Kiosk (band) explained

Kiosk
Background:group_or_band
Origin:Tehran, Iran
Years Active:2003–present
Current Members:Arash Sobhani
Ali Kamali
Shahrouz Molaei

Kiosk (fa|کیوسک) is a rock band formed in Tehran in 2003, known for its blend of musical styles and its wry lyrics confronting Iranian cultural angst.[1]

History

Kiosk is a pioneering Iranian rock band (The Berlin Daily Newspaper)[2] founded by Arash Sobhani in Tehran in 2003. After censorship and restriction by Iranian authorities, its musicians immigrated to the U.S. and Canada.[3] The band has since toured throughout the world[4] [5] and released seven albums.[6] [7] Kiosk is known for its satirical lyrics, which provide a socio-political commentary of life in Iran, as well as its blend of several music styles, from Iranian folk to gypsy jazz to rock.[8] Kiosk's music has been described by BBC World as "songs that speak to a generation...Kiosk's stinging political satire is hidden within its blues and folksy sound."[9] Haaretz has referred to Kiosk as the most popular Iranian rock band in the Iranian diaspora,[10] while Ahram Online describes how the band gives a voice to their generation.[11] Kiosk's live album "Triple Distilled," recorded at Yoshi's Jazz Club, was chosen by presenter Mark Coles from BBC World's "World of Music" as one of the ten best world music albums of the year, alongside such artists as Paolo Conte and Ali Farka Touré.[12] TIME Magazine has called Kiosk "a band that can criticize the Iranian government without retribution,"[13] while Frontline PBS has praised their "eclectic sound that incorporates a multitude of instruments and styles." The Guardian and Radio Free Europe have reported on Kiosk's popularity amongst young Iranians.[14] [15] Frontman Arash Sobhani's lyrics have been referenced by The New York Times[16] and referred to by the Frankfurt General Newspaper as "a guiding light for many,” [17] while Frontline PBS refers to Sobhani's “poignantly powerful lyrics...and smooth, melodic tone that belies the fire and rage of one of Iran's most prolific contemporary social critics."[18] As Aslan Media, founded by Reza Aslan, writes: "Kiosk offers an honest opportunity for self-reflection in a society that has nearly seventy-percent of its population under the age of thirty. For younger generations of the diaspora who have yet to visit their parents’ homeland, Kiosk delivers unpretentious music that speaks of a society caught between East and West, trapped between past and present, leaving no direction to look but within."[19]

Current Kiosk members include Ali Kamali (bass, recording engineer), Arash Sobhani (lyricist and songwriter, Guitar) and Shahrouz Molaei (Drums).[20] [21]

The name of the band, Kiosk, stems from the original formation of the group in Tehran, when its members gathered together in any possible makeshift space or “Kiosk” to play their music without fear of arrest.[22]

Television, Film, and Other Media

Kiosk tracks have been used in the following films, television programs, and other media:

