Events

Persian songcraft, akin to an ancient tree, finds its roots in the melodious voices of Iran’s earliest musicians, drawing breath from the flowing melodies that meander through the Middle East. The rich branches of modern songwriting, which blossomed during the constitutional era through concerted efforts to weave poetry into music, have matured over the decades as verse and melody entwined.

Alas, recent times have seen a rift, severing the once symbiotic relationship between lyric and tune, with songs increasingly becoming mere receptacles for words set to pre-composed music.

As an Iranian musician engaged in the art of songcraft, my quest involves navigating the bridges and pathways that span these deep divides. I am immensely grateful for the companionship of fellow travelers on this path.

Such bridges are constructed only to support the harmonious interplay between poetry and music—so intricately connected that poetry leans into music, and music, with arms both soft and strong, embraces poetry. Together, they forge a new art form, not by leaning on the crutches of bygone frameworks but by harnessing contemporary and global innovations. Utilizing the linguistic and semantic prowess of modern verse, this new wave of Persian songcraft gives voice to the contemporary human experience, echoing the subtle nuances and deep-seated pains of our times.