artist living in exile. Hot-potatoes strictly forbidden by the authorities, unless used for a sanctioned purpose. Like in Habib’s case, for instance! INN very openly brings up the fact that Alireza Ghomayshi whose debut album “Asir” has just been released after five years of suspension at the Ministry (Ershaad), is using or to quote “stealing” his father’s name and reputation, not to mention songs, despite Siavash’s explicitly expressed denouncement and disapprovement. The fact that a Ministry suddenly decides to grant a permit for an album that even its creators’ mark as “outdated” and then use the official organ in order to discredit it while crediting an artist in exile is something very interesting to bear in mind for future developments, especially considering the recent plots of the Ahmadinejad cabinet!

Note: Thanks to Mansour J.

Askari: “Coma 3″ is on its way

In an interview with Moosighie Iranian Hamid Askari confirmed the rumours about his third album being titled “Coma 3″, he also said that it will be featuring nine tracks. The album has received its permit, Askari adds, the release however is strategically scheduled for Bahman/February. “Coma 3″ is composed in its entirety by Askari himself, who has also been writing some of the lyrics and arrangements. The rest of the songs are arranged by Milad Torabi, Mehran Khalesi and Omid Hojjat. The rest of the lyrics are written by Ali Bahreini and Dariush Shahriari. Askari further explains that the music on this album is more organic and sentimental, unlike “Coma 2″, since he has sensed that it is what his fans demand from him.

Ershaad: Habib hasn’t been issued a permit

Following the unofficial news about Habib receiving a permit for his first legal release in Iran, which was posted in different websites and blogs after the video of a song was leaked on hard-line blogs and websites, The Iranian Music Association which is known for its legitimate coverage of the happenings in the domestic industry has reported that the Ministry (Ershaad) has denied any permit having been issued to Habib at this stage.

Note: thanks to Mansour J. and Siamak

I have a daydream …

I’m on a short break, sitting here by the snowy winter window and daydreaming myself away to seven months from now … to a summer not so far, yet far enough away. Recent years of mine have been double packed and booked, in terms of work and studies for a second degree. Not to mention all the projects I commit and attend to on my spare time (one might think that you actually have to have a spare time, in order to fill it with something). But the upcoming summer is the saviour that I’m waiting for. My studies and half of my projects will come to an end, allowing me to finally exhale. To once again having the time to create … I have a daydream!

In explanation of academic disinterest

I tend to receive e-mails asking me about the Googoosh Music Academy show, which is basically an Iranian talent search show but unlike every other nation’s ours happens to be attached to an artist’s brand (which the name of Googoosh is). So I thought I might as well bring it up here, in case other readers wonder why I haven’t covered that show. I was earlier this year contacted by their PR-people who informed about the production plans, asking me if I wanted to write about the show and announce the auditions. Generally I have no problem with such announcements and if you have read my reviews and blog, you know that if there is anything I like to do it is to discover and help to give new talents public exposure. I have a problem, however, with anything coming close to cult of personality (idolisation driven to extremities) in art and thus decided not to give a show bound to the brand of a certain artist promotional publicity on the blog. In other words the decision is based on my personal principles and is the result of a highly subjective reasoning, since my blog is purely personal in nature. I have nothing against Googoosh (if I had approved of the idea itself then who better than Googoosh), the crew and the artists. In fact as you all know Arghavan is a good friend and I wish her and everyone involved in the project the best of luck. Admittedly the show looks really good for being an Iranian production, but I personally do not follow it since I do not have sat-TV and watching scattered episodes online is nothing I rather do right now. Hopefully one day I’ll be able to watch the show in its entirety. I like the group song and video they delivered recently, but have to say that it sounds very, very like a Ramin Zamani production! And two of the guys’ tones and ornamentations being reminiscent of Kamran and Hooman’s makes the parallels even stronger.

