The state radio intends to debate the underground music in the “Shabestane” program. This will be a critical review and a comparative study of the legal and illegal productions, the producer Ali Aminipour says.

To celebrate the birthday of Imam Reza a brand new compilation is released. This various artist compilation is the first of its kind since its popularity peak during the rebirth of POP music back in 1997. Entitled “Hasht (8)” it features eight artists who each preform their homages to the eight Imam of the Shiites. Hami, Mohsen Chavoshi, Reza Sadeghi, Reza Yazadani and Ali Ashabi are the more famous stars in the line up. I have previously approached the religious POP phenomenon in the blog and the tributes to this particular holy icon in several LA-artists’ album reviews.

At the same time Benyamin Bahadori’s manger Rajabpour announced that he will be releasing a two-track single with both songs praising the eight Imam. There have been rumors about Benyamin creating an entire collection for holy icons, which is boosted by this recent announcement. This is not the first time Benyamin and his lyricist Farid Ahmadi have been creating religious POP hymns!

In recent week we have been informed about Sirvan’s debut concert and also its sudden cancellation. I must say that once I saw that promo poster without time and place popping up, I just knew this was going to be announced canceled pretty soon! It was to me a potential publicity stunt, considering Sirvan’s recent moves to exposure! Sirvan along with Benyamin top the line of stars who have just discovered that the use of the media for publicity purposes is much more likley in the domestic context, if it gets to be about controversies rather than conventional promotion. At first rumor had that Ershaad had suddenly canceled the whole event, then (before it got out of hand?) Sirvan announced the place of this supposed event and praised the ministry for all its POP-friendly efforts and support in recent year, instead accusing the “organizer” for not having submitted a request for the permit, despite four months of preparation and practice for him and his band. Now the questions is, would someone like Sirvan remain silent about a debut concert which was supposedly planned and practiced with a big band four months in advance, ’til just a while before the concert?! No promotion?! And if there was so many months of planning and preparation then why was the time and location left out?! It all just doesn’t add up to anything but a publicity stunt! Then again, its the domestic industry so you never know!

Note: thanks to Richard and Ahmad

I’m loving this HOT photo set of Sepideh, shot by Siros Kerdouni. Like I’ve said before Sepideh is a beautiful, talented and sexy woman who is not afraid of showcasing what she has got! Unlike many who decide to do the same, but instead with what they DO NOT got! This kind of confidence is a quality I have always applauded and supported in all artists, both female and male. Even non-artists for that matter! For the entire set and more please visit Sepideh’s myspace.

Hamid Askari’s follow up to the successful debut “Coma” is finally out after months of postponing. The album shares the same arranger as Benyamin’s “85″ and that is to be noticed in many songs’ resemblance and elements’ recycling! It’s not unusual with such kind of sequels in Western world of music in order to mark a return to a certain theme and style, however not as a direct follow up to a debut! “Coma 2″ even shares the cover design of its first part.

The debuting Germany-based rapper P.CANTELL is currently working on his album “P.CANTELL - A Journey To Iran” for a release in the German market. Of which “A Million Shadows” featuring Ian Hooper is the first released track, something he likes to call a soundtrack to the revolution. The album is more like an auditive movie where the listener is taken on a journey through Iran, thats why the songs have location names in brackets, cause every song takes place at a certain location. Find out more on pcantell.de. By the way, I noticed that he also does some blogging! Well done!

As much as I miss you? Then take me with you! Here is how you can! I grab my coat …or should I come in speedos?lol Let me know!

Behnam Safavi whose debut album was released recently admits that he has composed several religious pieces. I am a professional songwriter he says, I have created everything from children’s music to pop songs. I did have a piece on Hamid Askari’s debut, he points out. Regarding his album “Tamanna” Safavi says that the album was initially halted by Ershaad because of the music video being aired on satellite stations. However this postponing made him reconsider the album and consequently only two of the original tracks were preserved, while a whole new album was created based on the song “Tamanna”’s popularity! On his elaborate collaboration with Sirvan he says that he could have created the entire album singlehandedly, however he does not believe in the long-term prosperity of such kind of actions. Sirvan started off arranging two tracks, meanwhile we got close and our friendship grew so strong that I learned his ways and he mine, Safavi explains. Sirvan loves and wants to deliver ROCK, I have the same passion for Iranian POP music. This album is the result of this close encounter and fusion, he adds. He says that his intention is to deliver Iranian music dressed in Western outfit. Thats why his tracks are shorter than the Iranian standard. I want the listener to actually “want” to listen to the song again and again, Safavi argues, not to get bored by it. Short just like with western tracks as I myself listen to Vangelis, J. M. Jarre and Yanni, just instrumental (and short?!!) Western music. Safavi says that he could have used the same influences in his music, however he does not believe in the mass-appeal of such music. Perhaps in future he will, he admits. However this is my style and I will not change it in the next album just for the sake of changing. Definitely not because it gets associated with Reza Sadeghi’s signature style! Actually Sadeghi was the very first who congratulated me and says that he loves the album, Safavi makes clear. I like fame and I don’t think that there is any celebrity who can honestly say that he doesn’t like to be famous, however I don’t try too hard to get famous. Furthermore Safavi adds that he doesn’t think its healthy to wait when you work with music, because things can get outdated fast and while your two years old album is in line for a permit the underground singers have the advantage to deliver fresh and up-to-date music! That’s the legal artists’ biggest problem, Safavi concludes.

