ZELZELEH (Faraway Ghost & Sunken Cages) Live

Dark Electronic / Avant-Folk from Iran-India

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Zelzeleh (Earthquake in Farsi) is a new duo consisting of two acclaimed musicians and scholars: the Iranian singer, multi-instrumentalist and composer Kamyar Arsani (Faraway Ghost), and the Indian percussionist and electronic music producer Ravish Momin (Sunken Cages). Their collaboration combines lyrics inspired by Persian poetry with street rhythms from Mumbai, India, layered over intricate electronic soundscapes. Arsani’s mastery of Persian classical modes (dastgahs) and his evocative vocals, occassionally reflecting his background as a punk singer, merge seamlessly with Momin’s polyrhythmic live-looping and electronic drumming. Together, they create a unique sound described as “Digital Sufi Music.” The duo is signed to Akuphone Records (France) and debuted their full-length album “Ashk Haye Moghevemat” in November 2024. “Ashk Haye Moghavemat”—Farsi for “Tears of Resilience”—combines the gravitas of traditional Persian vocals from Kamyar Arsani and the electroacoustic rhythms of Ravish Momin, in a tribute to interconnected struggles against oppression worldwide. Standing out is “Threnody for the Children”, a paean to the over 11,300 children killed by the Israeli military since last October, 30% of whom were younger than five..

Kamyar Arsani is an Iranian multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter based in Washington DC. Through his solo work and numerous collaborations, Arsani creates music across an array of styles, ranging from classical Persian music to genre-defying electronic experimentation. A teacher, performer and scholar of the daf (the Iranian frame drum). Arsani has been a featured artist at the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, Voice of America, Georgetown University and numerous other stages throughout the region. Along with his solo work and collaborations, Arsani is also the singer and lyricist of Time is Fire, a pan-cultural punk band.

Sunken Cages is the moniker of Indian-born drummer/electronic music producer Ravish Momin, who studied with US Jazz master-drummer Andrew Cyrille. He has worked as a sideman with a wide array of musicians including US avant-Jazz legend Kalaparush Maurice McIntyre (AACM/Chicago.) n addition, he has also led his own Jazz/global group Tarana on international stages for the past 14 years. As Sunken Cages, Momin plays electronic and acoustic drums. He layers loops while manipulating them in real-time to blur the lines between composition and improvisation. While rooted in Indian and Black Music traditions, he is also influenced by the street sounds of underground dance music from Sao Paolo to Durban to Mumbai and beyond. He has done remixes for Depeche Mode, global electronic music producers Batida (Portugal), Babani Sound System (Mauritius) and Guedra Guedra (Morocco). His recent performance highlights include the Words/Beat/Life Festival (Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage (US)), Big Ears Festival (US), LeGuessWho? Festival (NL), Positive Futures Festival (AT), Lincoln Center Outdoors Festival (NYC, US), Slingshot Festival (US) and Festival Congedi (IT).

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Information
Wednesday 4th of June
Starts at 21:30

Tickets
Pre-sale €12
At the door €14

Plex
Keramikou 28, Athens

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