Roshi - Vocals, Piano (outside), Piano (Inside) Keyboards/Synths. Pars Radio:
Graham (Dids, Gagarin) Dowdall-Electronics, Percussion, Samples, Atmospheres,
Rachel Threlfall- Cello,
Richard Thomas -Cello
Influences
Old Iranian songs, singer songwriters: Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, The Wainwrights, Johnny Cash, Dylan, Daniel Johnson etc etc... Experimental Composers: George Crumb, Stravinsky, Debussy...Electronica, Stockhausen...Avant Jazz and Rock: Keith Tippett, Robert Wyatt, Velvet Underground, David Thomas, Arcade Fire, Radiohead, Rothko... The Klinker can be amazing with performers like Andrew Bailey and the amazing Siberian singer woman. Isnaj Dui and Alex Monk from Recluse are also two of my favourites. British Folk: John Martyn, Nick Drake, Quality Pop: Gorillaz, Bjork, Morrisey, Pulp, NOW ... Poets: Sylvia Plath, Rumi, Gil Scott Heron, Frank Bangay Swansea Bay, The Isle of Eigg.
Sounds Like
'Stunningly beautiful Welsh-Iranian torch song electronica...
Welsh-Iranian singer/songwriter Roshi Nasehi performs regularly in London's more leftfield venues, but nothing could have prepared us for this stone cold classic EP with electronicist Dids (aka Gagrain) alongside multi-instrumentalist Richard Thomas and cellist Rachel Threlfal. 'Night Swimming' could be from a lost David Lynch film, 'Dohktar e Boyerhamdi' and 'Rachid khan' are Iranian folk songs turned to electronica masterpieces and she paces is just the weirdest thing we've heard all month (5/5).'
Joe Muggs, Mixmag
'Cultural globalisation has thrown up all sorts of fusions and here we have an Iranian singer born in Wales who combines amongst other things traditional songs from Iran
(her country of origin) with European music. Her relaxed voice interweaves a soundworld of cellos and electronica created by her accompanying band. Four little mouthfuls - two Iranian and two of her own songs show a talented songwriter and interpreter for whom surely great things beckon (8/10).'
Ox Magazine (Germany)
' four songs of a great, curious nature. Folk music like, but also exotic...the Iranian sung 'Dohktar e Boyerhmadi' is a true beauty, with loose strings, great vocals and faint electronics swirling somewhere in the background. 'She Paces' operates at the other end of the spectrum, with a bouncing rhythm, uptempo vocals until a soaring cello leaps in through the backdoor. Four great songs, varied in approach, which should work as a great taster for a full-length album.'
Vital Weekly (Holland)
'Really rather nice, somewhere between Kate Bush and subdued avant-garde pop. This work has four pieces - two original and two Persian songs which gain a special touch partly because of the Persian singing and partly because of the exotic instruments.'
Trust Magazine (Germany)
'Since any cultural conception of Iran is dominated by news of politics and nuclear weapons programs, it's refreshing to hear even the briefest of snapshots from its musical scene, especially music that is so mellow and calming. Roshi's vocals are delicate, high and airy, but there's evidently power there. Night Swimming is a haunting tune composed mainly of keyboard, cello and vocals that rise and swell with the understated power of an ocean. Electronically-tempered acoustic drums add a rough edginess to the tune that's hugely satisfying... And Stars is an enjoyable and tranquil EP that has the depth to bewitch and move you ' (4/5).
The Skinny (Scotland)
Listen to hers: the Welsh born Roshi Nasehi refers impressively on her Iranian
roots and performs with an avant garde oriented band. At times minimal, the
instrumentation of their pieces is highly interesting resulting in a quiet but intense atmosphere and calm vibes, which one would like to listen to on a full length album.
Terz (Dusseldorf)
And stars" is a co-production of the Welsh (ha ha) electronic musician Graham Dids (Gagarin,Nico,Pere Ubu and others) with the Iranian singer Roshi Nasehi...
On this mini-cd they try to find a symbiosis of both (electronic & iranian) sound worlds... The second song "Dohktar e Boyerhmadi" is really wonderful and a very profound new interpretation of an Iranian traditional song . Sparsely instrumented and opening room for the sounds of the voice and of melancholy...
Nosiy Neighbours (Germany)
'Spooky organ led gorgeousness…'
Subba Cultcha
'A fine rain falls on the photographs of Twin Peaks. An Exotic
electronica, folktronica landscapes. A revival of waltz, accompanying the
waltz of images, lights and Iranian sonorities. Sensitive and
stripped down electronics leaves space in Rachid Khan, which sounds
like a lo-fi interpretation of Siren Song by This Mortal Coil.'
Tsugi Magazine (France)
'Full of roughness, but also the complex charm of exoticism is the music of Roshi Nasehi who is Welsh born but of Iranian Parentage. Roshi and her band Pars Radio present 2 of their own pieces alongside an electronic coloured interpretation of 2 Persian Folk songs. All 4 tracks with their combination of tradition and modernity, embodied by cello and sampler, possess a sweetness and sadness which is pleasing.'
