L to R: Farhangeh Tarss, by SKS, Thievery Corporation Album Cover Art

As a fan and friend of the amazingly talented DC-based electro-lounge pioneers, Thievery Corporation, we cannot tell you how excited we are about the release of Thievery’s much-anticipated album, Culture of Fear.

If you thought 2008′s Radio Retaliation couldn’t be topped, well we’ve got some news for you: Culture of Fear, the sixth album in a line of brilliant melodies that have served as the soundtrack to the past decade of our life, is yet another example of the genius that Eric Hilton–whose directorial debut film, Babylon Central, has received decent buzz–and Rob Garza are capable of producing over, and over, and over again.

Naturally, our favorite songs on the album feature sexy-voiced Persian songstress, Loulou.

She purrs three tracks on the album in her  unique sultry sound: ”Take My Soul”, “Where It All Starts”, and “Safar (The Journey)” are more than repeat-button-worthy, per usual. (Especially “Take My Soul”.)

“Safar”, which the multilingual singer who speaks English, Persian, and French, sings in Persian is not her first time using our beautiful language in her work. Her song “Omid” from Thievery’s 2002 masterpiece, The Richest Man in Babylon, was the singer/songwriter’s initial Persian language work.

Like “Omid”, “Safar” is on the slower tempo side and comes charged with a spiritual vibe that haunts…Whether you speak Persian or not.

The lyrics are:

(In Persian)

cheraa cheshm-haato  baaz nemikoni?  

delam baraayeh to tang shodeh  

cheraa delam baraat tang shodeh?                  

delam baraayeh to tang shodeh                        

chera cheshm-haato baz nemikoni?          

bacheh-ha koja rafteen?                                          

rafteen…    

dast beh dast  

koja rafteen?

(In English)

Why don’t you open your eyes?

I miss you

Why do I miss you?

I miss you

Why don’t you open your eyes?

Where did you guys go?

You went…

Hand in hand

Where did you go?

“Culture of Fear” by Thievery Corporation is now available for purchase via ESL Music’s shop, iTunes, and/or Amazon .

Watch Loulou do her thing in the official video for “Take My Soul”, below.

Arranged by United4Iran and Move4Iran–two non-profit organizations focusing on human rights issues in Iran–a flashmob dedicated to all the lives lost and all the courageous Iranians who stood up for their rights during the 2009 #IranElection, took place in a Paris, France metro station on June 12, 2011, to mark two year anniversary of Iran’s disputed election.

This artistic and powerful move was coordinated “to draw attention to the ongoing human rights abuses Iran’s citizens continue to face…The flashmob’s intent was to highlight sustained international support for the Iranian people and to encourage individuals worldwide, who are lucky enough to be afforded basic freedoms, to recommit support for Iran’s civil rights movement,” as described by the video’s creators.

“During the silent flashmob, participants wore green and froze, while silently holding the peace/victory sign (“V”) — both of which are symbols of Iran’s civil society movement. The flashmob also showed sustained support for the movement in Iran. The flashmob concluded with everyone unfreezing and raising their “V”s [and] quietly echoed the fact that despite Iran’s civil society seemingly forced into silence, the movement continues,” in addition to being a reminder to people the “risks Iranians face daily in exercising basic human rights and the total impossibility of being able to even organize a silent demonstration like the Paris flashmob.”

United4Iran.org is calling for others around the world who may be interested to “coordinate similar flashmobs in their own cities” and even are willing to help with “ideas or suggestions” on how to put together your own flashmob in support of the Iranian people.

If you are ready to compose your own flashmob contact info@united4iran.org, for more information and help.

Watch the inspiring video, below:

Photo: Sharam.com

He’s done it again!

Born on January 12, 1970, DJ Sharam Tayebi–whose first name Shahram is pronounced shah-raam and means “King Raam” despite Wikipedia’s notes, which incorrectly mention the Iranian DJ’s name as “Sharm…meaning shame or modesty”–has once again collaborated with female Persian singer/songwriter, Anousheh Khalili, for his latest song: “Fun”.

