20 Questions for Azam Ali

Picture taken from an Azam Ali Facebook album -  originally taken behind the scenes of the making of the new album Lamentation of Swans - A Journey Toward Silence 

Azam Ali is an Iranian American performer of world (and soundtrack) music, especially by fusion of classical Eastern styles (such as Sufi) and modern electronic influences. Her latest album, the newly released Lamentation of Swans - A Journey Towards Silence, was funded directly by her fans through the project-funding platform PledgeMusic, (similar to Kickstarter). As a bonus for my contribution amount, I got the chance to submit 20 questions - to be answered by her personally!

In my interview I had written,

I am deeply grateful that I have found this opportunity to ask questions of my favorite performing artist. In some ways... her music has been like a stepping stone as I have come to learn about and meet people from the places of her musical backgrounds and performances.

I don't know if she saw that part or not, but I received her answers this week, and I thought I might share them here. I tried to ask for permission for blog publication directly in my interview, but the request wasn't acknowledged either way (I suspect she only saw the question list). I'd like to think that she wouldn't mind this publication because for her this is free promotion, and for me this is how I can share her inspiring answers.    

To Laura VanVliet

Thank you so very much for supporting my project and your thoughtful questions -Azam

1. How have you had the courage and inspiration to reach out to so many different places?

In my early life, external circumstances, which were out of my control, dictated my fate. As I grew up I discovered that people are the same everywhere. No matter where I go I always try to connect with people through our common points as human beings. And once that connection is made, it truly inspires great things in me and makes me want to travel more. I am fortunate in that my music is what carries me to all these places.

2. Similarly, how did you become connected to so many different cultures?

Being born in Iran and going to study in India at the age of four was the beginning of what would become my life long fascination with foreign countries, cultures, spirituality, art and music.

3. Have you been surprised to have an American following?

Not at all. After all I spent so many years living in America and it was my home as well.  That is also where my music came to fruition so it is a big part of who I am.

4. Your music has drawn influence from places like India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and others - do you ever feel that you are drawn to these places by the history of the Persian empire and influence?

Many people do not believe me when I say this but I am not a very nationalistic person. Meaning that my cultural identity was never very important to me maybe because I left my country of birth at such a young age. However, the place where you are born imprints on you the first experience and perception of the world, so that is why this is such a big part of me and my music. The reason that I always try to expand in my music beyond the borders of my country of birth is to show that no one has a choice as to where they are born, what country, what culture or what religion. But we do have a choice when it comes to the kind of human being we want to be. And I have chosen to be a daughter of the world.

5. Where is your favorite place in Iran?

Esfahan. For me this is a magnificent city artistically and historically. I also love the many very small villages. They remind me of where my grandparents lived.

  
6. Do you feel like different cultures have given you different sides to your personality?

Absolutely. I think even when you just travel to another country, some part of you is changed forever. You are expanded in some way, which is why it is also highly addictive.

7. Do you feel like different cultures have given you different aspects to your music holistically?

Making music is a therapy for me, which makes it a very selfish indulgence. But somewhere in the process, if you do it sincerely and honestly, you tap into something, which transcends your individual ego and is part of a greater whole. The proof of this is when people from different cultures connect to your work even if there is a language barrier.

 
8. What is one of your favorite films?

I have many favorite films that rage from old black and whites, indie films from around the world and even a few Hollywood films, but if I had to choose only one it may have to be 2001- A Space Odyssey.

9. What is one of your favorite books?

My favorite books are anything written by my favorite writer, Rabindranath Tagore.

10. How did you meet your husband?

I met him when I was eighteen years old in an art gallery he owned at the time. Later we discovered we were both musicians and had mutual friends. It took us many years to discover we were meant to be husband and wife instead of just great friends, but that friendship is for us the best part of our marriage.

11. Why did you and your husband choose "Imam" for your son's name?

We chose the name Iman because Iman means faith in many eastern languages. For both of us, we felt that having faith was the one thing we struggled with for so long. When you have a child you literally say their name over and over again a hundred times a day, so naming our son faith seemed very appropriate.

