Zabte Sote, the Opal Tapes sub-label for Iranian experimental artists, announces four new releases
Ata “Sote” Ebtekar set up Zabte Sote as an outlet for experimental electronic music by Iranian composers. Due to the difficulty of running a label based in Tehran—all releases would need to be submitted to two separate Iranian government committees for approval—Zabte Sote functions as a sub-label of Opal Tapes.
On Friday, Zabte Sote will release albums by Pouya Ehsaei, a London-based Iranian musician who mixes Afro-Cuban rhythms with modular synth; Arah Pandi, a Rasht-born, Denmark-based composer who makes “Persian electronic music” by reimagining Iranian classical music within microtonal systems; Rojin Sharafi (pictured), a Vienna-based sound artist hailing from Tehran and SAHAB, who spent his childhood between Yazd, Tehran and Northern California.
For more information on the upcoming releases as well as the label, head over to the Zabte Sote Bandcamp page.
Check out Sote’s RA Podcast as well as Tom Faber’s feature on the Iranian scene, Hardcore Sounds From Tehran.
Listen to “Mocha” by SAHAB.
Listen to Arash Pandi’s “Chargah.”
Tracklist
Rojin Sharafi – Zangaar
01. Boloor
02. Ghaaf Kaaf Gaaf
03. Khesh
04. Pedarkoshi
05. Baadaabaad
06. Choruk
07. Bi Oo
08. Toom
Pouya Ehsaei – RocRast
01. RocRast #8
02. RocRast #45
03. RocRast #22
04. RocRast #75
05. RocRast #64
06. RocRast #55
07. RocRast #60
08. RocRast #53
09. RocRast #69
10. RocRast #67
11. RocRast #56
Arash Pandi – Chargah
01. Bayat Isfahan
02. Shur (Power Of Patience)
03. Dashti
04. Chargah
05. Dogah
SAHAB – SAHAB
01. SALAM
02. MOCHA
03. WAR
04. AIRPLANES
05. TURQUOISE
06. KITTY
07. MASKS
08. SEQ
09. WISH
10. ZAHR
11. MUSHI
12. CHOCOLATE
13. HAFIZ
Zabte Sote will release Zangaar, RocRast, Chargah and SAHAB on October 30th, 2020.
Photo credit: Arash Bolouri