ARTIST: Mamak Khadem
COUNTRY: Iran
GENRE: world music, Iran, Persian
ABOUT: Born in Tehran, Iran, Mamak moved to the U.S. as a teenager where she grew up with American pop, rock and jazz. Two years after her arrival in the U.S., the 1979 revolution in Iran and the eight-year war with Iraq changed her destiny. After the revolution, Mamak decided to explore her rich heritage and began training in Persian Classical music with radif vocal masters. “After years of traveling back to Iran to study this music, I realized that I didn’t want to be a pure traditional singer. I needed to create my own style of music – accessible to everyone, but with an Iranian signature. It was a challenge that I really wanted to embrace.” As a founding member of the fusion sensation Axiom of Choice, Mamak had a chance to collaborate and create in an ensemble that pioneered an exciting and original Persian contribution to world music. Inspired by her travels throughout the Middle East, the music of her first solo album Jostojoo explored a variety of different regional and folk melodies not only from Iran, but also from Greece, Turkey and Armenia.
A Window to Color, Mamak’s new CD (produced and arranged by Hamid Saeidi) features original compositions based on the nature poetry of Persian artist Sohrab Seperhri evoking yearning, beauty, freedom and a return to innocence and love. Mamak feels it is her mission to encourage the youth around the world to contemplate, observe and celebrate a global consciousness of peace, equality and understanding. Mamak Khadem is equally active on stage, having performed at many venues and festivals in the US and around the world. A guest vocalist on numerous world music recordings, she has also recorded for a number of film soundtracks including Skateistan, The Peacemaker, Traffic, The Profiler, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Battlestar Galactica.
MORE ABOUT: Called “…one of the wonders of world trance music”, by The Los Angeles Times, Mamak Khadem captivates audiences by blending her roots in the ancient poetry and music of the Persian masters with a bold and revolutionary new sound. By nature, she is a nomad, one who thrives on open spaces. By occupation, she is a bridge, one that connects geography to lore. In music, she is open to cultural influences, but she has chosen the classical Persian style as her base. Formerly of the sensational cross-cultural fusion ensemble AXIOM OF CHOICE, Mamak weaves a canopy, both simple and rich, for a stunningly emotional and spiritual musical experience that inspires new listeners to embrace cultural diversity and an awareness and appreciation of Persian arts and culture through a blending of old and new.
Inspired by the poetry and paintings of Iranian artist Sohrab Sepehri, Mamak Khadem’s new album “A Window To Color” shares a message of peace and understanding through an exploration of what is most sacred in the natural world as expressed in Sepehri’s contributions to the cannon of Persian literature, culture, history and traditions. Like Sepehri, Mamak Khadem seeks to explore the intersections of Eastern and Western traditions. Collaborating with traditional performers from Iran as well as world-aware instrumentalists from the West, Mamak hopes to inspire people around the world, particularly the young, to contemplate, observe and celebrate the value of nature and the environment. Mamak’s first solo album “Jostojoo (Forever Seeking)” features some of Mamak’s favorite Persian poetry blended with carefully chosen melodies rooted in the traditions of Armenia, Greece, Turkey and Iran.
Mamak Khadem was born in Iran, at a time when tides were changing. She was part of the Children’s Choir for National Radio and Television of Iran, but it wasn’t until after the Iranian Revolution that her passion for singing waxed. Inspired by works of master musicians, she seized every opportunity to further her vocal art, regularly traveling back to Iran to study with some of the finest Persian vocalists and masters. She also benefited from the study of classical Indian singing tradition at the Ali Akbar Khan College of Music in Northern California and from singing with the Los Angeles based Balkan choir Nevenka.
