The Five Fires, is a profound concept rooted in ancient Indian scriptures. Fire symbolizes both destruction and creation - the purging of negative energies and impurities in the soul.

The first is the outer fire encountered in daily life that symbolizes the practical aspects of physical fire for sustaining life.

The second is the inner fire, residing within every individual, as the thirst of knowledge, passion, and determination that fuels our actions and aspirations.

The third is the secret hidden fire that symbolizes the mystical power that lies dormant within us, waiting to be awakened and unleash its potential.

The fourth is the sacrificial fire that signifies the act of surrendering and letting go of attachments.

The fifth is the cosmic fire, that pervades the entire universe and symbolizes our interconnectedness with the whole fabric of the cosmos.

Credits
from Astris, released December 15, 2023

Music Composition: Iasonas Psarakis
Music Production: Nikolas Gkinis
Music Arrangement: Iasonas Psarakis & Nikolas Gkinis

Vocals: Illa Ma
Sitar, Esraj: Iasonas Psarakis
Tabla: Ricky Chakraborty
Synthesizer: Nikolas Gkinis

Recorded at:
Groova Studio - Sound Engineering/ Mixing/ Mastering: Nikolas Gkinis
Dharoon Studio - Sound Engineering: Sandipa Sarker


from Astris, released December 15, 2023
© 2023 Hihiri Pipiri Transcultural Sound Transmission
© Iasonas Psarakis

Bonus Track: Panchagni (The 5 fires)

With the multi-cultural convergence of Indian Classical Music, Persian Classical Music, Sufi Music and Baulism, the enchanting vocals transport the listener to deeper and unfamiliar landscapes of the inner terrain that may previously have been unknown to the self.

Lyrics (translated from Bengali)
" I don't know how many days more
This innocent soul will burn out
Oh dear kindful lord, it will be forever
Life is in the fire of sorrow
I am burning in, always "

Credits 
from Astris, released December 15, 2023

Music Composition: Iasonas Psarakis
Music Production: Nikolas Gkinis
Music Arrangement: Iasonas Psarakis & Nikolas Gkinis

Vocals: Ayu Shi
Sitar, Tukish Rebab, Didgeridoo: Iasonas Psarakis
Ney: Bahram Deyjour
Kurdish Tanbour: Ador Hooyar
Synthesizer: Nikolas Gkinis

Recorder at:
Groova Studio - Sound Engineering/ Mixing/ Mastering: Nikolas Gkinis
Studio Chilekothaa - Sound Engineering: Neel Sarkar

from Astris, released December 15, 2023
© 2023 Hihiri Pipiri Transcultural Sound Transmission
© Iasonas Psarakis

Bonus Track: Whirling Desert - Divine Version

This piece embarks on an experimental exploration of the Raag Bhairavi. Known as the queen of morning Ragas, Bhairavi holds the power to evoke various emotions such as devotion (Bhakti), romance (Sbringara), and courage (Veera). This sonic journey into the depth of the inner world has become a staple piece in Indian Classical Music concerts, often chosen as the closing piece to leave the audience with.

Credits
from Astris, released December 15, 2023

Music Composition: Iasonas Psarakis
Music Production: Nikolas Gkinis
Music Arrangement: Iasonas Psarakis & Nikolas Gkinis

Sitar, Esraj, Setar, Didgeridoo, Throat Signing: Iasonas Psarakis
Dubki: Rubel Bhattacharya

Recorded at:
Groova Studio - Sound Engineering/ Mixing/ Mastering: Nikolas Gkinis
Studio Chilekothaa - Sound Engineering: Neel Sarkar


from Astris, released December 15, 2023
© 2023 Hihiri Pipiri Transcultural Sound Transmission
© Iasonas Psarakis

Dark Cloud

As the star-nymph daughter of the Greek sun-god Helios and wife of Indian river-god Hydapses, Astris symbolizes the fusion of universes. The piece intricately weaves together elements of the Raag Gunkali, traditionally associated with the early morning hours, which embodies the essence of devotion (Bhakti) and compassion (Karma).

Credits
from Astris, released December 15, 2023

Music Composition: Iasonas Psarakis
Music Production: Nikolas Gkinis
Music Arrangement: Iasonas Psarakis & Nikolas Gkinis

Sitar, Esraj: Iasonas Psarakis
Iranian Ney: Bahram Deyjour
Tabla: Ricky Chakraborty
Synthesizer: Nikolas Gkinis

Recorded at:
Groova Studio - Sound Engineering/ Mixing/ Mastering: Nikolas Gkinis
Korshid Ahang Studio - Sound Engineering: Mohammad Nosrati
Dharoon Studio - Sound Engineering: Sandipa Sarker


from Astris, released December 15, 2023
© 2023 Hihiri Pipiri Transcultural Sound Transmission
© Iasonas Psarakis

Astris

Influenced by major Raags, the tracks serves as a universal call to embrace love in all its forms, ensuring its presence permeates every corner, even in the shadows.