12. Could you describe a time when your music research surprised you?

I always learn something when I record traditional songs because I have to do research on where the piece from and what it meant to the people from that place or culture. But my greatest learning experience came when I did my first solo album, Portals of Grace, which was based entirely on Early Medieval European Music. I always describe that album as my thesis because I spend so many hours in the library and online just doing research. It was tiring at times but so rewarding because it was like traveling back in time.

13. How did you become interested in the Urdu poetry that you've used as lyrics for songs by Niyaz?

I love poetry and prose. They are my favorite things to read so I have collected many books over the years. I am particularly drawn to poetry, which is mystical and can capture the human longing for something greater, which we all share. Being Iranian, I was of course first exposed to mystical Sufi poetry, which later led me to seek out the mystical poetry of other traditions.

 
14. How did you come to sing for the film score of 300?

The composer for film, Tyler Bates is someone I’ve known for many years. We both started our careers together albeit in different genres of music. I sang on many scores for him over the years. When he was offered 300, it was a huge break for him and he wanted me to be a part of it. For me it was just another opportunity to make music with a good friend.

15. Where do you do most of your lyric writing?

In a very quiet room. I can’t write if there is even a single sound so I usually wear sound canceling headphones when I write.

16. Do you have other ambitions for film scores, in Hollywood or other film industries?

I still do quite a bit of work for film and TV with composers who have become my friends over the years. I am slowly starting to consider getting into film scoring myself but it is very hard work and very high-pressure life.

17. Have you performed in languages that are difficult for you? How do you master them?

I have a very disciplinarian approach to singing in another language because someone who speaks that language is going to hear it and I want them to feel the emotion of what I am singing instead of constantly thinking about how poor my pronunciation is. So if I make a commitment to sing in a language I don’t know, I find someone I trust and work closely with them till the lyrics become second nature. The hard rule for me is that I cannot record a song if I have to look at a lyric sheet. The words have to become internalized. 

18. "Spring Arrives" is one of my favorite songs of yours. It evokes several different emotions. What was the inspiration for the song "Spring Arrives"?

­­­­It really was about the celebration of the arrival of spring. I wanted it to be a danceable yet very sensual piece because that’s what spring represents to me- celebration and sensuality.

19. You've also performed traditional Western European music for your album Portals of Grace - how have you found it different from performing traditional Eastern music?

There are so many different styles of music, which are part of me now so it feels extremely natural for me to go from one expression to another. It’s all about communicating an emotion. How you do that is secondary.

20. Do you have any advice for people who are trying to expand their horizons in art and culture? We are living in the most exciting time because we can do a search on our computers and hear music, watch film, read books, etc, from every corner of this world as remote as they may be. It would be a shame not to take advantage of this opportunity. Being adventurous is not as easy as it sounds because by nature humans like to feel safe. So my advice is start small with reading and listening and then take the leap and travel. Once you travel, your fear of the unknown becomes replaced by your hunger to know the unknown because in that process we end up learning the most about ourselves and our true potential. In the end expanding our horizons becomes an expansion of our soul. 

Upcoming: May 10-19, 2013 Pittsburgh's Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival!

May 10-19 Pittsburgh's Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival!

I am so excited that I finally get to attend! Two years ago I'd only heard of what is now called the Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization, and for the past year I served as a  kind of part-time office volunteer. I have thoroughly admired the mission of this organization and all it has done for Pittsburgh and beyond.

This year's film festival features screenings of 30 foreign films over these 10 days, including an Opening Night Gala and Closing Ceremony. This year there are films from: Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Georgia, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam and Uzbekistan.

I'm especially excited to see some of these movies with international friends, and to learn and enjoy more about their countries and cultures though cinema.

I encourage everyone to attend: http://www.silkscreenfestival.org/202/festival-guide-2013

The following is something I'd written when I was supposed to write about Silk Screen for Wikipedia. Unfortunately, I didn't know if my draft was ever sufficient. So, I still haven't gone through the process of trying to publish it, or whether I had permission. However, this is my best attempt to write about the organization I respect and admire so much. And I wish to give this event and organization more publicity in the best way that I can.