Hami will be releasing a collection of all his works for cinema, television and stages. The album will feature themes from “Hadafe Asli”, “Salam”, “Pato Zamin Nazar”, “Mardane Koochak”, “Poshte Shemshadha” and “Bekhatere Sogand”. To mention a few.

“Coma 2″ is once again announced for release, due out next week! No title available (bad sign!) but there will be nine new tracks featured on it. Nima Varasteh is said to have arranged the entire album. Varasteh also arranged Benyamin’s HIT-debut album “85″!

And finally Ali Lohrasebi’s forever postponed album looks like to see the light of day within the next 14 days, with 14 tracks and thus titled “14″! The album includes even the HIT-theme of the TV-series “Delnavaazaan” and is the work of Behrouz Saffarian, Reza Sadeghi and Mohsen Yeganeh, to mention a few.

99% of all song-submission emails I recieve are mass-mails or better said spam-mails bulk-sent to all possible blogs and websites in the Iranian online community! What bothers me though, if we pretend that the spam itself isn’t enough, is that they have no sense whatsoever for common decency and courtesy, to include a greeting and signature to at least give  a serious impression and stand out in the junk! I dont know who replies to such emails, I for sure dont!! If you don’t personalize an email dont expect a reply back! Let alone get your “ahange fogholade ziba” submitted! If you have ever wondered why underground music blogs mark basically every single uploaded song as described above then wonder no more! Its a ridiculous template used for submission, created by the submitters themselves!!!! Now go make sense of it!

Ershaad announced that 6000 artists have been registered for social insurance and more are on the list to get insured this year. Among these are musicians, actors, sculptures and painters.

The culture and art division of the Institution of Imam Khomeini has announced that a music festival is planned for the celebration of the religious founder of the Islamic Republic next year. Due to the fact that Khomeini himself aspired to poetry in his youth (of which several pieces have been used for lyrics by domestic artists), the institution has made it clear that POP music will have its special place in the festival! This rather controversial news is further underpinned by the latest BBC reported news about Ayatollah Khamenei’s thoughts and comments regarding music and the need of reviewing and reconsidering the (religiously) legal conditions and regulations in relation! The question is what these indirect signs of legitimization of music, the POP music in particular, indicate more importantly why “now”! Last time they loosened restrictions and legalized POP back in 1997 it gave an illusion of liberty, eased the public pressure and bought the regime some time. Will this religious legitimization of POP do the trick this time around, in the direct aftermath of this summer’s events?!

As a first sign of IRI’s intention to hold its promise regarding the commitment to children’s music, a concert was held on the International Children’s Day in Tehran featuring various young musical talents on stage. The ensemble preformed “Chahaar Fasl”.

Following the recent medial attack by Sirvan on Reza Sadeghi’s professionality, the Khosravi brothers (Sirvan and Xaniar) have created an album for a Sadeghi sound-alike by the name of Behnam Safavi! The second song from the album, the title-track, has turned rather popular and created a buzz for this debut.

