Mitra
Sumara, New York City’s only Farsi Funk group, is proud to announce their debut
album Tahdig, set for release on June 8, 2018 on Persian Cardinal Recordings.
This international party band revives the vibrant Persian pop and funk music
silenced by the Iranian Revolution. The popular music of Iran in the 60s and
70s combined disco, funk, and Latin beats with Middle Eastern melodies and
poetic lyrics. Mitra Sumara interprets hits by Iran’s beloved singers such as
Googoosh, Soli, Leila Forouhar, and remakes intoxicating Southern Iranian
Bandari beat tunes. The band is comprised of musicians drawn from New York’s
indie-rock, jazz, and avant-garde communities and was founded by singer Yvette
Saatchi Perez.
Yvette was
adopted and raised by American parents in Los Angeles and through her search
for her birth parents, came the journey and fruition of Mitra Sumara. After
twenty years of writing and recording her own music (avant-pop group Birdbrain,
I Fly; and H*E*R, Songs About the Mysteries of Housework and Nature) and
performing in numerous rock bands and new music ensembles, Yvette discovered
the popular music of pre-Revolutionary Iran. She founded Mitra Sumara after
studying Farsi and uniting with her Iranian birth father. This project is an
outgrowth of Yvette’s journey to reclaim her personal identity, and a love
letter to the beauty of Iranian culture and music.
Yvette
passionately tells, “As an adopted person, it is tremendous to find and make a
connection with birth parents or any other blood relatives. My Iranian side is
via my father which, for me, was the most compelling as I had always felt it
was the key to my personal identity. I discovered this music while searching
for my father. After I found him in 2009, I met other half-siblings, cousins,
and an aunt. Then I began to study Farsi more seriously. A couple of years
later, I created a band to play this awesome music. This music should be as
popular among Americans as 70s Brazilian music, in my view. Mitra Sumara is an
unexpected party band of American musicians putting a spin on Iranian tunes to
bridge cultures. For years I sought a way to participate in the Iranian
diaspora and this is my contribution. It’s a celebration of family and
connection. It’s also the chance to present positive aspects of Iranian culture
to the West.”
Although
Mitra Sumara was founded in 2011, the group is only now ready to release their
first full length. As the saying goes, “Good things come to those who wait,”
and the results on Tahdig are definitely worth it. The reasoning behind the
wait came down to finding the right producer for the project which Yvette
eventually found with Salmak Khaledi. Meeting through a mutual friend, it
wasn’t until Yvette discovered that Salmak was mentored at the Tehran
Conservatory by session musicians that performed on most of the
pre-Revolutionary pop recordings, that she knew she found the perfect producer
for Mitra Sumara as the spirit of the original music comes full circle.
The diverse
ten-track album showcases 70s Iranian pop and funk songs, spun with updated
beats, modern production, NYC’s indie spirit, and psychedelic touches that is
unquestionably Mitra Sumara. The band has taken forgotten music and has
refreshed it with their own touch. The album title word Tahdig is a popular
type of Persian food that translates into ‘bottom’ (‘Tah) and ‘dig’ (Pot). That
is exactly what Mitra Sumara did through digging through these selections and
stirring their pot of influences throughout.
In addition
to Yvette, the full cast of musicians in Mitra Sumara is an all-star group
consisting of Peter Zummo (trombone), Bill Ruyle (hammer dulcimer), Julian
Maile (guitar), Jim Duffy (keyboards), Nikhil Yerawadekar (bass), Michael Evans
(drums/congas), and Kaveh Haghtalab (drums/percussion). You may recognize Peter
Zummo and Bill Ruyle as members of Arthur Russell's various bands, Nikhil
Yerawadekar from Antibalas, and Michael Evans from David Grubbs, Michael Gira
(Swans), Carla Bley, and Aimee Mann to name a few. The list goes on with such a
top pedigree of talent that also stretches to the artwork with cover design by
Iranian artist Homa Delvaray and videos from Alice Cohen, who is creating it using
all Iranian imagery and cut outs of the band.
While most
Americans have no idea what this music is, these songs have deep meaning for
Iranians who lived in Iran before the American hostage crisis and the Iranian
Revolution of 1979. The Revolution ended the careers of many popular singers.
Many left for Europe or LA and still tour to this day. Younger Iranians have
fond memories of their older relatives listening to these songs. Yvette adds,
“This music bonds generations. I feel super privileged to be able to play this
music and have Iranians and Americans come to our shows and have a good time.”
In an era where governments want to build walls instead of bridges, it’s
refreshing to hear a band bridging cultures and generations, who help keep
history intact, while bringing the party vibes too. Don’t miss them in New York
City on June 7th for their album release party at Nublu. More info at
http://www.nublu.net
Tracklisting:
1. Bemoon ta
Bemoonam
2. Helelyos
3. Shahre
Paiz
4. Miravi
5. Mosem-e
Gol
6. Gol bi Goldoon
7. Donya
vafa Nadare
8. Manoto
9. Hamparvaz
10. Kofriam
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