My duo with Rouzbeh at this year’s Show of Hands was a uniquely different experience for me in every sense. It was more than just a concert; it was a performance that was both there and not there at the same time. It felt as if I were a tribal musician, performing for either a funeral or a wedding. It carried the weight of our people, suffering under pressure from both within and without. It was about us—two cousins who, since childhood, have played music together through every hardship for no reason other than pure love, still getting lost in sounds like children. Whether we are the listeners or the creators, our music is born 'from' and 'within' the influence of those same people, that same city, those streets, and all those shared strengths and weaknesses.
I’m deeply grateful to Ramin for navigating this leaking ship through such a terrifying sea and keeping its light burning. My thanks also go to all the Turkish friends who organized the festival with such power and professionalism in the heart of the beautiful city of Istanbul. To everyone who attended and showed us so much kindness, and to the legendary musicians I had the pleasure of meeting—it was truly inspiring.
I hope to see great musicians from all over the world performing on stages, big and small, in every city across Iran. May it happen soon.
@sohfesteditions
@arteristanbul
Avec le soutien du
@lecalq
Photos: Show of hands media team.
