Persian New Year, or Norooz, occurs every spring equinox and dates back 3,000 years. In celebration of this tradition, DJ Darek Mazzone shares songs from the Iranian diaspora, encompassing everything from hip-hop to ambient to folk music. Melding the rich history of ancient Persian culture with future-minded soundscapes, artists such as Liraz, Bomrani, Niyaz and Mohsen Namjoo contribute to this mix. 1. Niyaz - Sabza Ba Naz (The Triumph of Love)2. Salome MC - Odium3. Liraz - Zan Bezan4. Mohsen Namjoo - E’terafat E 45 Zarbi5. The B-Band - Kavire Del6. Kayhan Kalhor - I Will Not Stand Alone7. Bahram - گوشت (Goosht)8. Bomrani - Leaving and Passing By (feat. Mahyar Tahmasebi)9. SarrSew - Farewell, Warden.10. Salome MC - Riddle
To learn more about each artist and support them directly, follow the above links to their websites.
Darek Mazzone is the host of Wo'Pop on KEXP, every Tuesday from 6-9pm on KEXP.org or 90.3 FM in Seattle.
Listen to Darek discuss his choice to play Iranian music in times of political turmoil in this episode of KEXP's Sound & Vision.