Bob Dylan of Iran: Mohsen Namjoo


"Instrument is just a means for a musician to make his/her music. So is voice of an artist. However, none of them cannot make a connection between these two hearts by itself. I learned how to make connection between myself and my audiences after getting theatre education." 
 Mohsen Namjoo



INTERPRETER: KENAN ÖZGÜR YAŞAR

Iranian artist Mohsen Namjoo, living in California, was born in 1976, Turbet-i Cam, Horasan. He graduated from University of Tehran, Faculty of Fine Arts, majoring in Theatre. He also did his master degree in the department of Music. He is a songwriter, singer and music master. He plays one of the traditional instruments of Iran 'setar'. Namjoo had started his music education with Nasrollah Nasehpoor who discovered his talent in musics and then he kept on his education till the age of 18. Although his family did not like him to make musics, he decided to make professional 
music. In the artist's works, it is very possible to see the effects of some names like Mevlana, Sems and Hafiz who are very important in Sufi Literature. In that way, we can easily say that he benefits from rich Iranian Literature.

 In 2009, Namjoo was sentenced in jail for 5 years just because he used a few verses from holy book of Muslims Koran. He became world-wide famous when the documentary named 'Sounds of Silence' expressing the underground type of music in Tehran was released. Mohsen Namjoo was announced as 'Bob Dylan of Iran' by New York Times. He mixes rock and jazz with traditional Iranian music. The artist presents his quite different feast of music to audiences. Namjoo also made the musics of the movie 'Cennetin Rengi' directed and written by Majid Majidi. Mohsen Namjoo, one of the great names of the world music, has 4 musical octaves talent. I think 'Toranjwould be a great meeting for the ones who have not yet been able to listen to this unique, special voice. You will understand by listening how Mohsen Namjoo mixes separation, love, sadness; in short, all the emotions that make a person 'human' with tears and how he expresses these enormous things in words.

We are so glad we have you Mohsen Namjoo...



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