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

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.

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.

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”.

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!!

According the officials “Samfonye Enghelaab” (aka “Samfonye Moghaavemat”) has been a hit with more than 3500 tickets sold. There has been talks about taking the whole spectacle featuring artists like Nima Masiha on the road, even across the national borders!

After his successful performance together with Golshifteh Farahani and in association with filmmaker Babak Payami in Venice, around the time and place of the 66th Venice International Film Festival, Mohsen Namjoo is to release his brand new album “Aakh” in early October. The album is his third official release and his second offering outside Iran. The first exile album which was released and sold on Namjoo’s official website was “Jabre Joghraafiaa“.

Note: photo courtesy of Babak Payami

After massive criticism from scholars of the academies for the negligence regarding the nation’s cultural inheritance and future investments, the Iranian government has announced that there will be more focus on children’s music in future. Several festivals are already planned, along with different musical projects to inspire and showcase the youngest talents in the country.

According to FarsNews the upcoming motion-picture based on Reza Sadeghi’s life will feature three concerts and a new music video. Most likely there will also be new material recorded for this project according to sources, however its not final yet since his album is still being postponed. The movie is said to be called “Bikhodaahaafezi” and star Sadeghi as himself.

According to the officials there will be several extra awards handed out at this year’s Fajr music festival. One is to celebrate the 1000th year of the great national poet Ferdousi’s “Shahnameh” and will go to the best work dedicated to the themes of the epic magnum opus. Another is the special Bijan Taraghi award that will go to the best lyricist of the year.

I have some great news for all you fans of Babak out there! He has recorded an English version of “Tanhayam” (song, video) and one of Holland’s biggest club music labels namely Flashover Recordings which is owned by DJ/Producer Ferry Corsten has signed it for an international release! It is due out worldwide at the end of 2009. “The goal of my life is the advancement of Persian music” says Babak and we salute and congratulate him for this achievement while wishing him a safe TRANCE trip around the world!

Don’t forget to check out Babak’s exclusive show on Bia2 and the Bia2 edition of his debut album “Delhore va Arezooha” with exclusive mixes not available elsewhere!

Despite the recent news about the reconciliation and resumed collaboration, Behrooz Saffarian has in an interview with Moosighie Maa expressed his disappointment and worries about the fact that Fereydoun’s latest (post-Gharibeh) albums have been weakly produced and consequently commercial failures. Because of these he has lost his credibility and high status and has to start from scratch again, says Saffarian. Regarding his old friend and collaborator Shadmehr Aghili, Saffarian rejects the interviewer’s suggestion that his popularity has been reduced ever since his departure from Iran and their old-school sound. Shadmehr knows exactly what people want and is going through a progressive development, his popularity has doubled he adds. Also referring to the recent controversy about him remaking some of Shadmehr’s early illegally released songs he says that while both of them stand equally for much of their common work and collaboration, these songs were created by him and therefor revised and remade by him! In response to the interviewer dubbing him the best Iranian producer Saffarian says that if that is the case then it shows how low the bar is sat in our industry, because I haven’t done much to achieve such status!

Emtiaaz wrote in a recent issue that of all the 457 registered music companies in the country only 20 remain in business. While others have either gone belly up or changed nature of business, like Hamavaaz Ahang which ten years ago was one of the leading companies has recently turned into a lamp shop!

Sirvan Khosravi has on his facebook page mirrored an unknown interview with Benyamin Bahadori, in which Benyamin explains any possible success for Sirvan’s latest album “Saate 9″ as a result of either a publicity stunt or good luck! He says that while his name and “pop” music are widely popular hardly anyone knows Sirvan and his “rock” music! Even those who claim to know him haven’t heard him, claims Benyamin. Sirvan is a good arranger but his music is not even remotely close to what I deliver, he just benefited from releasing his album around the same time as “88″. The press presented us as rivals and compared our albums, this was enough for people to wonder who this person whom the press regard as “Benyamin’s rival” is! Being labelled “Banyamin’s rival” is some serious credit, Benyamin adds. They were tricked to buy that album thinking it could compete with mine and were disappointed after hearing it! Thats why the sales number of Sirvan’s album might go up but this can never equal to a matching popularity and quality!

Note: thanks to Ahmad

Reza Yazdani recently said that even though his collaboration with Santana was announced last year he has yet not heard anything from the guitar legend’s manager and unless this happens soon he will have to record the track solo for the upcoming album with the working title “Negaraane Khodamam”! An album in which he claims to be further Iranianizing the ROCK genre (a reference to his previous claim to be the first who has done such an attempt in Iran!). Yazdani also said that he had asked the government for funding of the video for his nationalistic anthem “Khalije Fars (Persian Gulf)” but his request was denied. He expressed anger and disappointment over the fact that the project was neglected by the government while its their duty to support such initiations.