Mahdyar Aghajani

Mahdyar Aghajani
Mahdyar Aghajani
Background information
Birth name	Mahdyar Aghajani
Born	January 22, 1989 (age 35)
Origin	Tehran, Iran
Genres	Experimental, soundtrack, fusion, hip hop, electronic
Occupation(s)	Musician, film composer, record producer
Years active	2005–present
Website	www.mahdyar.com

Mahdyar Aghajani (Persian: مهدیار آقاجانی; born 22 January 1989) is a musician, record producer and composer born and raised in Tehran, Iran. He raised the standard of Iranian underground music, using Persian traditional instruments (such as oud, santoor, daf, tombak, ney, kamancheh and qanoon) in electronic and hip hop music.^[1]

Career edit

In 2005 Hichkas released the first Iranian hip hop album Jangale Asfalt (The Asphalt Jungle). Mahdyar Aghajani, musician and producer of this album, integrated hip hop and Iranian traditional music in a creative way.^[2] Mahdyar's production on Jangale Asfalt has nonetheless set a new benchmark in the evolution of Persian rap, with tracks like "Vatan Parast" ("The Patriot") serving as the fusion of Iranian/Middle Eastern harmonies and pounding urban protest music.^[3]

After an interview with Nasim-E-Haraz magazine regarding the release of his first mainstream album in 2006 with Hichkas, Mahdyar faced pressured from the Iranian government.^[4] This was the most influential collaboration between Hichkas and Mahdyar and music they produced together was listened throughout Europe and Iran, so much so the government noticed the artists as a threat to the culture of Iran and had his name listed as a threat, despite use of traditional Iranian instruments and strong nationalistic lyrics.^[5]^[6]

In 2009 Mahdyar composed the original soundtrack for the film No One Knows About Persian Cats. The film criticizes Iranian government policies regarding underground music. No One Knows About Persian Cats success at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival got part of the crew of the film in trouble with Iranian authorities. The pressure resulted in Mahdyar leaving his family behind at the age of 20 and he fled to Berlin then to Paris where he currently resides. He is busy with the production for couple of albums including Hichkas's forthcoming album and his own debut album ^[7]^[8]

Soundtracks edit

Feature films edit

Short films edit

2008: The Official Prince of Persia
2010: Demandez au Vent

Documentaries edit

2010: Cultures of Resistance
2011: Chroniques d'un Iran Interdit
2015: K2 and the Invisible Footmen
2016: Cast from the Storm
2017: Burkinabè Rising

Solo edit

Albums edit

2018: Seized

Singles edit

2011: Weasels and Warcries
2011: New Bloom
2013: Bang
2016: Gomrok
2017: Money Money

Production credits edit

2006 edit

Hichkas – The Asphalt Jungle

01. "Moghaddame"

02. "Dide o Del (feat. Reveal, Amin Fooladi and Bidad)"

03. "Ekhtelaf"

04. "Man Vaystadam"

05. "Introduction"

06. "Ghanoon"

07. "Vatan Parast (feat. Reveal and Amin Fooladi)"

08. "Oun Manam"

09. "Bar Paa"

10. "Zendan (featuring Reveal)"

11. "Dide o Del (Remix) (feat. Reveal, Amin Fooladi and Bidad)"

12. "Har Tor Shodeh Migam (Bonus Track)"

2008 edit

Hichkas

"Bunch of Soldiers"Ye Mosht Sarbaz"^[9]

2009 edit

Bahman Ghobadi – No One Knows About Persian Cats

12. "Jouwani"

2010 edit

Hichkas

"Ye Rooze Khoob Miad"

This song has become an instant hit, often blasting from cars on Tehran's busy streets in capital city Tehran.^[10]

2011 edit

The Tour of Duty EP

01. "Hichkas - Anjām Vazife"

02. "Reveal - 021LDN"

03. "Hichkas - Mā Az Ounāshim"

04. "Fadaei - Vāstā Lāshi"

05. "Quf - Shak (feat. Fadaei)"

Quf – Zir o Bam e Zirzamin

01. "Sobhe Masnavi"

02. "Balatar 1"

03. "Tariki"

04. "Hadaf (feat. Bidad)"

05. "I.R.A.N. (feat. 7Khat)"

06. "Hesse Gharib"

07. "Khavar Miane (feat. Lowkey)"

08. "Fazaye Sard"

09. "Marjan (feat. Reveal)"