Persian cream buns with toasted tops

After six days of hard training and healthy eating Sundays are my “treat day”. I don’t have a sweet tooth (thankfully), but there is one pastry I can not say no to and that is my dear mother’s heavenly “naan-khaameyi”! She makes them the way I like it, bite-size, not so sweet and with toasted tops. When I was a kid she used to make hundreds of them for me to take to school and let me tell you that my Swedish friends went nuts for them! They sold out each time my class had a sweet-stand on the corner of the school-yard. These buns of delight which you behold above are currently sitting on the kitchen counter and flirting with me, so if you excuse me I’m gonna go for a feast. By the way, sorry if I can’t taarof you any, but even if I could I doubt that I would!lol Cuz these are all mine! Aaaall mine! Muwahahaha!

New releases: fall 2010

I just got en e-mail from my dear/your fellow reader Seyed informing me that Kamy R’s album is out! Requesting the review I had promised. Now that was fast!looool What should I wish for next! I wonder!lol hehe, I will definitely review the album once I get my hands on a legitimate copy. Hopefully it will coincide with the big holidays since that’s when I’ll be having the time. Anyways, while we are talking about new releases here are some of the high-profile ones:

Kamy R

Bijan Mortazavi (Lately I have heard so many speculations about Bijan’s current whereabouts and his affiliation with the world’s powers that its only the north pole and Doctor Evil that haven’t been pinned on the map!loool)

Kiosk (Are on international tour atm! Catch them if you are in Europe and Sweden this week.)

Kouros (It’s been a while sir! I must say I liked Chai Chai’s mellow Electro-POP version that came years ago better than this charged up version. Btw, who is in the video and who is that on the cover? jk Kouros has changed his image to the exact copy of what he had when he went solo (with extensions?! Since he had a super fast hair growth between two albums 1991-1992!!) But why this strange choice of image now in 2010?!! I had preferred a more subtle and settled image and perhaps even music … well!)

Faramarz Aslani (Yeaaaars in the making but it finally came! Even released in Iran, I’ve heard)

Pourya’s pick #3

I have really enjoyed the first songs of Kamy R, especially his latest “Ey Jaan“. I love the fact that he doesn’t settle for the run-of-the-mill LA formula and really tries to develop his own flavour, a fusion of 6/8, RnB, SOUL, FUNK and DISCO that goes well with his powerful voice. Unlike his BC songs, which as I wrote in my review were incompatible. Like a Cadillac pulling a chariot, I recall myself saying! This is one album (was due out 2008?!) I’m really looking forward to hear not to mention to review, assuming that he keeps up the quality that he has delivered so far. Actually when I think about it, I don’t recall the last time I really looked forward to review an album! So I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

New Release: Alireza Moosavi - “Enkaar”

Alireza Moosavi’s debut album “Enkaar” comes in an elaborate collaboration with Hamid Askari. Askari has not only created much of the material but he also appears on the tracks as guest-vocalist. The album features even arrangements by Milad Torabi. “Enkaar” has ten tracks and is released on the film distribution company branching out as a record label, namely Tasvire Donyaye Honar which also released Payam Salehi’s solo album “Hess”.

Gh to the G to the Gh to the G

Yesterday I was talking to a friend about the Shahkar phenomenon and suddenly I noticed something I hadn’t picked up on earlier! I don’t know if anyone has anywhere addressed this but have you paid attention to the female vocals on his “Mimiram”? I always found her singing in Persian excellent, despite the “gh” mispronunciations. Its was as if she was an Iranian singing but deliberately uttering “g” instead of “gh” …suddenly it hit me that it might very well be the case!! If you listen closely she puts on the thickest G:s in for instance “G’albam”, but she has absolutely no problem uttering “gh” in “asheghete”! My guess is that the woman singing this on stage is just lip-syncing to a recording done in studio by an Iranian vocalist pretending to sound non-Iranian! Just another trick added to the spectacle. What do you guys think?

Mina seems fit for fight

The Montreal-based Mina is a professional dancer/choreographer (Hip Hop and Bellydancing) who is to debut with her forthcoming album as a vocalist. I am really feeling her single “When We Fight”! This is the Canadian flavour of Eurodance which I have mentioned in my reviews before. 90’s oriented and minimalistic. A flavour I happen to favour!

Mina has a sweet tone, a cute face and a dancer’s body. In other words, she seems fit for fight! We’ll see, looking forward to hear her album upon release.

