Niyaz (album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Niyaz

Studio album by Niyaz

Released

April 19, 2005 (U.S.)

Genre

Dance, Electronica, World

Length

51:38

Label

Six Degrees Records

Producer

Azam Ali, Loga Ramin Torkian and Carmen Rizzo

Niyaz chronology

Niyaz
(2005)

Nine Heavens
(2008)

Niyaz is the debut album of the Iranian music group Niyaz, an acoustic electronic project.

The most prominent member of the group is singer Azam Ali, who sings with the duo Vas, and who has one of the most seductive and effortlessly disciplined altos active on the world stage. Now based in Los Angeles, she is a child of three cultures, Indian, Persian (Iranian) and American, so her music encompasses a triple conundrum. Joining her are Loga Ramin Torkian of Axiom Of Choice, a master of an impressive array of traditional instruments from Europe, Turkey and his native Iran and finally, Grammy-winning producer/remixer Carmen Rizzo, who has worked with such artists as Alanis Morissette, Oakenfold, Kate Havnevik, Temposhark, Jem and Esthero.

The project was inspired by Sufi devotional poems written in Persaian (Persian) or Urdu, which is spoken in much of India and Pakistan. Although interpreted through ultra-modern beats and ambient drones, the traditional material reigns supreme, bringing a sense of adventurous continuity.

"We wanted to create music that will be accessible both to the communities whose native music influenced this album - the Persian, Turkish and Indian communities - and to a larger audience," says Loga. "Our hope is that this music will transcend boundaries."