Pouya Ehsaei - People of the Wind

An epic whirlwind of heavy sub-bass, stormy woodwinds, and uncanny vocals, conjuring ghosts of the old and new, the intimate and the alien, the literary and the chaotic. Fusing post-industrial, dub techno, avant-garde jazz, African drumming, and experimental hip-hop into a dark, captivating sonic experience.

A thrilling new collaboration led by the trailblazing Pouya Ehsaei (live electronics/ Ariwo, From the Lips to the Moon, Parasang), the project features the untamable force of Tamar Osborn (Collocutor, Flock, Unknown to Known) on wind instruments, and the kaleidoscopic voice of Tara Fatehi (From the Lips to the moon, Mishandled Archive).

Inspired by the journey of Zar — possession-trance healing rituals rooted in dance, percussion, and song — People of the Wind draws the listener on a sea voyage, from the shores of East Africa to the haunted coasts of Iran. They weave together experiences of displacement and migration, deep-rooted musical traditions, and futuristic soundscapes.

People of the Wind moves with the traditions of Zar – healing music and dance brought to southern Iran by communities displaced from East Africa. With deep respect for those who endured the Indian Ocean Slave Trade, the chants on this album are renditions of traditional Zar chants. The work is also connected to the book Ahl-e Hava (People of the Wind) by Iranian writer Gholam-Hossein Sa’edi.