Fellow traveler
Andrew requested/suggested that I post the incredible Aziz Herawi as one of the
musicians of Afghanistan.
Delighted to include some of his music here. By way of synchronicity, Aziz has
lived in northern California for some years
now (originally Fremont,CA
I believe, which is just north of San
Jose). He now lives in the Sacramento area, as do I, & I have
actually had the pleasure of seeing & hearing him play some years back.
Aziz Herawi
was born in Herat, Afghanistan around 1952. He is a
noted musician who specializes in the dutar & rebab, both plucked string
instruments (or as referenced
below…Afghan lutes). Aziz was about seven years of age the first time he heard
the dutar being played live. He talked one of the family servants into buying
the instrument for him from a shepherd. He would wait until his father was
asleep, then sneak into the woods surrounding their home. Alone, in the dark,
he practiced, teaching himself to play the difficult long-necked 12-stringed
instrument.
The rest, as they say, is musical history.
On Master of Afghan Lutes, the musicians are: Aziz
Herawi – dutar & rebab; Omar Mojaddidi – zirbaghali; Azim Mojaddidi &
Anayat Habib – daira zagi & Ghulam Abbas Khan – tabla.
Aziz Herawi – Master of Afghan Lutes, Arhoolie 387, 1992.
decryption code in comments
Tracklist –
A: Naghmaha-ye Klask in Rag Beiru (instrumental featuring
dutar)
jhaptal/dadra
kaharwa
kaharwa/dadra
charbeiti kaharwa
kaharwa/dadra II
B: (instrumental featuring dutar)
aushari
naghma I
mahali I
khandan-e amaturi I
khandan-e amaturi II
khandan-e amaturi III
C: (instrumental featuring rebab)
naghma-ye klasik in rag pari
naghma-ye klasik in rag pilu
mahali II
mahali III
naghma II
naghma III
first street concert in Kabul
Kabul Dreams
is Afghanistan's
first rock band. They formed in Kabul
in 2008. The band is composed of: lead vocalist, guitarist, & songwriter Sulyman
Qardash; bassist Sidduque Ahmed; & drummer Mujtaba Habibi. When they began
playing around Kabul,
they were the only active rock band in the country.
With their continued hard work & effort, succeeded in
gaining national & international recognition within the span of just a few
years. They performed in international festivals & events in South Asia,
Central Asia, & Europe. They represented Afghanistan
& developed a fan base in many countries.
Kabul Dreams have released one EP & few singles. The
band worked hard on their first full length album, which was finally recorded
in late 2012 in Kabul.
Alan Sanderson, an internationally acclaimed record producer, sound engineer,
& Grammy winning artist agreed to mixed & master their album in his
studio in San Diego.
The album, Plastic Words is available on the Sellaband (German) label.
I have made a compilation of their earlier EP & singles
plus two tracks from their album.
Kabul Dreams – Various Dreams, 2008 – 2013.
decryption code in comments
Tracklist –
Sound of Peace & Love – from Sound of Peace &
Love EP 2009
This Night – from Sound of Peace & Love EP 2009
Sadae Man – from Sadae Man (Persian single) 2009
The Dream of All my Life – demo 2010
Don’t Try to Freeze my Mind – demo 2010
Can You Fly – from VA- Joydue's Indie Rock Playlist February
2010
Good Morning Freedom – from Good Morning Freedom single 2012
Crack in the Radio – from Plastic Words 2013
I Wanna Runaway – from Plastic Words 2013
Hip-hop is apparently
becoming very popular with the youth of Afghanistan. Some in Afghanistan may
see this as a sign of progress, others may see it as more Western encroachment
on Afghan culture.
Before weighing in on
either side, it might be good to consider this. Between 1996 & 2001 the Taliban
completely banned music & dance in Afghanistan. All musical instruments were banned as well. When they were
discovered by agents of the Office for the Propagation of Virtue & the
Prevention of Vice, they were destroyed, sometimes by being burnt in public along
with confiscated audio & video cassettes, TV sets & VCRs (all visual representation
of animate being was also prohibited). So many of the young found they could
make hip-hop music using computers, samples, & audio programs.
It's difficult to even
fathom a world in which music could only be enjoyed in secrecy. The fact that
teenagers can now listen to rap in public, despite grumblings from some of
their elders, is a step forward. Afghan hip-hop is very diverse &
diasporic. They rap in Farsi, English, Pashto, German, & a slew of other languages.
Some of it is heavily influences by traditional Afghani music & some of it
is merely a mirroring of Western rap, with an over abundance of MF’ing &
N-word slinging. I have tried to post some of the first rather than the latter.
Although many Afghani rappers, like most international rappers, are heavily
influenced by American hip-hop/rap & will still cite Tupac & other
legends of rap as their inspiration, the themes found in their music are
different. You won't find as many references to gang-bangin’, sex, bling, or
drugs; instead you'll hear about religion, war (which is no surprise), &
national pride. Still, it serves as an outlet for teenagers to express their
opinions & express their rebellion against mainstream culture, much like
pre-commercialized American hip-hop.
Various – Afghani Hip-hop Mixtape No. Ø, 2013.
decryption code in comments
Tracklist –
Mewo Mewo
Astom Preshaan
Beshnaweed Ai Dostan
Beya Saqi
Maida Maida
Namekonom Aroosi - Ghazali & Farid Temoury
Chashmak Bezan Siata
Gil-e Saang
Judayee
Taal (remix) - DJ Wassi from his album Remixed
Bache Kabul (remix)
Aashiqet Shodam
Afghan Rap
Sitara Man - DJ Besho
Enjoy,
NØ
Aziz Herawi
ReplyDeleteKI-u9mipx8CnSmp36kbHjSELR5NH9vx65pRBZ_57ocM
Kabul Dreams
diV-cQByi87E4SfVEhgVhHqfmM0shYLLlJZNbynRGEs
Mixtape
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Hi there! I'm working with the Arhoolie Foundation, and we're trying to get in touch with Aziz Herawi. Do you have any idea how we might get in touch with him? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI don't have any further information. I believe he was living here in Sacramento & perhaps elsewhere around the northern Bay Area. I have not found a listing for him. Sorry & good luck. Really appreciate what AF does.
DeleteNo worries, and thanks for getting back to me! And thanks for the post.
DeleteWonderful selection. Thank you so much for sharing these. Peace and love.
ReplyDelete:-)