Music
Albums, singles, and collaborations released on major platforms
Reverse Silence (2019)
Reverse Silence is the debut full-length album by Khardal, blending elements of jazz, funk, and funk-rock into a dynamic instrumental form. As the founder, bass player, composer, and producer, I guided the creative direction of the record from composition to arrangement, recording, and production.
The album explores the atmosphere of urban life — a city alive with noise and tension — where the voices of minorities are often silenced. Its title draws inspiration from Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann’s Spiral of Silence theory, which suggests that minority viewpoints tend to be suppressed, while majority perspectives are amplified. This conceptual framework shaped the narrative arc of the album, giving musical form to themes of suppression, struggle, and resilience.
Musically, Reverse Silence represents a turning point in my career, expanding from local performances to a professionally released body of work. The record highlights Khardal’s experimental approach to rhythm and harmony, fusing Persian musical sensibilities with contemporary funk-driven grooves. Released both in physical format and on major streaming platforms, the album resonated with audiences in Iran and abroad, balancing the energy of live improvisation with the precision of studio production.
Blue Days (Single-2019)
Blue Days was released as a standalone single by Khardal, created during a period when devastating floods swept across Iran. The track reflects on the emotional turbulence caused by natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes, translating those experiences into a progressive rock narrative.
The composition carries listeners through shifting moods — from anxiety and tension to moments of dread — before finally returning to a sense of hope. This structure, while rooted in the band’s earlier rock influences, expands into a more narrative-driven style, marking an evolution in Khardal’s musical journey.
The single’s cover art was designed by Arash Zarifian, the visual artist behind Khardal’s album artwork, whose imagery of surreal landscapes mirrors the song’s emotional and narrative depth.
Wooden Dance (Single)
Wooden Dance draws inspiration from the rich cultural traditions of Khorasan, an ancient region in northeastern Iran often referred to as the land where the sun rises. This area has long been a cradle of poetry and music, home to masters such as Ferdowsi, Khayyam, and Attar, and is especially renowned for its distinctive folk and classical modes known as Maqam music.
Among its many traditions, ritual dances have played a central role. The Wooden Dance (Raghs-e Choubi) originated as a pre-battle performance, where dancers struck sticks together in preparation for war. Khardal’s single reinterprets this ancient ritual through the lens of contemporary music, blending the Dastgah-e Dashti mode and motifs from the local Toraqeh-ye Kabud theme with the rhythmic drive of funk and electronic fusion.
The single’s cover artwork was designed by Mojtaba Adibi, while an accompanying short animation was created by Sadegh Foroughi, visually amplifying the energy and heritage embedded in the piece.
Album 13 (2023) – Navid Arbabian
13 is one of Navid Arbabian’s most significant works, produced by Mehdi Amiri and recorded in Istanbul at Canavar Studio as a full ensemble performance — a method that brought immediacy and energy while meeting international recording standards.
I performed as the bass player and later co-mixed the album with Navid in Iran. Featuring 13 tracks and two vocalists, Navid Arbabian and Farzaneh Faghihi, the record blends verses from Amir Khusro Dehlavi, Hilali Jaghata’i, and Reza Abedinzadeh with contemporary arrangements.
As expressed in the album’s booklet:
“It is said that at the Last Supper, when Jesus and the twelve disciples gathered, the thirteenth was Judas Iscariot, whose kiss was rewarded with silver. Thirteen has often been seen as ominous — feared by many — yet in Eastern wisdom, whatever comes to you arises from within you. And if something appears in your path, accept it and continue walking. What prevents you from going forward is only yourself…”
This symbolism frames the album’s journey through hope and anxiety, sorrow and joy, returning to resilience and acceptance.
Booye Atret Hanooz (EP)
by Pooyan Ghandi & Siamak Baghdadi
In this collaborative EP, I performed as the bass player and also participated in the music videos accompanying the release. The record presents a modern re-interpretation of Persian poetry through contemporary arrangements and heartfelt performance.
