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 Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat
Songs From A Persian Garden (KKV/Valley Entertainment, 2007)
Songs From A Persian Garden features a delectable collection of contemporary Persian world music pieces performed live. Singers Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat join forces with Iranian and European musicians to create a seductive and fresh sound that will be appreciated by fans of Mamak Khadem, Axiom of Choice and similar artists who blend Persian music with global sounds.
Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat are two young Persian artists who were featured in the landmark Lullabies from the Axis of Evil album. Now they are back with a full CD. On May 22 of 2007, Norwegian record label KKV and the embassies of Norway and Italy arranged an extraordinary concert. In a Persian garden in Tehran, the singers Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat broke the ban on public performances by women. The two sisters were accompanied by eclectic Norwegian guitarist and producer Knut Reiersrud and five other Norwegian and Iranian musicians.
The ten songs on the CD include Persian poems, some of which are from the 13th century. These are familiar to Iranians, but for most Western listeners they open the door to a highly interesting Iranian song and music tradition. The musical arrangements are tastefully interwoven by Knut Reiersrud.
During the recording Knut Reiersrud played guitar, with Atabak Elyasi on setar, Amir Eslami on ney (flute), Audun Eriien on bass, David Wallumr0d on keyboards and Rune Amesen on drums.
The concert and the CD Songs From A Persian Garden have given these young women an opportunity to protest against the Iranian laws suppressing women in their country. The album also helps draw a slightly different picture of Iran than the one that is commonly fed by Western media.
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