Credits
from Astris, released December 15, 2023

Music Composition: Iasonas Psarakis
Music Production: Nikolas Gkinis
Music Arrangement: Iasonas Psarakis

Esraj, Sitar: Iasonas Psarakis

Recorded at:
Groova Studio - Sound Engineering/ Mixing/ Mastering: Nikolas Gkinis

from Astris, released December 15, 2023
© 2023 Hihiri Pipiri Transcultural Sound Transmission
© Iasonas Psarakis

Lake of the Heart

The renowned Persian poetry of the Sufi mystic, Hafez, pulsates with love for humanity, scorns, hypocrisy and medioxrity and unites the mundance with the mystic's quest for divine union.

Lyrics (translated from Persian, sung in Urdu)

" Distractions and escapes will not calm
The anxietes of the heart,
I have tried to persuade my heart
Many times, but it does not listen.
My heart, you are restless with desire,
While He is so carelessly self - sufficient,
The spells of wordly enchantment that
Bewitch you,
Do not effect Him at all."

Credits
from Astris, released December 15, 2023

Music Composition: Iasonas Psarakis
Music Production: Nikolas Gkinis
Music Arrangement: Iasonas Psarakis & Nikolas Gkinis

Vocals: Rituparna Banerjee
Sitar, Esraj, Bulgari: Iasonas Psarakis
Ney: Bahram Deyjour
Tabla: Ricky Chakraborty
Synthesizer: Nikolas Gkinis

Recorded at:
Groova Studio - Sound Engineering/ Mixing/ Mastering: Nikolas Gkinis
Jungle Studio - Sound Engineering: Sanjay Khyapa
Korshid Ahang Studio - Sound Engineering: Mohammad Nosrati
Dharoon Studio - Sound Engineering: Sandipa Sarker

from Astris, released December 15, 2023
© 2023 Hihiri Pipiri Transcultural Sound Transmission
© Iasonas Psarakis

Sea of Fire

The composition takes its musical cues from the serene and introspective Raag Bairagi, traditionally associated with the early morning hours. The very essence of Bairagi lies in the idea of detachment, as it symbolizes the state of one who has relinquished wordly desires. "Summer to Rain" gracefully capture these themes, inviting listeners to embrace the cyclical nature of life and find solace in letting go.

Credits
from Astris, released December 15, 2023

Music Composition: Iasonas Psarakis
Music Production: Nikolas Gkinis
Music Arrangement: Iasonas Psarakis

Esraj, Sitar: Iasonas Psarakis

Recorded at:
Groova Studio - Sound Engineering/ Mixing/ Mastering: Nikolas Gkinis

from Astris, released December 15, 2023
© 2023 Hihiri Pipiri Transcultural Sound Transmission
© Iasonas Psarakis

Summer to Rain

Inspired by the evening Raag Kirwani, this music piece explores the wind's imaginative presence within our inner emotion, evoking feelings of separation and nostalgia.

Credits
from Astris, released December 15, 2023
Music Composition: Iasonas Psarakis
Music Production: Nikolas Gkinis
Music Arrangement: Iasonas Psarakis & Nikolas Gkinis

Sitar, Esraj: Iasonas Psarakis
Iranian Ney: Bahram Deyjour
Tabla: Ricky Chakraborty
Synthesizer: Nikolas Gkinis

Recorded at:
Groova Studio - Sound Engineering/ Mixing/ Mastering: Nikolas Gkinis
Studio Chilekothaa - Sound Engineering: Neel Sarkar
Korshid Ahang Studio - Sound Engineering: Mohammad Nosrati
Dharoon Studio - Sound Engineering: Sandipa Sarker

from Astris, released December 15, 2023
© 2023 Hihiri Pipiri Transcultural Sound Transmission
© Iasonas Psarakis

Symphony of Wind

This composition derives its inspiration from the evening Raag Kirwani. It voices the struggles of the hearts that want to follow their intuitive path on earth.

Lyrics (translated from Sorani)

" Heart, can you give us a sign?
People, can you hear us?
Heart, can you tell us?
Heart, can you guide us?

