FARHAD SAMARI
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Can you be America's next breakout band, even if you aren't from America? Or, for that matter, from the U.K., Europe, Canada, or even South America? We think so. Because the band you should be listening to right now is Hypernova and they may be the next big thing, but they aren't from the U.S.; they hail from Iran. Yes, that's right, Iran. A nation where playing rock and roll is a crime, punishable by huge fines, arrest, and even public flogging.
Luckily, the members of Hypernova—Raam, Kami, Kodi, Jam and Poya—have relocated to NYC, where they are free to put out their own blend of Western-style music, without risking life and limb. Their last album, Through the Chaos, has an infectious sound, but you'll find that copies of it are hard to come by, since they have yet to be signed by a label. We recently caught up with Raam, the band's lead singer, about life in Iran, Persian culture, the environment, and ignoring political posturing of governments to build bridges with the people of Iran.
Planet Green: First, let me say Salaam, welcome to the U.S., and I hope that all of your family and friends are safe and well back home.
Raam: Salam to you my brother! It's been an absolute pleasure coming here to the U.S. We're very grateful to be here. Thankfully most of my friends and family are doing well back home. Thank you for the concern.
PG: Rock music is banned in Iran. What was it like playing underground in Iran? Was there a fear of getting caught, or did that tension add another level of excitement and energy to the music?
R: Playing in the undergrounds of Iran was by far the most exciting thing I had ever done in my life. We've played many shows over here in the States, but only a few can compare to those crazy underground gigs. Music is something you can't take away from the people; no matter how hard certain governments try, kids will always find ways to have fun.
People always wonder if we get nervous when we go on stage, but there was nothing more frightening and enjoying at the same time as performing in Iran. The fear of getting caught adds a whole new dimension to any performance. There was so much energy and intensity in those shows that we all were like ticking time bombs just waiting to explode. To be honest, I really miss those days. We were so naively idealistic. We felt that all of life's problems could be solved through rock and roll. Music was the only way we could escape from the madness around us.
PG: Persian culture seems to have a deep connection with the natural world. How has that heritage tied to nature influenced you?
R: In the religion of ancient Persia—called Zoroastrianism—water, earth, and fire were all sacred. Polluting earth and water was a cardinal sin and fire was revered for its life-giving benefits. Iranians have always felt attached to nature. Even today we are a nation of picnic lovers. On the weekends, you find people from all walks of life scattered in the outdoors.
PG: What's the general feeling in Iran regarding global warming and the state of the environment?
R: Environmental consciousness is beginning to take shape among Iranians, especially the young and the more educated, but we still have a long way to go. For most people, their carbon footprint is not an issue, and Iran has one of the highest per capita fossil-fuel consumption rates, a quality shared with other oil-rich nations. On the issue of nuclear energy, it seems most Iranians look to it as a matter of pride and a national right rather than a type of energy that is hazardous to the natural environment.
Consciousness about global warming, on the other hand, is on the rise, as the country has experienced strange upheavals in its weather patterns. Longer than normal droughts, unusual floods, very high temperatures in the summers and very cold temperatures in the winter, and other unusual trends have made people wary of global warming and its consequences.
PG: Western governments and the leaders of Iran seem determined to be locked into an ideological stalemate. But what can regular citizens do to help build understanding and friendships with the people of Iran?
R: Iranians harbor fewer illusions about Americans or Europeans than vice-versa because a lot of Iranians travel abroad and therefore do not to buy into stereotypes thrown at them by local media. Few westerners, however, travel to countries like Iran and so they only hear negative news about Iran's nuclear ambitions, her involvement with terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq, and religious extremism.
Images of the recent protests against the rigging of presidential elections have changed that. Westerners now know that Iranians are not simple followers of hate-mongering and West-bashing leaders like Ahamdinejad. But many people in the west, particularly in the U.S., are still far from adopting a realistic image of Iranians. For us, music has played an amazing role in transcending those boundaries. Our former president, Khatami, was on the right path by introducing a conversation among civilizations. If all nations wish to coexist peacefully in this chaotic universe, we have to reach a common ground. We have to learn to respect and appreciate diversity.
PG: You just released a new free track and video called Sinners. I'm struck by some of the imagery in the video [PLEASE DESCRIBE IT BRIEFLY]. Is it a response to what's went on in Iran with the torture and beating of people arrested during the protests?
R: We actually recorded that music video before the June elections, so it was a bit of a coincidence. The video itself does deal with a dark side that we can all relate to. The whole idea of sinning always perplexed me as a child; whether you're Christian or Muslim, you are led to believe that you will be punished eternally in some afterlife for your sins on this planet.
Growing up in Iran, we had to lie to our teachers at school about what we did at home and say that we all were "practicing" Muslims. It was a very Orwellian environment. Kids were taught to report their parents if they saw them acting inappropriately or "sinning." The problem with religion is that it's left open to interpretation by people who feel they are justified by some divine right to determine what constitutes a sin. I remember when one of my teachers confiscated my Walkman back in the day, calling the gadget a work of the devil and saying that if I continued to listen to this evil music, I would be punished forever. Being the smart-Alec that I was, my immediate response was, "Sir, I am pretty sure there are no rules in the Holy Book stating that Walkmans are illegal."
PG: Judging from the brave acts we saw during the June elections, would you say the real future of Iran is in the hands of the youth?
R: The future definitely lies in the hands of the youth. Our generation is fed up with the archaic ways of this government. They want to expand their horizons and move on and be an active part of the global community. From almost all of the videos we have seen , it has been the government and it's brutal guards that have initiated all of the violence. Our generation is a very peaceful and non-violent one. My heart goes out to all the brave kids who are risking their lives in the name of freedom and justice.
PG: What is your perception of Americans now that you've been here for some time?
R: We've toured extensively throughout the U.S. and every state seems like a new country and a new adventure. The people have been overwhelmingly nice. There have been a few places where people were apprehensive of us, but as soon as they hear our music, they automatically connect on a very human level and realize that we're not that different. The more we travel, the more we realize that our similarities by far outweigh our differences as a species. I didn't decide where I came out of my mother on this planet in this crazy solar system; it's ridiculous to segregate and discriminate knowing that genetically we are practically identical to one another.
PG: Besides family, what do you miss most about life back home?
R: The thing I miss the most is Iran's beautiful and diverse nature. My parents are hardcore tree-huggers who basically raised me and my brother in the wild. We were always traveling, camping, hiking, fishing, and just spending a great deal of our time in the outdoors. Ever since I moved to New York, I've sort of become preoccupied with this crazy fast-paced metropolitan lifestyle, and have lost touch with that natural side of myself. Not that I'm complaining; I really love New York. It's the best place for us to be in the present time. New York is the epitome of human civilization.
PG: How have you contributed to the Iranian music scene since you left your country?
R: I have been in touch with many musicians in the underground ever since I left. I have been helping bands by getting them into festivals and connecting them to people so they, too, can share their music with the world. I owe it to all those kids who believed in us. The more that we succeed over here, the more hope it gives to the musicians of Iran that they can achieve all of their goals. I'm also starting a website called Tribe Underground that will to help back home to get their voices heard. My dream is to start my own record label one day and sign underground artists from all around the planet who deserve much more recognition. There is so much beautiful music out there.
More Instrumental Interviews
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