Middle Eastern (album) explained

Middle Eastern
Type:studio
Artist:Mehdi Rajabian
Cover:Middle Eastern (Mehdi Rajabian).jpeg
Released:15 March 2019
Recorded:March 2018, in different studios in Middle East
Genre:Classical, Traditional Middle Eastern Folk
Label:Sony Music Entertainment
Producer:Barg Music by Mehdi Rajabian

Middle Eastern is an album by the Iranian musician Mehdi Rajabian, along with a hundred musicians from twelve countries of Middle East, released by Sony Music Entertainment in March 2019. The idea for the album came to Rajabian while he was imprisoned due to his musical activities, and the album has not been released in Iran due to restrictions on him. The album is in classic and Middle Eastern form and focusses on Middle Eastern sounds, featuring traditional instruments. It has 11 tracks and is 40 minutes long.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Publication

This album was published worldwide in March 2019 by Sony Music Entertainment.[2] It was available on both physical and digital markets (such as iTunes) to buy. This album hasn't been published Iran due to the restrictions Rajabian is facing.

Painting for pieces of music

Zehra Doğan, a Kurdish painter, has started her first collaboration with the album "Middle Eastern" after her release from prison. Zehra has painted for all the musical pieces of the album, each painting tells a story. For the first time, Artnet,[9] Sky News,[10] Financial Times[11] News Agency has published a number of his paintings. [12]

Performance

Helia Bandeh, an Iranian-Dutch Dancer, performed a dance for one of the album tracks with the story of life and death as one of the guest members in the group. Her dance has been published exclusively by ABC[13] News Agency.[14] [15]

Cover

The cover of the album is a photograph by Reza Deghati. As he claimed in one of his interviews with Al Jazeera, the photograph was shot in Iraq.[1]

Musicians' Condition

The melodies of this album were created in the middle of war, vast water (as one of the musicians was a refugee escaping his country on a boat), in prison, poverty and under bombardments. Rajabian himself was in prison for two years due to his musical activities, and he wrote the initiative idea for the album then. The message this album carries is about tyranny, oppression, human rights, war, peace, and freedom.[16]

Reflection in media

News agencies such as Washington Post, Euronews,[3] ICI,[17] MSN,[4] Al Jazeera,[1] Newsweek,[2] BBC World, etc. did cover the album. Washington Post mentioned this that music can talk about suffering and human rights, and not just for fun and politics. Newsweek labeled this album as one of the greatest albums of Middle East.

Arrest

Mehdi Rajabian was arrested once again on August 11, 2020 for publishing his latest album Middle Eastern. Later on, Fox News reported that he was temporarily released on bail until his court date.[18] As Reuters reports, Rajabian "was arrested following media reports that his latest project will include women singing and the publication of a video of a woman dancing to his music".[19] Al Jazeera also reported that he will be on a home arrest until the court date.[20] Music,[21] paintings,[22] dancing,[23] photography,[24] and book writing were the elements of Middle Eastern project. Musicians from all over the Middle East have participated in this project. Due to his arrest, this project was also left unfinished, just like the last ones. As for the music part of the project, the album was released by Sony Music in 2019.[18] [19] [20] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32]