Westzeit Magazine (Germany)
The Iranian origins of British musicians are delightful. After Leila and her acclaimed ‘Blood, Looms and Blooms’, another girl from Persia is making her voice heard in a beautiful manner. The young lady, with the sweet name of Roshi Nasehi (aka Roshi), introduces us to her universe, tactile and precious like the latest Portishead. Night Swimming, a genuine treasure that opens the soft gates of a magic dreamlike world, is immersed in the slow soprano voice of this young lady, perched between a star and a cello that has fallen in love with this sublime melody... ‘Dohktar e Boyerhmadi’ tells the story of a young girl in the Persian mother tongue of its author, in a fascinating slow motion of assumed beauty.
The third piece, ‘She paces’, is very surprising and enigmatic... It demonstrates Roshi’s immense vocal abilities agilely supported by her band Pars Radio (herself and Graham Dowdall – better know as Gagarin)...
Les Passions de Fab
'Roshi is unpretentious, compulsive and potentially popular in appeal. Today, some small pub in Islington; tomorrow, perhaps a staple of the Radio 1 playlist.'
Josh Loeb, Camden New Journal
'As you might imagine, the music has some other worldly qualities, although it feels firmly rooted inside the dream-pop tradition, with a vibe that seems to acknowledge the pleasures of Catherine (?!?) Bush. The two tunes drawn from the Iranian folk tradition are particularly cool.'
Byron Coley, The Wire
ACCLAIM FOR THE SKY AND THE CASPIAN SEA
'Despite the collisions of influences from thousands of miles and thousands of years apart, these songs never feel anything other than a product of the natural creative process of individual people – and as such, just as in Roshi's renowned live shows, they reach out to the listener as an individual in the most intimate way...A simple, delicate and deeply lovely collection of songs that speak directly to the heart and deserve a much wider audience.'
The Art's Desk
'Fitting around some very fine lines between folk, electronica, ambient and classical, Roshi takes traditional Persian songs and gives them a whole new laidback/experimental twist. She also sings her own compositions (in English) with an exceptional voice, and it’s all produced by Graham Dids-Gagarin, who’s worked with legends such as Nico, John Cale and Pere Ubu. This album is not so much world music as head music: atmospheric, spooky at times but serene with it. It’ll make winter a lot more interesting.'
Arash Torabi, 24/7 Magazine
Credit to Gagarin for discovering the magnetic voice of Roshi Nasehi. Welsh-Iranian singer who has been delighting the public in obscure London clubs with reworkings of traditional Iranian classics and original songs. Her voice is supported by the electronica of Gagarin and by the cellos of Rachel Threlfall and Richard Thomas, all of which constitute the backbone of "The Sky And The Caspian Sea", the debut album of Roshi, released following an acclaimed EP. There is an aura of nocturnal jazz in the atmospheres of these songs, a mysterious direction that could be used to describe scenes from a David Lynch film.
Roberto Mandolini, Rockerilla Magazine (Italy)
'Born in Wales from Iranian parents, Roshi Nasehi is an elegant and refined singer- songwriter that brings to mind some chapters of British jazz from the sixties and seventies, from Kate Westbrook to Norma Winstone (with all the differences of course...). Her chamber style of writing are happily wedded with the pastel shade backgrounds outlined by the musicians who accompany her: Graham Dids on samplers with Rachel Threlfall and Richard Thomas on cello. There is room for a couple of inspired reworkings of traditional Iranian material in the key of Portishead (Mastom, Lor Batche) and for some miniatures for piano and voice that spread luminosity and warmth (Not Thriving)...
Blow Up Magazine (Italy)
From Iran via Swansea. Welsh Iranian, Iranian Welsh... I write/sing/perform original songs sometimes by myself but often with members of Pars Radio (band made up of very special musicians who I get to perform with cause I'm lucky). Also my/our versions of Iranian songs which some say are quite radical interpretations of Iranian folk material. Our debut EP 'And Stars' was first released on 10" and CD in July 08 and reissued in Jan 09 following a number of rather lovely reviews including experimental EP of the month in September 08 Mixmag. Our debut album, 'The Sky And The Caspian Sea' is out on October 12th 09...
Roshi ft. Pars Radio is the band created around the beautiful individual interpretations of Iranian Folk and original songs of Roshi Nasehi and features the electronic soundscapes/beats of Graham Dids (Gagarin, Nico, Pere Ubu etc etc) together with classical Cello from Rachel Threlfall and experimental Cello from Richard Thomas (Now, The Hola). It's an unusual sound world combining Roshi's intimate singing style , Dids-Gagarin's experimental electronic powers and haunting string layers to create a unique genre-crossing, 'exotic, folktronica landscape.'
Born in Wales to Iranian parents, Roshi Nasehi is a singer -writer who presents her own evocative songs alongside sometimes quite radical interpretations of some of the Iranian songs she was brought up listening to. Her songs reflect her origins, influences and experiences in a personal and unique way accompanied by unusual piano or keyboard arrangements - they are reflective, melodic and quirky - her voice airy and tender but possessed of an inner power. When she interprets Iranian song it is in a personal style bringing a contemporary twist combined with an authentic understanding of context and language.
