Nowroz 1401 by Farhot

In celebration of the Persianate new year usually taking place on March 21st Afghan-German producer artist Farhot announces his follow up project “Nowroz 1401” which translates into “New Year 1401” – the number marking the year according to the solar calendar which is used in countries like Afghanistan and Iran. While Nowroz is being celebrated in several additional regions like Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan or Kirgizstan and partly also in Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Georgia and Turkey – this 3-Track EP pays tribute to Afghan contemporary artists like singer-songwriter Calid, London based Elaha Saroor and rapper Khan all while referencing the golden era of Afghan psychedelic pop most prominently represented by Ahmad Zahir samples – and with that marking this special release as a contribution to preserving Afghan culture and tradition while Afghanistan’s recent brutal occupation by the Taliban continue to threaten and erase Afghan artistic tradition. Further “Nowroz 1401” was born out of the urgent feeling to uphold and celebrate an essential tradition of Persianate cultures so that the following generations of diaspora children don’t lose access to their cultural heritage while not being able to live or visit their countries of origin, where such holidays are institutionalized and therefore experienced as a community festivity.

With Ashiq Shodam - or “I fell in love” translated from Dari – Farhot channels the nostalgia of one of Ahmad Zahir’s most famous tracks “Laili Jan” into a beat based rendition in which Calid and Elaha offer their own interpretation of a love song that’s probably known and cherished by every Afghan no matter the age. Meanwhile Tanha Tanha feels like a distant cousin of Farhot’s most prominent instrumental release “Yak Sher” from his critically acclaimed sophomore Album “Kabul Fire Vol. 2” – the prominent melody made of smooth pianos and e-bases is carried by the sample of another popular Ahmad Zahir track and feels as melancholic as it feels hopeful and lighthearted. Rap e Dari as in “rap in dari” ft. Vienna based Khan closes the EP and might be the first hiphop track by an Afghan rapper that can compete with the contemporary quality of global hiphop traditions. Khans deep voice and his unbreakable flow perfectly complement Farhot’s signature sound aesthetics on his hiphop beats: monstruously energetic and eloquently produced. Contrasting the two previous tracks of “Nowroz 1401” Farhot proves that music by artists with roots in any region far east from Europe or the West doesn’t have to sound nostalgic or “traditional” to make an universal piece of music.

Farhot is the founder of Kabul Fire Records and has successfully been producing music for a wide range of artists for more than a decade now. His impressive body of work includes productions for artists like Giggs, Kano, Isaiah Rashad, Talib Kweli, Selah Sue, 113, LOC, Haftbefehl, Max Herre, Xatar, and many more.