Notable Performances

Discography

Albums

Singles

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rock Band Kiosk Confronts Iranian Cultural Angst. aslanmedia.com. 2015-02-07.
  2. Web site: Kiosk on p60.nl . 2015-02-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150208032219/http://www.p60.nl/agenda/687 . 2015-02-08 . dead .
  3. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7912952.stm Iran's underground pop gypsies
  4. http://www.kiosktheband.com/Kiosk_official_website/Tour.html Kiosk Official Tour Schedule
  5. http://www.songkick.com/artists/235993-kiosk/gigography Kiosk Tour Schedule on songkick.com
  6. http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/Kiosk Kiosk on cdbaby.com
  7. https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/kiosk/id78577959 Kiosk profile on iTunes
  8. News: Iran's underground pop gypsies. bbc.co.uk. 2015-02-07. Nikki. Jecks. 2009-02-27.
  9. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/news/2010/08/100810_striking_a_chord_sl.shtml Striking a Chord: songs that speak to a generation, country or culture
  10. Web site: Beyond centrifuges and ayatollahs: Dive in to the Iranian music scene. haaretz.com. 2015-02-07.
  11. Web site: Iranian band Kiosk give voice to their generation. ahram.org.eg. 2015-02-07.
  12. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00cdz48#synopsis BBC World Of Music Podcast - Contemporary and classical tracks from around the world with Mark Coles
  13. News: Graffiti, Hip-Hop, Sk8s: Tehran's Young Rebels Battle the Crackdown. Time. 2015-02-07. 2009-08-07.
  14. Web site: Natijeh e Mozakerat (Outcome of Negotiations). cdbaby.com. 2015-02-07.
  15. Web site: Episode 4: Backstage In Berlin With Kiosk. rferl.org. 2015-02-07.
  16. News: Music Stirs the Embers of Protest in Iran. nytimes.com. 2015-02-07. Nazila. Fathi. 2010-06-05.
  17. Web site: Gitarretragen ist nicht verboten. faz.net. 2015-02-07.
  18. Web site: Video - Kiosk: 'Hey Man, Pull Over'. pbs.org. 2015-02-07.
  19. Web site: Rock Band Kiosk Confronts Iranian Cultural Angst. aslanmedia.com. 2015-02-07.
  20. http://www.doobeedoobeedoo.info/2014/10/01/concert-review-kiosk-leads-iranian-invasion-of-drom/ Concert Review: Kiosk Leads Iranian Invasion of Drom (NY)
  21. Web site: Official Kiosk website - About Kiosk . 2013-02-02 . 2015-05-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150508081010/http://www.kiosktheband.com/Kiosk_official_website/About.html . dead .
  22. Web site: Rock Band Kiosk Confronts Iranian Cultural Angst. aslanmedia.com. 2015-02-07.
  23. Web site: Kiosk: A Generation Destroyed by Madness. imdb.com. 2015-02-07.
  24. Web site: Kiosk: A Generation Destroyed by Madness. noorfilmfestival.com. 2015-02-07.
  25. Web site: The singer is Arash Sobhani, of the great Iranian rock band Kiosk. sparepartsunknown.tumblr.com. 2015-02-07.
  26. Web site: Meet the Woman Behind the Year's Best Iranian Vampire Western. rollingstone.com. 2015-02-07.
  27. News: Sundance Film Review: 'A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night'. Variety. 2015-02-07. Guy. Lodge. 2014-01-24.
  28. News: Sundance Next Fest: Are You Ready for An Iranian Vampire Western?. The Hollywood Reporter. 2015-02-07.
  29. Web site: Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero . imdb.com. 2015-02-07.
  30. Web site: JIMMY VESTVOOD: AMERIKAN HERO (extended trailer). youtube.com. 2015-02-07.
  31. Book: The Music of the Children of Revolution. 9780549893073. 2015-02-07.
  32. Web site: 'The Persian Square' book notes. thepersiansquare.org. 2015-02-07.
  33. News: Rock the Casbah. nytimes.com. 2015-02-07. Robin. Wright. 2011-08-01.
  34. Web site: Middle East Profiles Series - Interview with Iran's Arash Sobhani of Kiosk - Part 1. freedombeat.org. 2015-02-07.
  35. Web site: Underground Iranian Band Steps Out Of The Shadows. npr.org. 2015-02-07.
  36. Web site: The Strand - Thursday. bbc.co.uk. 2015-02-07.
  37. Web site: Iranian Music Icon Headlines VOA Nowruz TV Special. insidevoa.com. 2015-02-07.
  38. http://www.kiosktheband.com/Kiosk_official_website/Tour.html Kiosk Official Tour Schedule
  39. Web site: Palace of Fine Arts hosts Persian Winter "Solh" Fest. fogcityjournal.com. 2015-02-07.
  40. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00cdz48#synopsis BBC World Of Music Podcast - Contemporary and classical tracks from around the world with Mark Coles
  41. Web site: Eldfesten / Chaharshanbe Suri 2013. monochrome.sutic.nu. 2015-02-08.
  42. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp_08s0kWNs YouTube - ”Yarom Bia" KIOSK (featuring Mohsen Namjoo) in Paris (25 march, 2013) at New Morning
  43. http://asiasociety.org/new-york/exhibitions/iran-modern Iran Modern
  44. http://asiasociety.org/video/concert-kiosk-mohsen-namjoo In Concert: Kiosk with Mohsen Namjoo
  45. Web site: Politics and Art in the Mideast: KIOSK Panel Discussion and Concert . 2015-02-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150208034358/http://cmes.hmdc.harvard.edu/node/2011 . 2015-02-08 . dead .
  46. http://events.stanford.edu/events/119/11975/ A New Cultural Renaissance in Iran? A Panel discussion & a performance by Kiosk
  47. Web site: "Underground Iran" A Musical Festival with Namjoo and Kiosk . 2015-02-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150208033152/http://www.middleeastbrown.org/event/mohsen-namjoo-friends-saturday/ . 2015-02-08 . dead .
  48. https://www.facebook.com/events/700722536663745/ A Conversation with Iranian Rock Band Kiosk
  49. http://www.socsci.uci.edu/newsevents/events/2014/2014-10-04-iranian-rock-voice-of-a-generation.php Iranian Rock: Voice of a Generation
  50. http://isaa.blogspot.com/2010/02/irans-underground-music-talk-by-arash.html "Iran’s Underground Music"; a talk by Arash Sobhani

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Kiosk (band)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.