See also

References

  1. Web site: 'No to war': Middle East musicians collaborate on a 'peace album'. www.aljazeera.com. 17 March 2019.
  2. Web site: Middle Eastern. Sony Music Turkey. en-US. 17 March 2019.
  3. Web site: Middle East musicians send united message of peace in new musical collaboration. Matamoros. Cristina Abellan. 20 September 2018. euronews. en. 17 March 2019.
  4. Web site: Risquer sa vie pour faire de la musique en temps de guerre. www.msn.com. 17 March 2019.
  5. Web site: 'No to war': Middle East musicians collaborate on a 'peace album'. 16 March 2019. Your Middle East. en-US. 17 March 2019.
  6. Web site: Iran,"Medio Oriente di pace", il nuovo album di Mehdi Rajabian. 10 August 2018. Arabpress. it-IT. 17 March 2019.
  7. Web site: Mehdi Rajabian was sent to prison for making music - but he says that won't stop him. 10 August 2019. BBC.com. EN. 17 March 2019.
  8. Web site: The songwriter tells us about his new 'Middle Eastern' album and his passion for artistic freedom. 16 September 2019. thenational.ae. EN. 16 September 2019.
  9. Web site: I Could Be Arrested at Any Moment': Dissident Musician Mehdi Rajabian on Collaborating With Artists for His Risky New Album. Artnet. en-US. 2019-04-17.
  10. Web site: Jailed Iranian musician: 'We need human rights. Sky.com. en-US. 2019-08-06.
  11. News: Mehdi Rajabian: songs of sorrow and liberation. Financial Times. 9 December 2019 . en-US. 2019-12-09.
  12. Web site: Messages for Peace: Iranian Artist Imprisoned for Music Releases New Album. Mei.Edu. en-US. 2019-05-06.
  13. Web site: Helia Bandeh performs for the Middle Eastern Project. ABC.net.au. en-US. 2020-03-23.
  14. News: When dance gets dangerous: the perils of free expression in Iran. Financial Times. 20 August 2020 . en-US. 2020-11-23.
  15. Web site: Iranian artists jailed for defying government restrictions on women singing and dancing. FT.com. en-US. 2020-11-23.
  16. Web site: 'No to war': Middle East musicians collaborate on a 'peace album' - RocketNews. 16 March 2019. RocketNews Top News Stories From Around the Globe. en-US. 17 March 2019.
  17. Web site: Risquer sa vie pour faire de la musique en temps de guerre. ICI.Radio-Canada.ca. Zone Arts-. Radio-Canada.ca. fr-ca. 17 March 2019.
  18. Web site: Iranian musician rebuffing ban arrested for allegedly encouraging women to dance and sing. foxnews.com. en-US. 2020-08-12.
  19. News: Iranian musician faces jail over women dancers and singers. Reuters.com. 28 August 2020 . en-US. 2020-08-28.
  20. Web site: Iran: Musician faces jail for working with women dancers, singers. Aljazeera.com. en-US. 2020-08-28.
  21. Web site: Middle Eastern Album Music. sonymusic.com.tr. en-US. 2019-03-15.
  22. Web site: Dissident Musician Mehdi Rajabian on Collaborating With Artists for His Risky New Album. news.artnet.com. en-US. 2019-05-01.
  23. Web site: performs for the Middle Eastern Project. abc.net.au. en-US. 2019-03-17.
  24. Web site: Middle East musicians collaborate on a 'peace album'. aljazeera.com. en-US. 2019-03-16.
  25. Web site: Iran Threatens Musician With Jail for Encouraging Women to Sing, Dance. Newsweek.com. 13 August 2020 . en-US. 2020-08-13.
  26. Web site: Iranian musician Mehdi Rajabian arrested for working with women. Bbc.com. 26 August 2020. en-US. 2020-08-26.
  27. Web site: Iranian musician's complete prohibition' after allegedly helping women sing. thenational.ae. en-US. 2020-08-18.
  28. Web site: Iranian artists jailed for defying government restrictions on women singing and dancing. abc.net.au. en-US. 2020-08-23.
  29. Web site: When dance gets dangerous: the perils of free expression in Iran. Ft.com. en-US. 2020-08-17.
  30. Web site: Iranian musician faces prison for women dancing, singing. alarabiya.net. en-US. 2020-08-28.
  31. Web site: Iran, rischia la prigione il musicista che fa cantare e ballare le donne. corriere.it. 27 August 2020 . en-US. 2020-08-28.
  32. Web site: Iran, arrestato il musicista Mehdi Rajabian: collabora con donne. L'accusa: "Incoraggia la prostituzione". repubblica.it. en-US. 2020-08-28.

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