Download the track

The right way of the The Ways

I’ve mentioned this before, The Iran-based alternative ROCK band The Ways is one of the freshest acts to appear on the Iranian music scene in the past twenty years! We haven’t had such thought-through introduction of a new fusion in our music for a good while. The Ways do everything correctly and in accordance with the international guidelines of their genre, yet remain enough Iranian in style. Considering their stationary situation and relatively limited means, this is not the easiest task to pull off. But due to the passion and hunger that you can easily sense in their performance, a combination which makes an ambition that is more on an international level than an Iranian, they manage to make the most of least with elegance. The Ways is the first Iranian act that I’ve come across to both look and sound like ROCK stars! They have got both the image (each and every member) and the music pinned down on quality, not to mention a theatrically charismatic front-man with a suitable air of pretentiousness and vanity that demands your undivided attention!

The Ways is a worthy Iranian counterpart to Mando Diao, The Killers and Kings of Leon. I truly, deeply hope that they keep developing cumulatively in their own paved path inspired by their international sources and don’t deviate in some sort of tempted attempt to suddenly conquer the entire Iranian market by inadequate crossovers and incompatible collaborations. We have had enough of such disappointments through the past decades! They do have the opportunity, as well as artistic and charismatic means, to finally legitimise the ROCK genre in a cultural setting that has time and time again proved itself too rigid and reluctant to accommodate such musicality. But I’m rather confident that this particular formula can work, if only they continue doing things right. Their debut album “Stress” is now available for free download from their website with a rather subpar cover artwork, but cool page design. The album in its entirety does not, in my opinion, represent the potential that I see in the band today. Perhaps due to much of the material being from some time ago, very little of it resonates The Ways of today. While too much of it reminds of Reza Yazdani’s earlier albums! Especially in its lyrical style and Kaveh’s ornamentation. These references can’t be heard in the newer tracks like “Khab Bazi”, however, so I really hope that we wont hear them in future productions either.

I had hoped “Otaghe Aabi” to be an adaptation of Sohrab Sepehri’s single prose opus but it wasn’t, most likely inspired by it considering how the lyrics start. By the way, in the booklet the song “Khab Bazi” has been credited to Kaveh Afagh for its composition, but I recognise its music from a song by a female singer (in English) played at my gym! In particular 0:40-1:00 and it goes something like this, “… They call me a black cat, don’t rub me the wrong way …”. Any idea what song I’m talking about?! If so drop me an e-mail please, thank you.

Ahmadi revives tradition to the rhythm

Morteza Ahmadi is not only one of our veteran actors, known to my generation mainly as the voice of “Roobaahe Makkaar” in Pinocchio, but he is also one of the few remaining “zarbi-khaan (rhythm singer)” out there. Thus he has just released an album together with the Tombak-player Ali Rahimi called “Sedaaye Tehroon”, which revives the traditional low-brow folk songs such as “Az Hend Oomadam” and “Hamoomi” in their original format. It should be mentioned that there were many songs recorded, however only 13 tracks were considered lyrically appropriate enough to receive a release permit. Most of the songs have been remade into POP versions in recent decades but Ahmadi and Rahimi deliver them as they were once meant to be delivered, namely as vocals to the rhythm.

Mobarak, mobarak, la cucaracha mobarak!

This blog makes a very interesting comparison between Anoushirvan Rohani’s “Tavalodet Mobarak”, which has become our single national birthday song, and a piece which he suspects being an official source of inspiration to the Rohani composition! Namely “La Cucaracha”. I must say that I had heard both pieces separately before and never picked on the parallels, but with this suggestion as a backdrop I can definitely hear what he is referring to. Especially when you hear the Liberace rendering. What do you guys think? By the way doesn’t young Liberace look very much like young Rohani?!! Or vice versa!

Note: thanks to Siamak

Underground studios raided

Word on the street has that two of the bigger underground studios in Tehran have been busted and many young artists, mostly rappers, have been arrested! Tehran police have reported successful raids to two fully equipped underground cells which they refer to as illegal sources of production and distribution for music and video to streets and satellite televisions.