You may remember Khalili from her luscious vocals in Deep Dish’s “Flashdance” and “Say Hello”. Continue Reading

Elizabeth Taylor in Iran by Firooz Zahedi - Image via Vanity Fair

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s (LACMA) exhibition of Iranian-American mega-photographer, Firooz Zahedi‘s work featuring Elizabeth Taylor entitled: Elizabeth Taylor in Iran: 
Photographs by Firooz Zahedi, will be on display until June 12, 2011.

In early 1970′s, after graduating from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and even serving as a diplomat, Firooz Zahedi decided to pursue his passion and attended DC’s Corcoran College of Art + Design to study Photography.

His cousin, Ardeshir Zahedi, and Iranian diplomat who was once married to Princess Shahnaz Pahlavi, the eldest daughter of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi with his first wife Princess Fawzia Fuad of Egypt, was dating Elizabeth Taylor and introduced the Firooz to the Hollywood actress in early 1970s.

And when Elizabeth Taylor visited Iran for the first and only time, in 1976, she was accompanied by her friend, Firooz Zahedi.

Iran provided an exotic and engaging locale for Taylor, a tireless global wanderer still at the height of her fame.

For Zahedi, who had left Iran as a child, this was a reintroduction to his own country, which he experienced not only through the camera lens but through Taylor’s eyes.

It was a remarkable journey for both as documented by Zahedi’s vivid photographs, shown together here for the first time. The pair traveled to the main tourist sites: ancient Persepolis, where the Tent City erected in 1971 for the 2,500 year celebration of the Persian Empire was still standing, Shiraz home of poetry and wine, and Esfahan renowned for its beautiful tile-clad buildings.

Grouped in narrative fashion, the images depict people and places with the actress as tourist but one so iconic that she is never anonymous even wrapped in a chador. In the Isfahan bazaar, Taylor was attracted to and purchased a traditional tribal outfit. Dressed in this colorful costume and in full make-up, the film star posed as an Oriental odalisque, an especially suitable persona for one who was herself a male fantasy.

Though Zahedi was to photograph Taylor many times in the years following their Iran trip, none are as personal, candid, or creative as these unique images.

For more info, please visit LACMA.

New music from DJ Yasmin!

After her hit song ‘On My Own’, Iranian-British DJ, Yasmin, delights us with another track, perfect for memory-making this Spring and Summer: ’Finish Line’.

Filled with girl-power-promoting energy, and produced by Labrinth, the follow up single is described as an “ethereal trip-hop infused anthem”. Continue Reading

Just one day before the planned 25th of Bahman (VDay) protests in Iran, the State Department created a Twitter account, @USAdarfarsi.

And now, as videos (posted below) of the protests in Iran are starting to spread on the web, it’s unclear how influential the feed (or any outside push) will eventually be, but the department’s inaugural tweet reads: ”US State Dept recognizes historic role of social media among Iranians. We want to join in your conversations.”

The Iranian government, having learned a hard lesson from the 2009 protests, where Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube allowed citizen journalists to share their stories with the rest of the world, is said to have prepared for news of the 25th of Bahman protest by blocking the word “Bahman” from internet searches; hoping to make it difficult for people to coordinate protest-related information and plans.

Egyptian-American and Google marketing executive, Wael Ghonim, who some reports claim was the main organizer of the February, 2011 protests that led to Mubarak’s resignation, traveled to Egypt to physically partake in the realignment of his birth-country’s evolution. Whereas, Google’s resident Iranian-American and “Senior Advisor to Office of the CEO and Founders”, Omid Kordestani, doesn’t even bother protesting the words, “Persian Gulf” being omitted from Google Maps. (When did Ahmadinejad become the ideation guy for Google?) Continue Reading