'Hidden Voices Unveiled (parts 1 and 2)''

I have a new release out called 'Hidden Voices Unveiled' which I am very excited to share.
 
The two pieces that make up this new single were originally written for a project that intended to focus on the fact that life in Afghanistan was improving for women – centering on the fact that young Afghan women were able to go to school. For various reasons the film was never made, and unfortunately since then the Taliban have regained power in the country, reversing the good work that it intended to highlight.
 
It was really disappointing as the film would have a very powerful documentary. However, I was particularly pleased with some of the music I had written for it, and decided to developed these 2 tracks into more finished pieces in their own right.
 
The first one “Hidden Voices Unveiled Part 1” begins with an ambient backdrop building into a more triumphant orchestral Western classical sound, whereas the second track is has a more Eastern feel and features guest vocals from internationally acclaimed US-based Iranian artist Mahsa Vahdat, who is a strong advocate for women’s rights.
 
Born in Iran, Mahsa now lives in America because of the oppression in her own country. She has fearlessly defied the bans on music and solo female singers imposed by Iranian authorities after the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979. 'Hidden Voices Unveiled part 2' features Vahdat repeatedly singing “When Will We Be Heard' getting increasingly louder throughout, with the piece finishing with just her voice.
 
She says about the track "When I heard the music I started to sing like a painter, shaping sound and ornaments. I sang 'my voice in your sky', perhaps a deep desire to fly back to my homeland. When I listen to my voice, and the music in the mix, I felt it emerged little by little like the sun rising or moon appearing.”
 
As a result of developing the tracks more I also wanted to expand the topic because unfortunately it's not just Afghan women who are in this situation. There are numerous examples of women, and men who are persecuted, oppressed, unheard, such as the Rohingas, the Uighurs, various religious and ethnic communities, the list is unfortunately pretty endless.
 
The pieces are both ultimately meant to be inspirational – symbolic of the hope for change in the future.