Update

Note: thanks to Anahita

Jamileh puts nasty rumour to death!

I have no idea what makes some Iranians repeatedly start rumours about our popular cultural icons’ death, just a way to consolidate their so called claim of thousands of years of refined Iranian culture I guess! I personally am ashamed of such cultural deviation, it truly saddens me. These past 24 hours I have been asked by numerous readers to announce the departure of Jamlieh, our legendary dance icon. But like always I wait to such news are verified by some official or credible source, thankfully in this case Jamileh herself has stepped forth and put this nasty rumour to death!

Note: thanks to Siamak

The Uzbek Benyamin

What we did not know is that Benyamin has a sound-alike in Uzbekistan and what I personally did not know is that Shahzod is a male name in Uzbekistan!lol What amazes me is the peculiar blend of Turkish and Persian, I have heard similar blend in the Persian-Azeri code-switching before but not as an official lingual construction! So in case you are confused “Voy” means “Vaay”! hehe

Note: thanks to Richard

Habib sings musical war memorial

A video clip has found its way to some hard-line blogs inside the country who promote it as Habib’s first official single and video from his upcoming revolutionary album! The song which is called “Esghe Khodaee” pays homage to the victims of the Iran-Iraq war. You can download the sound and video-clip from the following links that are getting spread and shared via the aforementioned sources:

Sound clip

Video clip

Note: thanks to Mansour J.

Saffarian: I wont be working with Golzar

Behrooz Saffarian has in a correspondence with Moosighie Iranian informed about the cancellation of the collaboration plans between himself and Mohammad Reza Golzar (and his band “Riezar”). Saffarian said that this was due to lack of time on his behalf but also due to inappropriate expectations and inability to agree on preferences! The concert will go ahead according schedule but without me, Saffarian says while wishing Golzar best of luck.

More on Shahkar’s charade

I am not sure whom this blog belongs to, nonetheless there is a post in Persian which elaborates further on the whole Shahkar charade that is well-written and worth reading.

Note: thanks to Siamak

Another masterpiece?

I get a lot of e-mails asking me to bring up what I brought up last year, about Shahkar …sorry, Dr. Shahkar Bineshpajooh’s so called “live performance” videos. Like I said last year, this is a good way for you to train your eyes in picking up “seams” in production quality and authenticity! And while our general public, unfortunately, always chooses to turn a blind eye and deaf ear to con-artistry (in some cases even reward it!), it glads me that there are those individuals out there, with a sense of responsibility, who give a damn about the credibility of our music and popular culture! The following quote is part of an e-mail from my dear/your fellow reader Reza whose keen senses have picked up exactly what I last year hoped for:

” … His Latest video is: Vasate Ghalbam which is Micheal Buble’s version of the classic song SWAY. But, here’s what drives me crazy about this joker. He is using a $1.99 KARAOKE VERSION of the track (Attached) that he got from this website: http://www.karaoke-version.com/mp3-backingtrack/michael-buble/sway.html. In addition if you look @ the Video @ 0:33 sec. & 4:20 sec. you will see the only simultaneous shot of the orchestra with the band. But notice a Bald Timpani player and a yellow harp that does not even exist in the Video itself. What makes me mad is the ignorance of the Iranian people. Read the reviews for this work. They are comparing him to some amazing artists…”

Update:

Another dear reader, also by the name Reza, has written:

“… Also adding another piece that perhaps you can add to you blog is that the so called composer credit on the video @ 4:41 is Mr Pablo Belteran Ruiz which who was Mexican and died on July 29, 2008 in Mexico City, Mexico http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0069629/”

Second update, click to read the post!