Note: thanks to Ahmad

Note: thanks to Siamak

In an interview with ETMEAAD, Reza Sadeghi admits that his songs weren’t stolen as previously claimed but leaked through his friends whom he had trusted with the songs. It’s my own fault he says. But those songs were mere “ridiculous” demos of songs which will be great surprises for the listeners, just like “Vaaysaa Donyaa” was. However it will not repeat that album in any way, Sadeghi points out. He also says that the rap segments heard on the demos didn’t belong there but was meant to prove to some friends that even rap goes well with his music. Unfortunately that particular demo was stolen by this stranger from my hard-drive (huh?! It seems like Mr. Sadeghi cant make up his mind whether his songs were stolen or given to friends who later leaked them!). I have nothing against the rap as a genre he says, I even like Hichkas’ rap and meaningful lyrics however it is beyond my personal capacity to rap in my songs. The song of mine which Yas covered and rapped to was with my permission, he met and asked me in the airport once and I liked his decent approach. The leaked Arabic demo was my attempt to try new lingual waters, Sadeghi explains, since I speak Arabic fluently it was the chosen language for the experiment. Regarding Sirvan’s latest accusations Sadeghi says that even though he acted young and reckless in the media he is still determined to give him full credit for all his efforts. In the new album I have actually learned from the last album’s lesson of success and given more and more songs for others to arrange, he says. Arrangers like M. R. Cheraghali and Mehdi Zanganeh. The better work they produce the better I have to preform to keep up, that’s motivation for me Sadeghi adds. One of my biggest fears, after previous failures, is to remake my older songs on the legal albums. Other arrangers makes this easier for me. Sadeghi says that usually when you ask arrangers to pay attention and consideration to certain things in a song they get offended (Sirvan?), but my new team are all working together with me and not on their own! I have also chosen to open the album with a ballad this time so that people wont think that since my one time TRANCE opener succeeded I’ll make it a tradition, he says. I will have more TRANCE on the new album though, some with even more personal relevance than my ballads Sadeghi makes clear. Other than that this is my most organic and orchestral album til’ date. I am now 30 years old and reached a point in my career where I should be used as a musical reference for other artists and fans, therefor I have to establish my legacy with more responsibility.

Sadeghi further explains that he doesnt care what image or packaging is used for the album as long as its cheap and can be sold on the market. He doesnt intend to shoot any more video-clips either, but he thanks all those who create clips for his songs on youtube. But please don’t upload our music for download, he begs, at least not before a few months after the release. You do us a favor to promote our music, just give us a chance to sell first! Sadeghi claims he only intends to do professional music for another three years before retiring, unless he finds a drive that gets him going til’ he’s ninety (there comes the lifeline!). These years I intend to use to create my signature and establish my legacy, not any irrelevant video making. So far I have 200 or 300 songs written, Sadeghi claims. About his experiences with IRIB so far he regrets that it has been negative, none of the songs made for TV has been properly credited so I would think twice before engaging a next time.

Sadeghi has in a few months older interview openly dissed Sasi Mankan as a decadent individual and a sorry excuse for a singer! Lately however he refers to him as “Chichi Jaankan”! The interviewer asks him why he dislikes Sasi so much and Sadeghi replies that he doesn’t dislike him as a person but rather the cultural deviation he stands for. The arrangements are admittedly good but with an ancient and refined culture like ours with great classic and modern poets why must he sing “del o bluetooth kon .. (bluetooth your heart)”? I will never let my family listen to this nonsense, its an insult to the listeners’ intelligence, Sadeghi cries out! People might enjoy it but its because they don’t know any better! This is what happens when our youth don’t have proper musical references (pay attention that he has previously in the interview nominated himself as one!). For example I told my stylist and album designer that I will never get fashionable nor make my hair spiky! Everywhere in the world people with little clothes, earrings and soul-patches are considered abnormal but here they are considered modern (eh, let me get this straight …so its normal to make a fashion statement by dressing always in black and make your entire band dress like you but not to be fashionable? Its alright to be a grown-up man with a ponytail but spiky hair is decadent? You are old enough to recall that 20 years ago they would have shaved it off for you right there on the street as abnormally feminine!!), Sadeghi complains.

Is it just me or are these two like peas in a pod?lol I have to say that I seldom comment within the interview, but lately the amount of self-righteous comments from artists inside the country is just making it impossible for me! There is only so much hypocrisy and pretentiousness I can take!!

A few months back we broke ground by introducing the Bia2 App. The first application on the App Store that brought you selected Persian music videos right on your iPhone and iPod Touch. We are proud to introduce the first and only Web Application in the Iranian industry. With our brand new Bia2 Web App you will be able to browse and navigate through most sections of the website with your iPhone or iPod Touch as the interface. You’ll be able to enjoy our videos, MP3s, DJ mixes, reviews, the blog, jokes, events and much, much more to come! The new App offers much more options and will have the Bia2 radio and mp3 tracks playing for you in the background. So that you can write your SMS or read the emails while listening to your favorite music at the same time! I think by now you’ve got the hint, we are determined to make this platform a steady ground for Bia2 and tag along wherever you might now take us with you! To access the Web App simply open up your browser and navigate to bia2.com!

you can also see the comparison of our Native App and the Web App by clicking here

Here is Asrar’s latest song performed in a studio rehearsal. He keeps deriving inspiration from the recent events in Iran with this new fable, the little green bird “Sabze Ghabaa” and its tragic summer! Perhaps the metaphor’s parallel is a bit hard to hear for those with little knowledge in Persian language and those unused to this kind of poetic references. Like I’ve said before very Ghanbarian in lyrical style and poetic-political imagery.