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July 6, 2008
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Azam Ali
" In a career which spans over a decade and includes eight collaborative albums and solo albums, Azam Ali has confirmed her place as one of the most prolific, versatile, and gifted singers on the world music stage today. Her dedication to defying cultural specificity in music, and her unwillingness to settle into one form of musical expression have earned her the respect of both her peers and critics worldwide. When one looks at her entire body of work, it is hard to deny Azam her rightful place among the best singers and composers in music today. Elysium for the Brave, Azam's second solo album, signals a new turn in her musical evolution. The album, her most ambitious work to date, brings together musicians from varied musical backgrounds performing in diverse permutations. Singing predominantly in English for the first time, the songs are based on lyrics written by Azam herself and reveal a poetic lyricism heard only in glimpses of her previous works. For more information go to: URL: http://www.azamalimusic.com Born in Tehran, Iran and grew up in India from the age of four in the small town of Panchgani, a beautiful hill station in the state of Maharashtra. There she attended an international co-educational boarding school for eleven years, all the while absorbing India's rich music and culture throughout her formative years. Currently living in Los Angeles, Azam is internationally recognized for her work with Vas, the critically acclaimed, best selling, world music duo she co-founded in 1996 with percussionist Greg Ellis. From 1997- 2004 Vas released four albums on the Narada label. Their music, which they described as "alternative world," focused mainly on the ancient relationship between the drum and voice. Their distinct cinematic sound blended influences of Indian, Persian, Western and other musical styles into a unique configuration that transcended categorization and cultural specificity. Her latest project, Niyaz, with Loga Ramin Torkian of Axiom of Choice, and two time Grammy nominee producer/remixer Carmen Rizzo released on Six Degrees Records, blends ancient Persian and Urdu Sufi poetry, rich acoustic instrumentation, and modern electronics. Their CD has been hailed by critics worldwide as one of the most groundbreaking of its time. The album debuted at ..1 on iTunes world music chart and remained there for numerous weeks, and it charted on Billboard's world music chart for four consecutive weeks, peaking at ..12. Niyaz also entered WMCE, the World Music Charts of Europe, at ..76 and was the only Iranian group whose CD made it into the top 150 of the best albums of 2005. Azam's distinctive voice can also be heard on myriad film and television scores among which include "Matrix Revolutions," "Godsend," "Papparazi," the upcoming major motion picture 300, Children of Dune, Earthsea, Dawn of the Dead, Alias, and The Agency." http://www.azamalimusic.com http://myspace.com/azamali http://www.sixdegreesrecords.com/artists.php?artist=Azam_Ali Below are some quotes about her and the new album: "Ali's voice is a glorious, unforgettable instrument." -Billboard "One of today's most astounding voices."-Global Rhythm Magazine "Ali's voice will set a thousand minarets spinning with its sensuous, rich pulchritude."-The Stranger (Seattle) "Ali's velvet vocals convey both sensuality and devotional ecstacy." Songlines (UK) "Azam Ali has become one of the best-loved vocalists on America's world music scene." India West |