About the Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization

Silk Screen was founded as a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit media arts organization in 2005 by Harish Saluja, an artist, filmmaker, and entrepreneur, who recognized a need to promote cross-cultural understanding among Asians and non-Asians in the United States. This led to his idea of a cultural arts organization representing the various Asian communities in Pittsburgh and the tri-state area through cultural events. A filmmaker himself, Saluja first created the annual Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival in May 2006. Silk Screen has since evolved to centrally coordinate other Asian cultural events within Pittsburgh including festival screenings of international films, academic screenings of documentaries, events featuring ethnic music and dance performances, and events celebrating of Asian holidays and traditions ("The Heinz Endowments"). And, just this year, an Asian American Jazz Fusion orchestra organized by Saluja and other musicians will be performing.

Mission

 "Silk Screen's goals include educating communities about Asian and Asian American history, culture, experiences and issues; fostering understanding across lines of race, ethnicity, religion, age, and region; and sustaining growth and encouraging excellence in Asian American culture and cinema ("Our Story"). 

These aims are achieved through year-round programming of film festivals, outreach performances of music, dance, and theater, educational presentations of Asian traditions for primary and secondary schools as well as colleges and universities, and other innovative events. Silk Screen events continue to grow in reputation and attendance among all age groups. People have even come from surrounding states and foreign countries to attend Silk Screen events and film festivals.

Silk Screen’s long-term goals are to foster cross-cultural understanding, to encourage filmmaking in Pittsburgh, and ultimately to establish Pittsburgh as a center of cultural exchange that welcomes Asian immigrants and Asian Americans and celebrates their diverse cultures – thus inspiring a dynamic multicultural community and vibrant economy (McElhinney). Ultimately, year-round programming is projected to lead into weeks or months of events celebrating diversity in Asian and Asian American heritage across the Commonwealth, and fostering American appreciation of global community (FilmFestivals.com). 

I have been especially drawn to the vision of Harish Saluja in his creation of the organization:

"We believe that if you want to grow as a city, you need to welcome people of different colors, races, countries, and languages; and you need to be proactive about it. In this region, the new immigrants aren't coming from Italy or Ireland anymore. They're coming from Asia, and one of the things that we need to do as a city - and I feel strongly about this - is to be culturally welcoming.. I decided that we would form this organization and have Asian cultural events where people of different colors could come together under one tent. And it turns out that only 20 percent of people who attend our events are Asian. 80 percent are non-Asians, which is how I want it to be because Asians don't need me to tell them about Asian culture. It's non-Asians who can feel safe and comfortable coming to these events and learning about other countries. 

We also firmly believe that there are problems in this world. There is hatred, prejudice, ignorance and sadness; there are tears in this world. Now we can't solve all the problems, but we think we should do something, however small it is, to ameliorate these difficulties. And we feel that a performance by a musician, a show by an artist, a dance performance, a movie being seen and bread being broken together are positive things that compensate to some extent for all the negativity that goes on. If everybody felt that way, you would see a change in the world, and that's what we're trying to do."

("The Heinz Endowments") 

Activities

Film Festivals and Film Series

Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival

Silk Screen’s premier event is an annual 10-day film festival that takes place every May (recognized as Asian American Heritage Month) featuring screenings of over 20 contemporary films representing ethnic origins of Central, South, and East Asian countries and their people’s histories, cultures, experiences, and issues. The festival is preceded by an Opening Night Gala event featuring ethnic Asian music and dance performances, catering by ethnic restaurants, and its attendants are invited to dress in cultural attire. Over the following days and nights, the films are screened in three-to-five different locations. Whenever possible, each film is concluded with Question & Answer sessions with its international filmmakers and/or performers, even people from as far as Indonesia. (Baron). Featured films include those by award-winning directors, and winners of national and international film festivals such as Sundance, Toronto, Cannes, and the New York Asian Film Festival, among others.("Our Story") Films have represented origins from countries including Burma (through a 2012 showing of The Lady (2011), Afghanistan, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Korea, The Philippines, Turkey, Thailand,Vietnam, and Uzbekistan (Baron).