In other words, the only difference between the staging and editing of this so called live performance and the famous Ahmadinejad IRIB clip which portrayed the president in the crowd listening to his own speech (0:50), is that the editor of this one was slightly more skilled, or sober!lol

The video

Pourya’s Pick #1

In “Pourya’s Picks” category I intend to post whatever track/video dele tangam happens to enjoy at a moment! It will be purely personal picks, with no consideration to anything or anyone other than my lovely self! hehe

Right now I’m really, really enjoying the nostalgia this track and video evoke in me. I’m loving the voice and the flow in this mid-tempo Electro-POP fare, which somehow takes me back to the amateur Iranian scene of the 80’s and a certain teenage someone and his friends trying to make songs that married Persian lyrics with European Electronica …

Watch Radin’s “Rain” if you haven’t already. It’s on repeat at yours-truly’s! Radin has certainly sat his bar rather high in my eyes, I really hope that he continues to meet the raised expectations in the follow ups. So far he is aiming for the stars, well done!!

Like father, like son

According to Moosighie Iranian Alireza Ghomayshi, who is reportedly Siavash Ghomayshi’s son, has finally received a release permit for a debut album called “Asir”. The seven-track album which has waited five whole years to see the light of day will be released on Avaye Barbad and features work by Alireza himself along with some compositions and arrangements by Sirvan Khosravi. In the teaser clip of the album we see a son looking and sounding much like his father, singing a song in a style not far from his father’s. Indicating an adult contemporary album. However if Sirvan has seen it imperative to contact the media himself and ask them to take the actual age of the production in consideration, it wouldn’t surprise me that there are even some TRANCE oriented tracks on it. Since Sirvan has in recent years claimed that he has put that genre behind!

Karmandan, the album!

It’s my personal pleasure to announce the upcoming release of my good friend Erwin Khachikian’s album for “Karmandan”. I have had the pleasure of following the project from the very start and the privilege of previewing almost the entire collection, from demo to finished tracks. Therefore I kinda feel like a proud uncle of some sort to this 9-track baby! Hehe

Creating almost the entire album himself, Erwin has also collaborated with his band mates from Serj and the FCC band. Musicians Jeff Mallow, Mario Pagliarulo and Dan Monti.

The album features also a few lyrical collaborations with Omid Oliaee and Melody Safavi. Erwin is putting the finishing touch to “Karmandan” as we speak and while we’re waiting let’s listen to my favourite song and video from the album. A video which I ranked the best video of 2008!

Curly Armand

The Iranian born and Sweden-based actor Armand Mirpour’s musical career started accidentaly, as he was playing the part of a pop star in a Swedish television series. He then had a chance to play some of his own material on the show and is now being considered as Sweden’s next indie POP export! Armand came to Sweden at the age of two with his mother Zinat Pirzadeh, who has in recent years become rather famous in Sweden as an actress and stand up comedian. His debut single called “Curly Boys Law (Step Aside)” with a Juno/Dodgeball inspired video (I have a crush on the cute geeky girl with the gigantic glasses) came a while ago and already a debut album is on its way.

Marzieh passed away, at the age of 85

Marzieh whose pre-revolutionary songs such as “Barge Khazan” and “Raftam ke Raftam” (covered by Andy & Kouros) have become part of our musical heritage fled the country in 1990 and joined the controversial Mojahedin Khalgh organization (MKO) in which she took an active part and representative position. This connection came to arguably put a stigma on this diva who remained formally loyal to the organization until her departure. Nevertheless her voice and music will remain immortal, may she rest in peace …

Chavoshi will come cheap

Mohsen Chavoshi’s new album “13″ will be released 1.5 month from now. This is consistently the second number-titled album he appears on this year, after the contribution to the religious compilation “Hasht”! The ill-numbered album is considered a sub-genre to traditional music and will be featuring classic Persian poetry from likes of Baba Taher and Vahshi Bafeghi, while traditional singers such as Ashrafzadeh and Jasemi will be guesting it. According to the record company Avaye Barbad the album will first receive a low profile and low quality release for sale in supermarkets and once it has reached a certain number of sold copies a more decent edition of the album will be available in music stores!

This bizarre-sounding strategy is actually becoming a praxis in the domestic industry and supermarkets are taking over more and more of the retailing. I understand that an availability in the supermarkets makes the merchandise more accessible for customers who might end up buying an album which they would otherwise never visit the music store for, what I do not understand however is why they explicitly market the item as a “low quality” merchandise and by doing so they themselves, as we say in Persian, “too sare maal mizanan”!?!

