The Persian word ‘Jana’ means “beloved, my dearest, my soul”.
Often used as a term of endearment, “Jananeh” is the response
that completes the greeting between two lovers. The mystic
Persian poets Rumi and Shams, two lovers in heart, write in these words
to each other like kindred spirits united by the resonance of their souls.
It is a similar connection that binds the collaborators on this mystical
multimedia release. The central figure, Bahramji, has been a source of
inspiration for everyone involved for decades, not only for his music
but for his liberated sufi spirit. Resurfacing Persian folklore melodies
on his santoor and the poetry of Shams and Rumi, he lights the flame of
inspiration that illuminates this unique project.
Honoring Bahramji as a beloved and dedicated trailblazer in the
unification of traditional and electronic music, the release taps into
the energy of Rumi and ancient Persian culture and manifests art in the
context of today and all that is to come. A mission that has been taken
on by all three collaborators throughout their careers, each representing
a generation inspiring each other and the next with their art and
message.
Representing the second generation, Mercan Dede has for over 30 years
fused the traditional and contemporary, always carrying the spirit of
Shams and Rumi with a pure heart, expressing his own experience of
their life and work through multiple forms of powerful art.
The youngest of the three, Iranian duo Baham who are based in
Montreal, built their project around bringing traditional folkloric
recordings and artists into today’s dancefloor context. Having been
friends and admirers of both Bahramji and Mercan Dede for many years,
they served as the vessel between these two legends. It wasn’t until
2018 when the two kindred spirits finally met in person on the playa at
Burning Man along with Baham and Golshifteh Farahani.
With the vision of collaborating on a piece together, the intention
had been set as they returned to their respective corners of
the world. Just weeks later, Bahramji had recorded and sent a
remarkable set of recordings of his voice and santoor to Mercan
at Halaken Studios. Working together with Baham and the help
of producer Dexter Crowe, he began to build a story around the
original inspiring takes of Bahramji, calling in his master ney
player Burak Malcok to record and send his part from Istanbul,
Ziya Tabassian to add his rhythm and percussion takes from his
temporary studio in Thailand and of course dear friend of Bahramji,
Golshifteh who recorded ancient words of Rumi, spoken in her
native Persian. Baham’s signature touch comes to the forefront in
the second half with the groove and bassline change, building back
into one last epic chorus.
As the music took shape, multimedia artists Can Fakioglu and Can
Sakirt jumped on board from Turkey to put together a video truly
unlike any other. Having written their own unique A.I. program,
they fed the algorithm the poems sung and spoken by Bahramji and
Golshifteh. Out the other end came a mystically hypnotizing journey
through countless worlds and ages, morphing shapes and colors,
weaving the ancient with the future into an 11 minute psychedelic
like experience.