Based in Iranian folk traditions yet shaped by the rich musical sounds of Tehran in the 60s and 70s, Ashkan Shafiei’s music blends nostalgia and innovation in ways that defy definition. Raised in Iran on smuggled pre-revolution cassette tapes and later influenced by Western genres via the internet, Ashkan’s influences reflect a life lived between worlds. Now based in Sydney, the work of this singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer is a deeply personal exploration of identity, memory and change, delivered through poetic metaphors, hypnotic grooves and the raw, expressive ‘voice’ of the rubab, a short-necked, lute-like plucked string instrument. A recent graduate of Music in Exile’s Artist Accelerator Program, Ashkan was funded to travel across Australia, record his debut EP Hunter, and produce his first music video.

In association with Nexus Arts.