Silk Scream: Asian Horror Film Festival

Silk Screen annually presents a pair of internationally recognized and limited release Asian horror films in the final week of October, during the Halloween holiday season in an event called Silk Scream. Pittsburgh has been historically significant location in the horror film industry (recall the film "The Silence of the Lambs"), and Silk Screen became the first to bring a festival screening of Asian horror films.  

Film Series

Silk Screen also annually presents three academic film series for local college and university instruction, and to foster discourse on difficult social issues, controversies, and stereotypes within Asian countries and the United States, including women’s rights, gender issues, historical struggles, and prejudices. Film screenings and subsequent discussion are intended to increase awareness and to dispel cross-cultural ignorance and prejudices among academic audiences. Currently, Silk Screen organizes three distinct film series for three different academic institutions:

Asia Unreeled is presented annually at Winchester Thurston School through spring months, with four thought-provoking films (dramas and/or documentaries) which are meant to show diverse cultures, histories of Asian countries as they relate to present realities. These films are open to the public and are each followed with time for reflection and discussion, and occasionally by cultural activities. Asia Unreeled is presented also in partnership with Confucius Institute, the University of Pittsburgh Asian Studies Center and Winchester Thurston School.

Japanese Film Series is presented annually in partnership primarily with the University of Pittsburgh Asian Studies Center, among other nonprofit and academic organizations. This series features modern or classical Japanese films of any genre to give the public an opportunity to experience Japanese cinema.

Sewickley Film Series is an annual set of three films shown in January that is presented in partnership with the Sewickley Academy. Each series has an overarching theme (previous themes include “challenging stereotypes” and “women in Asian cultures”) and each film is followed with moderated discussion.

Other Programs

Silk Screen collaboratively develops year-round programming of media arts performances and other cultural events such as outreach concerts of Asian and Asian American music, dance and theater; and school presentations and parades celebrating Asian traditions and holidays such as Chinese New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, India Independence Day. These events are often in collaboration with schools, colleges, museums, and directly with musicians, artists, and performers ("Education Outreach Programs").

Radio Program

Silk Screen also produces the weekly broadcast “Music from India" through Pittsburgh’s Essential Public Radio at 90.5 FM. It is the longest running radio program of Indian music in the United States, beginning 1972 by Harish Saluja and Dr. Vijay Bahl, its current hosts. It broadcasts on Sundays from 8pm-10pm. 

Sponsors

Silk Screen has partnered with foundations, schools, universities, museums, over 30 arts and culture organizations, and several local Asian family-owned businesses.
http://silkscreenfestival.org/45/sponsors

References

http://www.silkscreenfestival.org

Baron, Jennifer. "Get reel at the Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival." Pop City. 09 May 2012: n. page. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. <http://www.popcitymedia.com/features/sscreenasia050912.aspx>

"East Meets Pittsburgh." Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization. Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization. Web. 30 Apr 2013. <http://www.silkscreenfestival.org/63/east-meets-pgh>

Educational Outreach Programs." Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization. Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization. Web. 30 Apr 2013. <http://www.silkscreenfestival.org/86/education-outreach-programs>

"Film Series." Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization. Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization. Web. 30 Apr 2013. <http://www.silkscreenfestival.org/34/film-series>

McElhinney, Kelli. "Cultural Awareness: An Important Story." Pop City. 10 May 2006: n. page. Web. 30 Apr 2013. <http://www.popcitymedia.com/features/saluja.aspx>

Interview by Carmen J. Lee. "Q&A with Harish Saluja." The Heinz Endowments. The Heinz Endowments, Pittsburgh. 05 April 2012. Web. 30 Apr 2013. <http://www.heinz.org/grants_spotlight_entry.aspx?entry=912>

"Our Story." Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization. Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization. Web. 30 Apr 2013. <http://www.silkscreenfestival.org/2/our-story>

"Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival" FilmFestivals.com. FilmFestivals.com, n.d. Web. 30 April 2013. <http://www.filmfestivals.com/en/festival/silk_screen_asian_american_film_festival_0>

Social Media Links
http://www.facebook.com/SilkScreen

http://www.facebook.com/SilkScreenPittsburgh?ref=ts

http://twitter.com/SilkScreenPgh 

Happy Easter - Reflecting on Christianity and Eastern Religions

Happy Easter to all my Christian friends!