Golzar to collaborate with Saffarian

After having left both ARIAN and Darkoob band behind Mohammad Reza Golzar seems to have finally decided to go for a solo career. He has now for his upcoming solo concert in Milad Tower asked Behrooz Saffarian to arrange the music and manage the band. Saffarian is an extremely sought after producer in the domestic industry and known for his strict conditions and specific requirements, therefore it doesn’t come as a surprise that his brother Behnam, who himself is an active singer, will be guesting the show!

Oh, how haters will love this!

There are certain debuts in showbusiness (not necessarily music related) that you just KNOW will be provoking a lot of opinion and emotions in the online community. This would definitely qualify as one! You can hear some samples from Saiyna’s songs and watch one of her videos on her website. I for one am all eyes and …ears!

Nosrati: it’s unfair to credit only Sirvan!

Ehsan Khajeamiri’s brand new album “Ye Khaatere Az Fardaa” has been on the market a few weeks now and as it was foreseen the song “Nemidoonam”, which is the only song on the album that was marketed already a few months before its release as the ace of the album and a collaboration with Sirvan Khosravi, has become the HIT of the album. Apparently the media praises only its arranger Sirvan for its success and therefore a few days ago Mehrdad Nosarti, the composer of this song along with other songs of Ehsan, wrote in an open letter to the press that this song has been a team work, just like all other creations on the album, and its success should not been credited to Sirvan only!

Kamkar denies discrediting Chavoshi

Following the controversy stirred up by the bitter interview in ISNA Ardavan Kamkar has in a press release claimed that all of his words about everything were taken out of context and that he meant no offence to either Mohsen Chavoshi or any other artist for that matter. The truth is, Kamkar says, that back then when Chavoshi was still under illegal status we auditioned other vocalists for the project but neither managed to deliver the passion which Chavoshi’s voice brought!

Fusing JAZZ with AZERI music

IJAZZ is the name of the music quartet that is fusing Jazz with Azeri musicality in Iran. The innovative band has been active in nearly a decade now, however it is first now that they’ll be preforming their instrumental songs professionally on Talare Vahdat stage next week.

Photo: Mabas Fadaei

Jessica Alba at an Iranian wedding

These pics shows Jessica Alba attending the private wedding of her friends, of which the groom is an Iranian. Jessica who looks like to be one of the bridesmaids as well, even participates in the traditional Iranian sugar-grinding “ghand-saabi” on top of the couple!

Note: thanks to Siamak

Epic stage presence failure

I recall a time when poor Sattar was made fun of for closing his eyes when singing. People cruelly suggesting that he couldn’t open his mouth unless he closed his eyes! Now Hami has taken quirks in stage presence to yet another level. He sings with his hand … in his pocket!

Yes, one of the exact rules which masters of stage presence and performance, both in rhetorical and musical domains, have emphasised as a big no-no! By doing so many try to hide the symptoms of stage anxiety which often is a shaking hand, something natural and understandable. However if doing so while presenting or preforming on a professional level sends so many wrong messages and is so harmful for one’s character credibility that its imperative to work off the behaviour as soon as possible.

Photo: Mabas Fadaei

Looking for the summer …

Back at work and studies after a really nice summer. This year I have had a chance to both relax and train. I also managed to catch up with a lot of micro plans and projects that had been put on the back-burner, so needless to say it has been a summer of satisfaction. A lot of work done and the battery recharged! Therefore it feels good to be back on a higher pace and performance, even though I kinda miss the memories of this summer …

Half Iranian, whole woman!

After many, many blog examples about the many, many brilliant half- or whole Iranian artists making it in Sweden, without further ado, I present you Karolina Khatibnia who has just launched her career under the stage name Jasmine Kara. A small girl endowed with a big voice, Kara has just released her debut album called “Blues Ain’t Nothing But a Good Woman Gone Bad”.

A collection filled with classic Blues and R&B jams re-rendered and recorded in a 48 hour non-stop session! Only 22 years old this gorgeous girl has been through a harsh youth and that’s why her diary, resonating the social condition of her generation, is simultaneously published as an autobiographic anthology called “Hälsa Henne Att Hon Ska Dö (Tell Her that She is Dead)”.

