Having played the Chapman Stick for 28 years now, one aspect I never take for granted is how thoughtful, kind and supportive Emmett Chapman (the inventor of the stick) has been throughout the journey. To be able to interact with the inventor and genius of this instrument and be rewarded with such words. This is Emmett Chapman's response to the live performance video I just released. I poured my heart and soul into this project and these words mean a lot: 

"Just beautiful Nima, and all in my neck of the woods (no woods, no brook falling, just huge weathered rocks and chaparral). It’s an album in its consistency. You lay it all bare, your electronic orchestra, your Stick technique, your rig, and especially your harmonic concept, adventurously modal with those “backwards” chordal progressions - fresh, still new and rewarding. The drone shows up at the end, another revelation. 

You lay yourself bare as well, a passionate man with a mission, electronic gear encroaching head and body. Still, it seems you want to cry out, adding your shouted phrases over the entirety. Through ever growing layers of sound, that’s when it gets primal. 

Thanks for the lit up prism Stick, kept getting brighter with nightfall, lighting your face as well. 

With admiration, Emmett. (What those harmonies must do to your Persian bones!)"

This is the new CINIMA live performance film and it is very special to me as it is the result of a musical concept I’ve been working on for years.  At the beginning of the pandemic, I diverted all my creative attention to this project and happy to finally see it come to life.  The melding of electronic music with instrumentation and improvisation. 

I had a very small and special crew of very creative individuals, including my dear friend Amir Motlagh (director), that helped me bring this vision to life while we were on the mountainside of Fallbrook, California.

A little snippet into the Logic session for Starlight and building arps 

Solo section of the original "Starlight" with Emiliano Almeida on drums and my sensel iTar Frankenstein monster. 

A little snippet showcasing my vocoder buildup for my song Set You Free.

A remake of one of my favorite songs from my old Merge Factory project.  This one done with my good friend Delton Davis doing a great vocal percussion part that I layered to build up the energy to a chorus and laser harp solo.

 

Enya's Caribbean Blue reminds me of a much different time in the early 90's and makes me nostalgic.  I've been attempting a cover of this song for years and I was finally able to land on something I liked.  

After a year of conceptualizing this new multimedia show combining electronic music with laser performance and live visuals, finally finished the promo video and the launch of Jupiter Pulse.

My good friend and talented drummer and electronic musician Emiliano Almeida, AKA Two Plus, came by my studio and I captured his live performance using electronic drums and Ableton live.

My good friend Ali Nourbakhsh visited me from London last week and we jammed on a new song I'm working on. Here are the results.

Also, in 360