SELECTED PRESS REVIEWS AND QUOTES:
“This is music rooted in centuries of tradition, but with a strong contemporary edge. Khadem is definitely a voice that needs to be heard.” (Laudan Nooshin, Songlines)
“Iranian vocalist Mamak Khadem is breaking gender rules in Persian music, one of very few Iranian women singing this style of poetry in public, usually a men-only affair.” (PRI’s The World, USA)
“The elegantly arranged music is a blend of classical Persian and other Middle Eastern traditions with subtle elements of trancey electronica, rock, and early music. It resonates long after the final notes.” (Tony Montague, Straight.com, USA)
“Classically trained Mamak Khadem, an Iranian long based in Los Angeles, is also performing her blend of Persian poetry and Greek, Turkish and Armenian musical influences at the ICA. She chooses not to play in Iran because she would be confined to women-only audiences. “The unfortunate thing is most Iranian artists have learned to censor themselves to stay out of trouble and have become comfortable with it,” she says. “But I have been encouraged these past few months witnessing another, more activist side of the Iranian youth.”” (Evening Standard, UK)
“Khadem was extraordinary Wednesday, drawing her listeners in via the pure, emotionally communicative powers of her voice – she is one of the wonders of world trance music.” (Don Heckman. Los Angeles Times, USA)
“Born in Tehran and based in Los Angeles, the singer emphasizes classical Persian verse by Rumi and Shamloo, as well as contemporary Iranian poetry. Her music is steeped in tradition, but has a breezy feel that should appeal to modern globe-trotters.” (Time Out New York, USA)
“Mamak Khadem – brought operatic intensity to the music of Iran, where she was born. Khadem’s vocal methods, which involved intricate ornamentation and a virtuoso technique, would have been alluring to hear if she were onstage alone.” (Chicago Tribune, USA)
“Jostojoo is simply an invitation to something magical.” (TJNelson, World Music Central, USA)
“One of the ground-breaking vocalists in a new Persian fusion sound that challenged the boundaries of classical purism, and forged a fresh new stylistic context for a generation of young singers. The richly atmospheric core of Khadem’s work is deeply rooted in her native culture.” (Cheryl McEnaney, fRoots, UK)
“Innovative and beautiful musical arrangements combine with powerfully evocative vocals, conjuring myriads of images and landscapes. The delivery is deeply heartfelt and sincere. As we listen, we are awakened to a stream of emotions as Mamak takes us on her journey beyond time and space, on a quest for union and wholeness.” (Yatrika Shah-Rais, KPFK 90.7 FM, USA)
SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:
Solo:
- “A Window To Color” (2011)
- “Jostojoo – Forever Seeking” (2007)
With Axiom of Choice:
- “Unfolding” (2002)
- “Niya Yesh” (2000)
- “Beyond Denial” (1996)
As guest vocalist:
- “Alif” Omar Faruk Tekbilek (2002)
- “Brink” Dave Stringer (2001)
- “Season of Souls” Tulku (1998)
- “Prayer for the Soul of Layla” Jamshied Sharifi (1997)
Soundtracks:
- “Skateistan” (2010)
- “Battlestar Gallactica” (2004-2009)
- “Traffic” (The Mini-Series) (2004)
- “Peacemaker” Hans Zimmer (1997)
SELECTED VIDEOS:
SELECTED RECENT PERFORMANCES:
- PeaceLink Live!, Culver City, CA, USA (2011)
- Debartolo Performing Arts Center, Notre Dame, IN, USA (2011)
- UCSD Great Hall, San Diego, CA, USA (2011)
- World Festival of Sacred Music, Los Angeles, CA, USA (2011)
- Mehregan Persian Festival of Autumn, Irvine, CA, USA (2011)
- Whittier College Writers Festival, Whittier, CA, USA (2011)
- Capilano Performing Arts Theatre, Vancouver, Canada (2011)
- Rainforest World Music Festival, Sarawak, Malaysia (2011)
- Wilshire Ebell Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, USA (2011)
- The Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Los Angeles, CA, USA (2011)
- Women of Orient Festival, Istanbul, Turkey (2010)
- Institute of Contemporary Art, London, UK (2010)
- Athens, Greece (2010)
- Musikens Hus, Gotenborg, Sweden (2010)
- Sunfest, London, Ontario, Canada (2010)
- Lula Lounge, Toronto, Canada (2010)
SONGS:
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