Music For Tombak and Synth

Description

Cinna Peyghamy unveils a new album merging Persian tombak and modular synthesis. The result of five years of work, “Music For Tombak & Synth” weaves connections between heritage, technology, and personal identity. This project, initiated in 2019 during Peyghamy's research for his master's thesis on contact microphones, was designed as a way to reconnect with his Persian roots while exploring experimental sound creation. In this album, Peyghamy harmoniously fuses traditional Persian tombak with modular synthesis and digital signal processing, creating a unique musical landscape at the crossroads of live improvisation and studio production. The album originates from Peyghamy's exploration of improvised electronic music and his desire to design a stage-ready device. Over the years, the project has evolved, shifting from capturing the energy of his concerts to a fully composed studio work. “Music For Tombak & Synth” is the first album where Peyghamy unites his two identities as a stage artist and producer, giving birth to a work that reflects his deep connection with his family, memories, and cultural heritage. The album incorporates personal elements, such as the voice of his father reciting the poetry of Ahmad Shamlo on the track “Dar Shab,” collaborations with his longtime friend, Quelque Bourdon, on clarinet, and the evocative sounds of the Persian setar, all grounded in the physicality and rhythms of the tombak. A sentiment also present on the album cover: a photograph taken by his father, Khosrow “Payram” Peyghamy, depicting his parents and grandparents. With this album, Peyghamy transcends conventional boundaries between “traditional and contemporary” and “acoustic and electronic,” offering a nuanced exploration of identity through sound. Each track is a precious memory, evoking emotions, musical influences, and cherished moments that define his experience as a French artist of Iranian origin, compelled to stay away from his homeland.