“Âshenâ” is the second single from Araz Salek’s new album Peripheries of Nahavand (out April 11, 2025 on Worlds Within Worlds). The song and the rest of the album represents modal music influenced by the musician’s background in Turkish and Arabic makam music as well as the Iranian dastgāh tradition.The song whose title in Farsi has multiple resonances and meanings depending on the context from acquaintance, close friend, lover. The rich interplay of instrumentation including Salek’s own masterfully expressive performance on the tar interweave evocatively with Asare Shekarchi’s vocals in Farsi to convey a sense of melancholic yearning. The multiple rhythms and textures in which the tones manifest are both orchestral and intimate with the sound production rendering the whole piece vivid and instantly entrancing. Something about Salek’s arrangements lend the song a familiarity even to someone that hasn’t spent much time listening to music coming from similar roots. The energy and emotional power of the piece is undeniable in its cross-cultural appeal. Listen to “Âshenâ” on Spotify.
Queen City Sounds and Art 
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