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 Furthermore Safavi adds that he doesn’t think its healthy to wait when you work with music, because things can get outdated fast and while your two years old album is in line for a permit the underground singers have the advantage to deliver fresh and up-to-date music!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.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 8:57 am and is filed under Iranian Music, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.