Maral/May

Next up in the 3Qs series is @_ma_ral_ ! Photos by @ambarbecutie collages by @777annapurna Excerpt: [Synth History: You utilize both electronic and acoustic instruments, what are some tips for blending these? Maral: I love the juxtaposition of the ancient feeling of acoustic instruments versus the future /alien feeling of electronics. They make great conversational partners. The key is making sure you keep the organic and raw feeling of the acoustic instruments while also taking them to a new level. There is a lot of effects processing in my music, especially with the acoustic instruments, I used to use a lot of distortion to amplify the subtle emotions of instruments like the setar, which is a 4 stringed lute instrument meant to be played in solitude and introspection, so how can I bring that intention into a punk environment? I’d also make sure no matter how hard I was ripping with the effects there would be moments where the acoustic instrument got to shine through closer to its natural state and say its peace. It’s about listening to what emotion the instruments are conveying and then using your skills in production to create an interesting and satisfying conversation between the sounds. Synth History: What is inspiring you the most right now? Maral: I’ve been trying to start the day with reading a chapter from this book, The Mysticism of Sound and Music by Inayat Khan, that I picked up at the Philosophical Research Society bookstore. I think it’s really important to remind ourselves everyday that music is not a commodity especially in the rancid music ecosystem that artists are supposed to make art in today. On one hand we have some of the most exploratory and mind expanding music being made across the globe, and on the other hand the landscape is being even more polluted by bullshit. So to combat the feeling of dread, I’ve been tapping into the spirituality behind music which has always been a focal point for me but finding new ways to interact with it, either through books, transcendental music and discussions with like-minded peers. It’s up to us to nurture and create space for genuine art to grow.] Part of SH5 IV @danz_cm Lighting @max_flick

"can I ask you something?" "sure” "isn’t it too dreamy?” maral - setar rock #experimental #psychedelic #music #musicvideo #experimentalelectronicmusic #dub #setar #cool #art #animation #experimentalanimation

Music that's escaped the earth's core... very happy to announce my upcoming album 'Ground Groove' out on Oct. 18th on @leavingrecords Out today the first single from the record 'Feedback Jam' accompanied with a mind altering music video by the next level @liquidtransmitter Brenna and I started working together in 2021 after we were paired to create an audio-visual collaboration for Rewire Festival. We unlocked new worlds together and Brenna's work inspired me to continue exploring what we had discovered until it became a full length album. The 2nd half of the record features our 14min audio-visual collaboration which will drop with the album in Oct. Can't wait for you to fall into the wormhole. Brenna also designed the amazing artwork for the album as well as the music videos. Her work was the catalyst and continued inspiration for the record! the music to me feels like something that has slowly been making its way out of the earth's core - a continued collaboration with my iranian folk & classical samples but this time with more electric guitar and bass :) One of the most exciting parts of this record was getting to work with @trayert on the mixing and taking the tracks out of the mud and into the astral. From the earth's core to the exosphere. Thank you to Leaving Records & @matthewdavidmcq for all the hard work that's gone into getting this record ready shout out to @daddykev for mastering - true legend. Thank you to @diana_r0jas_ & @777annapurna for the continued support & guidance for like the past 14 yrs 🤯💗 and a bigggg shout out to everyone that's been coming to my shows cuz I've been playing mostly songs from this record live and it's been such a joy seeing how the audience reacts and moving thru the songs together ! check out 'feedback jam' and if you dig it pre-order the vinyl or cassette! looking real rad! thanks to @phoebedigital for the cassette design.

Accidentally found myself on a nonstop tour of LA the past month, playing some very special shows around the city. All cumulating to the first show I booked for this year which is the legendary @not.pranks on Saturday 🔊 i promised @adam.o___ a crusty set paying homage to my club past. Come thru Feel grateful to have gotten a beautiful taste of all this city has to offer from the amazing @open.melody festival to jamming with @tomskinnermusic & his band 🤯 Was reminded again how satisfying DIY shows r thanks to @ssiivviill & @psstudio_dtla As well as dipping into my fav art zones with @activeculturesla @triple_canopy @gettymuseum @dublab & @sssaritahh I’m very tired & going thru some hard personal times but the shows, friends & community r forever lifesavers - thank you 💐 📷 @ssiivviill @activeculturesla @diananarojas @laurenardis

every day I’m reminded of why I started making my music, the urge to share the sounds of Iran, to expose my peers to a fuller picture of Iran. At the same time as passing down the ancient melodies and the history through my personal prism but also in conversation with the samples. When I first started sharing my music, I would make lil videos in imovie using footage I found on youtube of Iran, trying to express the feeling of longing, anguish and beauty through visuals as well as sound. I am honestly left speechless in the wake of all the destruction that has befallen my people, maybe these lil vignettes can help express what words can’t do justice to

Pleased to announce I’ll be joined by @_ma_ral_ opening for my show at @Zebulonla on the 4th April ⚡️ Maral’s sonic palette incorporates a collage of Iranian Classical & Folk samples and explores genres of experimental electronic production such as noise, punk/post-punk, and dub. Maral has released two critically acclaimed records, Ground Groove (2022) and Push (2020) on Leaving Records. She has collaborated with artists such as Lee “Scratch” Perry, Panda Bear, Penny Rimbaud of Crass, Anika and more.  Still tickets remaning for the US tour starting this week. Link in bio. 26 Mar 26 - New York - @knockdowncenter 27 Mar 26 - Chicago, IL - @constellationchicago 29 Mar 26 - Knoxville, TN - @bigearsfestival 1 Apr 26 - San Francisco, CA - @theindependentsf 3 Apr 26 - Santa Cruz, CA @kuumbwajazz 4 Apr 26 - Los Angeles, CA - @zebulonla