To me this is another holiday among other Asian festivals announced by spring:

I missed Nowruz, the Persian New Year, where people jump over fire,
I missed Holi, the Indian festival, where people throw powdered color at each other,
and now I feel like I’m missing Easter, where people are playing games of finding eggs and candy.

So I can’t say anymore that Easter is the most important spring holiday I know of, but I know that it is still the most important Christian holiday. According to Christians, today is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead after dying so that everyone could be redeemed from sin. It’s a time to renew one’s faith, and to revel in the Christian spirit, and to relate with family and church.

It’s hard for me to admit this to my Christian friends, but I really can’t identify as Christian anymore. Still, I think there is a Christian part of me that doesn’t die, a part that does continue to be renewed in me. The spirit of Christianity in me is this: That I accept others unconditionally for who they are, and to love them more than myself. That I try to keep an attitude of self-sacrifice, humility, and love.

However, what distanced me from Christianity was that I drew near to other religions and other peoples. Unfortunately, I was raised to think that Christianity was an exclusive religion, and that non-Christians were people who simply failed to know and accept Christ. That Buddhism was just a philosophy, that Hindus worshipped idols, that Muslims hated Christians. This kind of thinking is so narrow, so offensive once you actually meet people from their respective cultures!

Once I was able to let go of the conservative Western religious thinking, Eastern religions felt so freeing to me. I remember a moment in Eastern religion class where I distinctly realized that I must accept Buddhism as equally valid to Christianity if I were really to give my life to studying Japanese. I remember embracing a spirit of Buddhism (though I don’t think a true Buddhist would let me word it this way!), and that adjusting perspective and perception truly led to inner peace. I remember visiting a Hindu temple with my close Indian friends. I remember one Turkish Muslim woman explaining why it was important for her to wear a headscarf, even if her mother fought with her against it, while another Turkish Muslim woman explained why she didn’t wear a headscarf though Islam is so important to her too - and her husband teaching me the first two names of Allah - Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim... 

And so I can't think of Christianity the same way. I can't think of this Easter the same way either. International people have shown and shared too much with me. I feel that my life would have been so much emptier if I never met them.

But I still wear a cross necklace, though not openly when it might offend someone. Whether I believe in Jesus or not, the idea of a cross necklace is to remind myself that someone representing God was willing to suffer agony and death for the sake of love for others. That loving and respecting someone sometimes means understanding and enduring their hell.

Actually, this particular necklace was given to a friend, who later gave me a similar one as if to restore my identity. 

And now it’s Easter, where people celebrate that Jesus rose again in triumph over death. In any case, it is a good reason to reflect on ideas of rebirth and renewal.

It seems that many of my friends have all been very stressed lately with exams, applications, and the resulting feelings of stress, inadequacy, and loneliness. I hope that Easter, or at least the spring sunshine here, is a time to reflect that life doesn't always end with suffering, and that even after death - or just a nervous breakdown - life blooms again.

My best friend, a Hindu, joked that Easter must be Jesus’ second birthday. I guess he meant it with regards to the idea of reincarnation. And that suddenly makes the meaning of the holiday even richer.

What really makes me feel born again is having been introduced to the myriad of other cultures and holidays, and the idea that all religions have things to teach people about people. But today I do want to reflect on Easter, and in the light of Eastern influences, and in the new light of spring which shines over all the world.


Notes:

I am sorry that all my links are of Wikipedia. I am relieved at least at finally having written here again even though I wrote this in one night (throughout the night!) rather than going through the research I could have done for such an essay as this. I realized that it's because of all these thoughts running in my head that I feel that I really should keep writing..