Announcing The Fourth Light by Niyaz - August 19
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 8, 2023
Presenting The Fourth Light, an Immersive Multimedia Experience by Notable Electroacoustic Group Niyaz in Collaboration with Interactive Designer and Visual Artist Jerome Delapierre.
"On The Fourth Light, [NIYAZ] continues to mine medieval Sufi mystical poetry as well as instruments and songs from across the Middle East. With electronic beats, they create a swirling, whirling palette of colors fronted by Ali's rich and precise voice."
NPR
"The Fourth Light Project is a mesmerizing, immersive multimedia production combining the ensemble’s rich and riveting electroacoustic music with a spectacular display of cutting-edge, interactive visual effects..."
Classical Voice
“... an evolutionary force in contemporary Middle Eastern music.”
Huffington Post
LOS ANGELES – June 8, 2023 – Farhang Foundation and the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music are proud to announce the highly anticipated stage performance of THE FOURTH LIGHT: An Immersive Multimedia Experience by the renowned musical group Niyaz featuring Azam Ali at UCLA’s Royce Hall on August 19th.
This unique multimedia experience combines captivating music, stunning visuals, dance, and innovative technologies to create an immersive and unforgettable journey for audiences.
THE FOURTH LIGHT is an original production created by Iranian vocalist, composer, and two-time JUNO Award nominee Azam Ali and Iranian multi-instrumentalist, composer, and JUNO Award-nominee Loga Ramin Torkian, the founding members of internationally acclaimed group Niyaz. This groundbreaking multimedia experience uses interactive technologies and advanced projection body-mapping techniques that respond to sound and movement in real time. The result creates a new kind of digital scenography and live musical experience, in which virtual and real space merge to create an illusionistic three-dimensional environment that eliminates the distance between the audience and performers. This seamless synthesis of sound, space, image, and light invites the audience inside the art to share in a unique narrative and multi-sensory experience.
THE FOURTH LIGHT is inspired by the first female Sufi mystic and poet, Rabia Al Basri, born in the 8th century. Al Basri set forth the doctrine of DIVINE LOVE and non-duality, which today lies at the heart of Sufi mysticism. She is also considered the first feminist of the region, as she broke with the gender norms of her time and defined her own path as a woman. Al Basri was deeply revered by some of the most influential Persian language poets, such as Attar of Nishapur and Jalal-Al-Din Rumi, who both wrote about her. THE FOURTH LIGHT is a tribute to this iconic figure from the Middle East who transcended religious and cultural boundaries with her message of love.
"We are delighted to help bring this groundbreaking performance to UCLA and Royce Hall," said Alireza Ardekani, Executive Director of Farhang Foundation. THE FOURTH LIGHT is a testament to the power of art in transcending boundaries and connecting people from different backgrounds. Farhang Foundation is thrilled to have this opportunity to once again collaborate with the incredible creative team of Azam Ali and Loga Ramin Torkian on this project, along with our excellent partners at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. This performance represents Farhang’s ongoing commitment to showcasing the richness and diversity of Iranian art forms and fostering cross-cultural understanding. We invite everyone to join us for this extraordinary event and experience the magic of Niyaz's music and the visual spectacle of the project."
"UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music and the Iranian Music Program are proud to partner with Farhang Foundation in presenting Niyaz in this innovative project,” said Dr. Shahab Paranj, Post-Doctoral Scholar of the Iranian Music Program at UCLA. “Niyaz’s use of Iranian music and Persian poetry combined with captivating interactive multimedia elements ensures to deliver a truly unique experience in THE FOURTH LIGHT project.”
“During this tumultuous time in our homeland Iran, when women are rising so bravely in their quest for freedom, I cannot help but reflect on how this struggle has its roots as far back as the 8th century with Rabia Al Basri,” said Azam Ali of Niyaz. “For us, this show has always been about celebrating the power of women. Presenting it in Los Angeles in collaboration with Farhang Foundation and the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music is such a tremendous honor.”
The performance of THE FOURTH LIGHT by Niyaz will take place on Saturday, August 19, 2023, for one night only at UCLA's Royce Hall. Tickets are now available for purchase in person through the UCLA Ticket Office or online via Farhang Foundation's official website. For tickets and more information, please visit Farhang.org/Niyaz.
About NIYAZ
Niyaz is an internationally renowned musical group founded by Iranian-born, Indian-raised vocalist, composer Azam Ali and Iranian multi-instrumentalist and composer Loga Ramin Torkian. Their music blends traditional Persian and Middle Eastern sounds with contemporary electronic elements, creating a unique fusion that transcends borders and cultures. Today with four best-selling and critically acclaimed albums released on Six Degrees Records, all of which have debuted at #1 on iTunes and garnered the band an incredible amount of media attention, including features on NPR, PRI, BBC World, Billboard magazine, Wall Street Journal, and The Huffington Post, Niyaz continues to tour internationally and build on its impressive and loyal fan base worldwide. Their performances have captivated audiences worldwide, and their groundbreaking multimedia production, "The Fourth Light," has received critical acclaim for its innovation and artistic vision.
About Farhang Foundation
 |
Farhang Foundation is a member-supported nonreligious, nonpolitical and nonprofit foundation established in 2008 to celebrate and promote Iranian art and culture for the benefit of the community-at-large. The foundation supports a broad range of academic and cultural activities by funding university programs, diverse cultural programs such as the celebrations of Nowruz, and Shab-e Yalda as well as musical performances, film screenings and festivals. |
For media inquiries contact:
Tannaz Guivi | press@farhang.org / 310-666-1546