I’ve been trying to find the words to express the complex emotions of being Iranian at this moment. I realized that ultimately my music & mixes do a better job of conveying the deep anguish & longing that is embedded in every Iranian. I’ve spent the past 8 years compelled to deepen people’s understanding of the Iranian people through my music beyond the limited scope we are provided by the west. To humanize the region & the complexities that come with living there. My music and mixes are filled with an innate sadness but also a feeling of moving forward, of perseverance that I am so lucky to have learned from my family in Iran and from living there. From a young age, I would just sit and listen to a Hayedeh track and cry for Iran and the stifling of everyone’s potential there. I am now in a state of shock, unable to process how we’ve gotten to this point, where the humanity of the people in Iran is being exchanged for an empty promise of liberation from countries that have destroyed our chances over & over again. I thought maybe sharing a link to the mixes I’ve done through the years could help others process this shock & revive the humanity of the beautiful voices in Iran. My ultimate inspiration in music and life. The link to my mixes are in my bio. In my mix for triple canopy 4 years ago I mixed a persian classical track from my parents tape collection into Crass’s nagasaki nightmare and today I woke up to the news of toxic rain falling on my people

annihilation of self (فناء) new track "butterfly magic” out with @elkontessa_ Video by @777annapurna

butterfly magic” is a collaborative track between Maral & El Kontessa The track is steeped in the mystical concept of annihilation of self, a chance to transcend. Maral samples a relic found in the depths of youtube, a lost track from the lorestan region of Iran that exalts the power of music to reach god. El Kontessa annihilates the atoms that hold us together with her heavy drums and bass. The track marks a big change for Maral, who has never released a track this high in BPM and also plays the korg minilogue heavily. A chance for both artists to break free out of their protective chrysalis and fly into new realms. Artwork by @elkontessa_ & @_ma_ral_ Mixed by @3phaz_ Mastered by @popcanpat

★ LA producer @_ma_ral_ taking over Blooming In Filth this month, bringing Iranian-rooted influences into a deep, textural electronic space. ★ A mix dedicated to finding the hidden moments in tracks, transcending to new realms. Digging deeper into the glimmers of long loved tracks and listening closer. Inspired by crisis.acting's visual curation and the hidden moments they find in everyday life. Tomorrow 9PM ET NTS2 ★ I really recommend going through her catalog on Bandcamp. Amazing stuff!! ★ Visuals by @777annapurna & @__jackie__jackie__jackie__ @nts_radio

This yr has felt like 2yrs but gone again in a blink of an eye Every yr feels like a struggle to catch up but this yr I decided to slow it down a bit & nourish my relationship with music & what it means to be a part of the music ecosystem. I released the least amount of music this yr (only 3 tracks) but each one meant a lot to me Slide 3: dreamy riddim (out on @hoodraveintl compilation) Slide 6: pere ubu - folly of youth edit (bandcamp only) Slide 14: sparklehorse - sad & beautiful world cover with my fav @soapy.t for @adam.mcdaniel.dos & @_dropofsun_ awesome compilation Also collaborated on my first score with @radiorahill for @smilegoth awesome short film I had a bit of a hard time finding the spark to make new music but thankful to all the people I got to jam with or just encouraged me to continue, the fans that keep buying the music & sending me sweet messages 💗 everyone who gave me a chance to play awesome shows! I DJed my first proper rave after a 6 yr hiatus thanks to @baexploitation The most rewarding was getting to help steward new music into the world by some of my fav artists over at @bigdadarecordings ! @heladonegro @girlultra @nastybrian 💖 This year was so intense & emotional, I’m thankful to @nts_radio for allowing me to put all that emotion into an experimental & cathartic mix focusing on Iran 🥀 And lastly the @synth_history feature with my ultimate collaborator @777annapurna was such a dream! Thank you to @ambarbecutie @danz_cm for making it happen It felt like I didn’t do much musically this year, felt like I was falling behind but it was also a year that I needed to remember what it means to love music & some of my fav moments was just hanging getting excited abt music with my best friends

my @boomkatonline best of the year is up 🎧 Not in any hierarchical order but I did go on and on this year abt how much I loved the @vashtibunyan audiobook of her memoir. Hearing her voice tell her story with all its twists & turns was grounding I also listened to a lot of ragas this year - a lil morning routine after reading more about them in the “mysticism of sound & music" Like I said b4 this year was such a stand out year for music, my boomkat list is just the tip of the iceberg, check out my @dublab mix for a more in depth I will say the @oklou_ album was my record of the year cuz it made me fall in love with pop music which is hard to do ! The @perfumegenius album made me fall in love with lyrics which I usually ignore even tho the PG album also has such captivating production which is what I’m usually after 🤗 Be sure to check out the two Iranian albums I highlighted so much great old Iranian music has been added to streaming so you can explore some really deep cuts Support & listen to music, it’s very nourishing :) 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