The debut Roshi feat Pars Radio EP 'And Stars' was first released in July 2008 by Geo records on 10” and CD then re-released in Jan 2009 following widespread acclaim across Europe including experimental EP of the month in Mixmag who described it as 'stunningly beautiful Welsh-Iranian electronica torch songs' and a 'stone cold classic EP' . This was amongst numerous other glowing reviews from Vital Weekly, Ox Magazine, The Wire, Tokafi, Tsugi Magazine, Camden New Journal and many more.
The tracks also received significant airplay around Europe and beyond, including numerous playings on RTE (Ireland), Norddeutscher Rundfunk (Germany), Garden Of Earthly delights (UK) and Sideways Through Sound (Australia) and were put on a number of compilations by Midwich records, Orchestra Pit recordings and others. Following this, she was invited with Graham in November 2008 to perform on a live edition of Radio 3 programme The Verb, presented live from the Radio Theatre at Broadcasting House by poet Ian McMillan and was also one of 10 artists chosen to contribute to 'Ten' a very special Trace recordings compilation featuring 10 different artists from across the globe that will come out in Autumn 2009.
Roshi, with her band, or alone at the keyboard is a regular and welcome live performer especially in London, developing a loyal following. In October 2008 she completed a mini UK tour with Pars Radio, which culminated in a very special performance at the Xposed Club in Cheltenham. Other performances include 'Swimming with Rachid Khan' at the Museum of London- a multi-media piece put together with Graham Dids- Gagarin for The Museum Of London's excellent belonging exhibition (Jan/Feb 07), guest artist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra's Open Ear Ensemble leading the group to create Iranian inspired pieces for a performance at the spirit level of the Festival Hall (Dec 07), as a soloist in Helen Chadwick's Singing Circle, Paul Hamlyn Hall at the Royal Opera House (July 2008) and number of appearances with world beat pioneers The Suns Of Arqa (she will be joining them again at the 2009 Big Chill Festival). She has also performed a number of solo shows in New York and will be returning there in early September 09. This will include a co-bill with acclaimed singer-pianist-accordionista Amy Kohn at Joe's Pub.
The Sky and The Caspian Sea will be her first album release with Pars Radio. It has a beautiful nostalgic feel throughout reinforced by a unique soundworld of live instruments and evocative samples including her own father's violin playing. Featuring three Iranian songs and eight of her own the album is a blend of melody, emotion, intense creativity and a vast range of subtle influences all framing Roshi's astonishing and engaging voice to form an incredibly modern but ultimately timeless album. It is released on Graham-Dids-Gagarin's Geo label and distributed through Kudos on CD and download from Oct 12th 2009.
"DJ Monkey …soul-stirring, excitingly edgy music…just disturbing (read ‘mind-f**king’) enough to demand attention. There is a whole spice rack of auditory flavors here, served up like fractured poetry on a collection of intensely listenable Hallmark cards from Hell." Bill Margold, Cinema Seen, L.A. X..Press
Thursday 29th October @ 7.30pm - (Roshi feat. Pars Radio album launch) @ The Flea Pit, 49 Columbia Road, London, E2 7RG. Cost: £4 launch night for the ’The Sky And The Caspian Sea’, the debut album from Roshi feat. Pars Records, on GEO Records (myspace.com/roshisongs / myspace.com/georecordsuk). Support comes from Rothko man Mark Beazley’s Signals, Gideon Coe favourites Hong In The 60s, and Orchestra Pit/Scaledown impresario Mark Braby’s new project Damp Matchbox.
Friday 30th October @ 7pm SCALEDOWN co-presents a SARTORIAL RECORDS special, upstairs @ The King & Queen, 1 Foley Street, London, W1W 6DL. Cost: £0 (donations welcome(d)) okay, so it’s Scaledown Friday as we actually all dress up in our best whistles for a night of music featuring Terry Edwards alongwith artists from his Sartorial roster + our own guests. Full bill: Terry Edwards & Simon Charterton, Micko Westmoreland, Ian R. Watson, Pete Marsh & Pete May, Bob Constant & The Goodbye Horses, Iris Garrelfs and Damp Matchbox. Further details can be found @ http:www.theorchestrapit.com/scaledown.
Hi Roshi, I hope you're keeping well. Great to see you're busting the US - I've been dying to get to Joe's Pub, they' put on great stuff - have you checked out Smajko? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpqPHKeI1xI he's a geezer!
Take it easy & hopefully see you playing on these shores soon
Diverse Deeds, the replacement for Sundays at the Oto is now set up for the first event (Sean Bonney, Grapefruits and John James), on September 24th at Cafe Oto. Full details on its MySpace Page.
Dear friends, I am playing a free gig at the beauteous Union Chapel, Islington this Saturday. The sunlight will be streaming through its vaulted windows as Blank Canvas and Arctic Circle present this gig during the blessed daylight hours of 12-2. And yea shall its hallowed interior be filled with all manner of scraping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. Let us pray. And then let us go to the pub.
Many thanks, and thanks for playing! Really enjoyed your set, I managed to get a nice recording of it so will make a copy for you... Yes, despite Alex's tallosity he should have played for longer, was lovely stuff! See you later
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