Neera

Neera does not tell one single story; it tells multiple, entwining stories through its sounds. One thread is joy, creativity, and freedom in art. The different sonic combinations—created with violin, viola, kamancheh, tombak, spoken word, electronic pulses, and all the different timbres of each—show how the artists resist the restraints of being put in a box, labeled as a “violinist,” “classical musician,” or perhaps “Iranian immigrant.” Sarvin Hazin & Kimia Hesabi, like all of us, have a palette of experiences at their disposal, and they have used the full range in creating their debut album.

The inspiration from their identities is another thread; the music pulls from multiple traditions, inviting us to do the same. One story told is the strength and power of women throughout history. The piece titles give some clues, as they draw on Persian culture and obliquely allude to both ancient figures and more current women whose actions and values have become touchstones for Hazin & Hesabi, Persian culture, and sometimes throughout the world. The stories of each of these women—like the stories of all of us—are not isolated, but instead pull on the stories that came before, showing the connections across time, people, and cultures. The music itself is not specifically programmatic, but the grief and pain, harmoniously present with the meditative strength of those who persevere, spark change, and fight for true beauty is a theme throughout.

Neera is a multimedia project that blends various cultures and musical echo-systems. Derived from older Persian languages, Neera means “to shine light,” and they (or Hesabi and Hazin) took this meaning to heart by paying homage to Iranian women from different generations who were authentically and courageously themselves while living in a society that constantly worked to define them by enforcing its standards on their lives and identities.

Using Western classical instruments such as violin and viola, as well as Iranian classical instruments such as kamancheh and tombak, in combination with electronic sounds and vocals, give Neera a genre bending quality, and a unique and personal musical language and style.

Neera is a recipient of the Creator Development Fund from New Music USA in 2022.