We will follow our heart
We will surrender our heart
to the path it wants to go

Heart, can you hear us?
Heart, can you guide us?
Heart, can you give us a sign?
Life is not going as we expected ...

Heart, can you teach us?
What is life?
Heart, can you tell us?
Heart, can you hear us?
Why are we here? "
Credits
from Astris, released December 15, 2023

Music Composition: Iasonas Psarakis
Music Production: Nikolas Gkinis
Music Arrangement: Iasonas Psarakis & Nikolas Gkinis
Poetry: Mokhtar Aslani

Vocals: Mokhtar Aslani
Sitar, Esraj, Setar, Baglamadaki, Turkish Rebab: Iasonas Psarakis
Iranian Ney: Bahram Deyjour
Tabla: Ricky Chakraborty

Recorded at:
Groova Studio - Sound Engineering/ Mixing/ Mastering: Nikolas Gkinis
Studio Chilekothaa - Sound Engineering: Neel Sarkar
Korshid Ahang Studio - Sound Engineering: Mohammad Nosrati
Dharoon Studio - Sound Engineering: Sandipa Sarker

from Astris, released December 15, 2023
© 2023 Hihiri Pipiri Transcultural Sound Transmission
© Iasonas Psarakis

Symphony of Soil

This composition beckons us to surrender to the mysteries of self- exploration, transformation and encounters. Within this parallel realm of the unknown, the boundaries between polar opposites fuse into one, inviting us to a deep integration of our other unknown selves into our being.

Credits
from Astris, released December 15, 2023

Music Composition: Iasonas Psarakis
Music Production: Nikolas Gkinis
Music Arrangement: Iasonas Psarakis

Esraj, Sitar: Iasonas Psarakis

Recorded at:
Groova Studio - Sound Engineering/ Mixing/ Mastering: Nikolas Gkinis


from Astris, released December 15, 2023
© 2023 Hihiri Pipiri Transcultural Sound Transmission
© Iasonas Psarakis

Dancing with the Unknown

This musical piece embraces the poetry of renowned Lalon Farkir, a Bengali mystic poet and social reformer, rejecting divisions of caste, class and creed. His philosophy embraced the unity of humanity, emphasized the search for the soul and embodied the transformative power of Bhakti and Sufism.

Lyrics (translated from Bengali)

" I don't know how many days more
This innocent soul will burn out
Oh dear kindful lord, it will be forever
Life is in the fire of sorrow
I am burning in, always "

Credits
from Astris, released December 15, 2023

Music Composition: Iasonas Psarakis
Music Production: Nikolas Gkinis
Music Arrangement: Iasonas Psarakis & Nikolas Gkinis

Vocals: Ayu Shi
Sitar, Tukish Rebab, Didgeridoo: Iasonas Psarakis
Ney: Bahram Deyjour
Kurdish Tanbour: Ador Hooyar
Synthesizer: Nikolas Gkinis

Recorder at:
Groova Studio - Sound Engineering/ Mixing/ Mastering: Nikolas Gkinis
Studio Chilekothaa - Sound Engineering: Neel Sarkar

from Astris, released December 15, 2023
© 2023 Hihiri Pipiri Transcultural Sound Transmission
© Iasonas Psarakis

Whirling Desert

Experimental music,Psychedelic music based on Raag Purija.This audio is from oneJaming (April 2016)
Sitar:Iason Psarakis
Tabla:Stelios Tsambou
Efe Guitars:Romanos

Spiral Sunset - (Iasonas Psarakis - Stelios Tsambou - Romanos)

Iasi Ensemble is an international musical ensemble, created by the musician-composer Iasonas Psarakis in collaboration with music producer Nikolas Gkinis, and a diverse set of musicians from India, Iran, Kurdistan and Greece. The ensemble hopes to soothe the souls of people across the globe through the healing qualities of art and the union of diverse forms of arts and culture. They have received many awards by recognized International Music and Film Festivals for their creations, compositions, and arrangements in the music and film industry.

The name of their debut music album, “Astris,” comes from Greek Mythology. Astris was a star-nymph; daughter of the Greek sun-god, Helios, and wife of the Indian river-god, Hydaspes. She symbolizes the sacred marriage of two different cultures and histories. Similarly, elements of Indian Classical Music – Persian Classical Music – Sufi Music – Ancient Greek Music – Baul and New Age Music – have been meticulously harmonized to create an original and unique music genre. An ethereal painting where one is enriched by the dissolving of boundaries and surrender of cultures to a new multicultural rebirth that expands beyond limited world views. The album has been honored with the Silver Medal at the Global Music Awards 2023 in California, USA.

Iasi Ensemble

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