One of the highlights of the EP is the track “Dam”, featuring verses by the classical Persian poet Khayyam. The piece was re-arranged by Pooyan Ghandi into a modern version and performed with the emotive vocals of Siamak Baghdadi, blending timeless poetry with fresh musical expression.
Color (Single, 2024)
by Masoud Fayaz Zadeh & Siroos Milani
Color is a collaborative single released in 2024, composed and arranged by Masoud Fayaz Zadeh, one of Iran’s most respected arrangers, with lyrics and vocals by Siroos Milani. I contributed both as a co-composer and as the bass player, shaping the harmonic and rhythmic foundation of the track.
The song blends modern rock-infused textures with poetic lyricism, reflecting an expressive narrative that captures both intensity and vulnerability. The track was mixed and mastered by Ramin Mazaheri, whose production expertise gave the release its polished, international sound.
With its strong artistic collaboration and refined production, Color stands as a distinctive 2024 release that unites three creative voices into a powerful and cohesive work.
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The Wheel (Single) – Reza Radpour
The Wheel is a collaborative work by Reza Radpour and Danial Kooshki, set to the timeless poetry of Rumi. I contributed to the composition and arrangement, shaping the piece as a modern soft rock track with layered guitars and bass lines that drive its texture and atmosphere.
The song captures the philosophical essence of the wheel of life — constant motion, turning, and transformation — mirroring the ecstatic movement of the Sema dance in Rumi’s tradition. Its rhythmic progression and evolving dynamics are designed to lead the listener through a sense of rotation and flow, evoking both contemplation and uplift.
The piece was mixed and mastered by Ehsan Imani and re-arranged by Morteza Hosseini, ensuring a polished sound that blends cultural depth with contemporary production.
Yar Mara, Ghar Mara (Track 3)
from the album Only the Voice Remains – Parsa Asadzadeh
This track was co-composed and arranged by Danial Kooshki and Siroos Milani Nia, with mixing by Milani and mastering by Mohammad Javad Sam Nezhad. The lyrics are drawn from the mystical poetry of Rumi (Mawlana Jalal al-Din Balkhi), whose words form the emotional and spiritual core of the piece.
The music combines electronic ambient textures with subtle acoustic layering, designed to reflect the contemplative and transcendental atmosphere of the poetry. The arrangement builds around a minimal yet expressive structure, creating a meditative sonic space that resonates with the mystical tone of Rumi’s verses.
As part of Only the Voice Remains, the debut independent album by Parsa Asadzadeh, this track contributes to a broader project that brings together multiple guest artists, each interpreting classic Iranian poetry through their own musical lens.
Safe Place (Single)
by Voltage – a collaborative project between Danial Kooshki and Siroos Milani
Safe Place is an electronic track with roots in industrial rock, blending dark textures with driving rhythms. The lyrics, written by Siroos Milani, reflect an inner dialogue — a voice torn between moving forward and being held back by its own scars.
I contributed the arrangement of the track and performed the bass guitar, shaping much of the sonic atmosphere. The piece explores themes of struggle, vulnerability, and resilience through a hybrid sound that merges electronic production with rock influences.
Bullet Proof (Single, 2024)
by Voltage – a collaborative project between Danial Kooshki and Siroos Milani
Bullet Proof continues Voltage’s exploration of electronic soundscapes fused with industrial rock influences, following the band’s earlier release Safe Place. With dark textures, layered synths, and driving rhythms, the track builds an atmosphere of resistance and intensity, mirroring its title.
I contributed to the arrangement and bass performance, helping to shape the track’s sonic depth and groove, while Siroos Milani provided the lyrics and vocals, adding a raw, emotional dimension to the piece.
Released in 2024, Bullet Proof reflects Voltage’s evolving identity — blending electronic production with rock sensibilities to create a hybrid sound that is both experimental and powerful.