Kamkar: I would never perform with Chavoshi!

Ardavan Kamkar, the member of the Kamkarha ensemble, is the composer of the soundtrack to the popular movie “Santouri” which is now to be released. In an interview with ISNA Kamkar says that although this movie and its music are very popular they have not been commercially successful, due to the movie and its soundtrack leaking out on the pirate market. Mehrjui went through great deal and a whole year just to convince me to write the music for his film but I never received any commission for the production, he says. Instead I planned to sell the music that I still own the rights to, but it’s not going to compensate me now that it’s been leaked.

Kamkar says that it was impossible to teach Bahram Radan the fine-motorical moves of a santour player, therefore I had to be present in every single scene and the close-up shots are of my hands. He also says that he had nothing to do with the fact that Mohsen Chavoshi was picked for the vocals. I have nothing against him personally but there is no chance in the world that I would ever play my music to Mohsen Chavoshi’s voice! It’s simply not going to happen, Kamkar makes clear.

Photo of Ardavan Kamkar: Ali Kaveh

Cool collective collaboration

Cool collaboration from the sound-track of Shahyar Kabiri’s “Rock On” film. This is a collective collaboration of a non-featuring kind, even though its announced like that on many channels. The Ways, Erwin Khachikian, Yas, Arad Aria and Arian Naeini’s ROCK-RAP underground-tribute “Rock On (Ghesseye Zirzamin)” is far from structural perfection, but as a concept its a welcomed whirling wind to nudge the closed walls of our music!

On Facebook

Official Website

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9sTP1GoLOE

Same music, different songs

You guys might recall this post and inquiry of mine from almost two years ago. I have no idea why he was referred to as Nima Ghafari back then but today we all know him as Nima Allameh! Anyway, to cut a long story short I just saw this newly released clip and immediately recognised the musical foundation! I still love the orginal Allameh which is still on my portable playlist, but even this one done by Ahmad Saeedi, whose voice doesn’t fall far from Nima’s, works for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2DyivP_rVQ

Salehi’s solo sense

Payam Salehi’s solo album will be released in a couple of weeks, just like Yazdani’s new album by the film distribution company branching out as a record label, namely Tasvire Donyaye Honar. The album entitled “Hess” features 8 tracks (incl. “Hess” part I and II) by Hamid Askari, Sohrab Pakzad, Shahin Tik and Ali Hosseinzadeh. The album is arranged in its entirety by Nima Varasteh. Salehi who has in recent years been active in the world of cinema as a decorator for movies such as “Atashbass” and sound-track artist for the upcoming movie “Harche Khoda Bekhaad” has recently even starred in Tahmineh Milan’s latest movie “Pornasib”. In an interview with Moosighie Iranian he assures the fans of ARIAN that he is still just as committed to the band as he was ten years ago, and that his solo projects don’t mean any harm to the future of ARIAN.

Yazdani arrives at 25:00

Reza Yazdani’s 4th album called “Saate 25 Shab” is to soon be released on Tasvire Donyaye Honar, which is a video distribution company and that means having music videos featured on their upcoming VCDs. A tradition which Farzad Farzin started! The 11-track album is said to feature various genres and not only ROCK, composed by Yazdani himself and arranged by Behrooz Payegan. Lyrics are written by Armin Ebrahimi, Ali Komarjinejad, Padideh Neyshabouri, Hamid Zahedzade, Morteza Amiri and Siavash Mirzayi. Unfortunately there is still no sign of the promised duet with Santana, so we have to settle for one with the actor Hamed Behdad from the Darkoob band instead.

New Release: Erfan - “Hamishegi”

Fans of Erfan should take note that the US-based rapper’s follow up to the popular debut “Az Khaane Taa Goor” is to be released September 21 on Avang Music. The album titled “Hamishegi” is produced by Erfan and Amir A-Plus with lyrics and music by Erfan on themes such as love, happiness, migration, struggle and dream fulfilment. The album will also feature other artists such as Khashayar, Sarkesh, Reveal, Morvarid, Nona and Amir Farjam. For more information feel free to visit Erfan’s website.