10. "Miane Ghamhayam (feat. Fadaei)"

11. "Balatar 2"

12. "Shabe Khazan"

2012 edit

Hichkas - Young N Foolish (feat. Reveal & Quf & Kool G Rap)
Fadaei - Adl EP

01. "Zendegi"

02. "Sarzamine Madari"

03. "Chi Shenidi (Feat. Hichkas)"

04. "Jabe Jadooyi"

05. "80 (Feat. Quf)"

06. "Nemidoonam"

2013 edit

Birdy Nam Nam - Written in the Sand (Mahdyar Aghajani Remix)

2018 edit

Mahdyar Aghajani - Seized

01. Seize

02. Money Money

03. Timmy Might Bury Y’all

04. Vow

05. Hush

06. Iran Iraq

07. Khakis

08. Running from

09. Lust

10. Glimmer of

11. Twist the Facts

2020 edit

Hichkas - Mojaz

01." Rosva"

02." To koja boodi?"

03." Sakhte mosalmoon boodan"

04." Ghazi mano doost dasht"

05." Man kiam?"

06." Chera nemimiri?"

07." Az ashnayitoon khoshalam"

08." Shabi gorga"

09." Khalaaf kaaraye asli"

10." Terroreshoon kon"

11." Jadvalo roya"

12." Sheytoone mige"

13." Ki mige"

14." Ye maks"

15." Mahze mokhaalefat"

16." Va zir"

Quf - Tarane alidoosti
Fadaei - Dige Tablo Shode
Fadaei - Abi GHermaz
Shapur - Ettelaat

2021 edit

Fadaei - Koli
Fadaei - Bilit
Fadaei - Fatehe
Fadaei - Sarnegooni
Shapur - Ghasem kojayi
Fadaei - Az Karaj Ta Langerud

2022 edit

Fadaei - Hagh

01." Moghaddame"

02." Tavaf"

03." Alef"

04." Maslahati"

05." Timarestane Dahe 60"

06." Mehr O Raha"

07." Mage Chi Mishe"

08." Mohajer"

09." Narefigh"

10." Zard"

11." Az Samime Ghalb"

12." Rahbar"

13." Khoon"

Shapur - Marg Bar Kolle Nezam
Fadaei - Taskhir
Fadaei - Meshki
Shapur - Kerkere

References edit

^ Fabre, Clarisse (2009-12-22). "Article: De Téhéran à Mashhad, le parcours du combattant de milliers de musiciens". Le Monde.
^ "Article: Rap in Iran". Archived from the original on 2010-01-13. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
^ "Article: The Prophets of the Protest". Archived from the original on 2012-05-14.
^ Manzoni, Rebecca (2009-12-19). "Interview: Mahidyar Aghjani". Radio France.
^ "Iran's underground music challenge". BBC News. 2006-05-08.
^ Corbin, Jane (2009-06-08). "Article: Iran: Rap, blogs and the political mix". BBC News.
^ Schwaab, Catherine (2009-12-31). "Interview: Bahman Ghobadi discussed about artists having to leave Iran". Paris Match.
^ "Interview: Mahdiyar fled Iran".
^ Video: BUNCH OF SOLDIERS official video. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
^ Erdbrink, Thomas (2010-05-29). "Article: Iranian artists, musicians give voice to opposition amid censorship". The Washington Post.

External links edit

[1] Fabre, Clarisse (2009-12-22). "Article: De Téhéran à Mashhad, le parcours du combattant de milliers de musiciens". Le Monde.

[2] "Article: Rap in Iran". Archived from the original on 2010-01-13. Retrieved 2010-04-21.

[3] "Article: The Prophets of the Protest". Archived from the original on 2012-05-14.

[4] Manzoni, Rebecca (2009-12-19). "Interview: Mahidyar Aghjani". Radio France.

[5] "Iran's underground music challenge". BBC News. 2006-05-08.

[6] Corbin, Jane (2009-06-08). "Article: Iran: Rap, blogs and the political mix". BBC News.

[7] Schwaab, Catherine (2009-12-31). "Interview: Bahman Ghobadi discussed about artists having to leave Iran". Paris Match.

[8] "Interview: Mahdiyar fled Iran".

[9] Video: BUNCH OF SOLDIERS official video. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.

[10] Erdbrink, Thomas (2010-05-29). "Article: Iranian artists, musicians give voice to opposition amid censorship". The Washington Post.

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