Nowruz Mubarak to all our listeners! To add to an auspicious start to the New Year, we have this fantastic, nostalgic mix from Toronto based Iranian musician, @ensoulmusic. 

Here is his artist statement:

———
“In Farsi, there is one word for both ‘song’ and ‘poem’: ‘Shehr’. Songs are not of less significance than poems, and like folk music throughout the world, Persian songs are the people’s poems. Sung in homes, at times of celebration and sorrow, they are a means to collectively experiencing emotions passed down from one generation to the next, and through the Persian diaspora, passed around the world.

The 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran brought about prohibitions which exist until today, women were no longer allowed to sing publicly, acts of celebration and public dancing were criminalized, and many artists disappeared from the public eye or left the country altogether. Record labels were closed down and some pressing plants were burned down.” 

- Excerpt from Jennifer Saparzadeh’s “My Blossomed Potted Plant”
——— 


In 2017 I travelled to my hometown of Tehran, Iran to spend time with family and search for records that were pressed locally in the ’60s and ’70s. I was particularly interested in finding folk, psychedelic, jazz, soul and funk records produced and recorded domestically. I was staying at my grandparent's place in Northern Tehran, and on my first Friday there, I woke up around noon, ate Kebab that my grandmother cooked for us and then jumped straight into a taxi off of Pasdaran Ave, asking the driver to take me to Bazaar Jomeh (Friday Market). Baazar Jomeh is a bustling marketplace that brings together a collection of street stalls that usually sell goods such as dried fruits and nuts, toys, clothes, handmade arts and crafts, and antiques. After hours of searching, I finally found a stall dedicated to old music artifacts and electronics, and met a man who had an extensive 7” vinyl and cassette collection. He was nice enough to let me listen to whatever I wanted on his portable players, and I spent the next 2 weeks of my trip staying in touch with him, visiting him almost daily so I could listen to as many records as possible. By the end of the trip I had collected around 90 7” records and a few cassettes, ranging from early regional folk songs to 70’s pop, psych and funk. When I was asked to contribute to the Tawoos Initiative, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to re-visit the 7” records and cassettes I collected on that trip, and create a mix representing the richness, diversity, and boldness of the music and poetry created by these deeply talented and passionate Iranian artists. I poured all of the memories and nostalgia that rushes through me when I listen to these songs into this mix - I hope you enjoy.


P.S. These records are far from perfect condition, but life is far from that too :) 

-Kourosh Dehghani

Tracklist:

1. Ramesh - Roodkhooneha (Rivers)
2. Marjan - Kavir-e Del (Desert of Heart)
3. Kourosh Yaghmaei - Saraabe Toe (Your Mirage)
4. Dariush - Cheshme Man (My Eye)
5. Simin Ghanem - Ghollake Cheshat (The Treasure Within Your Eyes )
6. Vigen & Zaven - Khosh Be Yaadat (Fond Memories Of You)
7. Hassan Shamaizadeh - Mordab (Dead Water)
8. Ghajavandi - Dokhtar Ghoochanie 
9. Vigen & Elaheh - Fale Ghahveh (Tasseography)
10. Emad Raam - Ashkeh Roozegar (Cries of The Days) 
11. Zaven - Sitar Solo
12. Black Cats - Dimeh
13. The Golden Ring - Apologies
14. Aref - Donya Faghat Do Roozeh (The World Is Only Two Days)

Tawoos Underpass Production | 005 | Ensoul

Join us for an illuminating conversation on politics, music, personal stories and the role searching for Iranian music has played in Kourosh Dehghani's journey as a musician. 

Nowruz Mubarak! Enjoy.

Tawoos Underpass Conversations Nowruz Special ft. Ensoul

Haris- Opening Set for Discostan

Tawoos Underpass Productions | 001 | HOATZIN

This mix intends to highlight some of the talents and visions of South Asian and Indo-Caribbean musicians and producers. Not only were they extremely gifted in the traditional sounds of Indo-Classical music and the respective folk music of each region but they also excelled in incorporating influences from many other global sounds such as jazz, psychedelic rock, new wave, reggae, hip-hop, electronic music and more. This mix is just a drop in the pond of the incredible cultural legacy of Desi musicians. I hope that a listen through will inspire the Desi community to further appreciate, archive and engage with our music.

- Raf Reza

Tracklist:

Rahul Dev Burman - Dance Music (’76)
Lucky Akhand feat. Happy Akhand - Shadhinota Tomake Niye Gaan To Lickhechi
Mustangs - Escape
Babla and Kanchan - Leila (Rege)
Mungal - Dreadlocks
Habib feat. Kaya - Krishno
Unknown Artist - Unknown
Asha Bhosle - Laagli Laagli Hichki
Nermin Niazi, Feisal Mosleh - Nazneen
Mick St. Clair - Ishq Di Gaddi
Najma - Neend Koyi

Tawoos Underpass Productions | 003 | Raf Reza

This mix was inspired by the soundtracks of classic bollywood films from the 80’s and the groovy sounds that came with them. Even though we can’t all dance together like we used to, I hope this music still makes your body want to move and shake -- wherever you are.  

Until we meet again--- DJ Heebiejabi

https://soundcloud.com/heebiejabi

Tracklist:

Buzz - Aastha Gill ft. Badshah
Thoya Thoya - Vijay Athma
Mehboob Mere - Fiza Soundtrack
Choli Ke Peeche - Khalnayak Soundtrack
Chamma Chamma - China Gate Soundtrack
Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar - Baby Doll Remix
Aesi Chal Main - Eropsos Remix
Kaliyon Ka Chaman - UMI 10 Soundtrack
My Name is Shhh - Manara 
Dilbar - Satyameva Jayate Soundtrack
Mere Naseeb Mein - Baby H Remix
Zindagi Meri Dance - Olefonken Remix
Aloe Vera - Khayote 
Har Kisi Ko Nahi Milta Yahan Pyaar Zindagi Mein - Janbaaz Soundtrack
Aap Jaisa Koi Meri Zindagi - Nazia Hassan
Chadti Jawani - DJ Aqeel Remix
Khushi - Nazia Hassan
Romance - Runa Laila
Disco Deewane - Nazia Hassan
Muqabala Muqabala - Kadalan Soundtrack
Kuch Ladke Kuch Ladkiyan - Karwat Soundtrack
Pyare Aaja - Salma Agha
Kay Sera Sera - Pukar Soundtrack
Sarsariya - Ikonika
Yeh Din To Aata Hai - Mahaan Soundtrack
Pyar Do Pyar Lo - Janbaaz Soundtrack
Jimmy Jimmy Aaja - Disco Dancer Soundtrack
Lets Have a Good Time - Yeh Kaisa Farz Soundtrack
Om Namah Shivae - Pyaas Soundtrack
Boom Boom - Nazia Hassan
I Am a Disco Dancer - Disco Dancer Soundtrack
Yaad Aa Raha Hai - Disco Dancer Soundtrack
Ramba Ho Samba Ho - Armaan Soundtrack
Hari Om Hari - Pyaara Dushman Soundtrack
Yaar Mila Pyar Mila - Naukar Biwi Ka Soundtrack

Tawoos Underpass Productions | 004 | Heebiejabi

Created in 2017 by Toronto based, world natives, Pratishtha Kohli, Haris Javed and Auoro Maksud- the Tawoos Initiative aims to connect people with and present independent, urban artists of South Asian background. Genre? No bar. 

The Tawoos Initiative

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