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Mohsen Namjoo

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Mohsen Namjoo
محسن نامجو
Mohsen Namjoo in Symphonic Odyssey 2020
Born (1976-03-04) 4 March 1976 (age 49)
Torbat-e Jam, Razavi Khorasan, Iran
NationalityIranian
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • composer
  • musician
Years active1993–present
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
Labels
  • Daf-Daf
  • Payam
  • Stradivarius
  • Nedai
  • Hozeh Honari
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

Mohsen Namjoo (Persian: محسن نامجو) is an Iranian singer-songwriter, composer, and musician. His style of music is influenced by blues and rock as well as Iranian folk music.

Early life and education

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Namjoo was born on 4 March 1976 in Torbat-e Jam, a small town in Razavi Khorasan province in northeastern Iran. He was raised in the religious city of Mashhad.[1] He started learning classical Persian music when he was 12.[1] At a young age, he started listening to Western music and became interested in musicians like Jim Morrison, Eric Clapton, and Chris de Burgh.[1]

He was admitted to the Tehran University of Art in 1994.[1]

Career

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In late 1997 and early 1998, Namjoo had his first two concerts, themed "modern combination of Iranian poetry and music".[2] In 2005, he released a single "Nobahari" (Persian: نوبهاری), (lit."Fresh Spring"), based on the poem is by Iranian famous poet Sadi. The song is praising the Spring, and Namjoo dedicated it to Shahram Nazeri.[3]

In 2003 he started recording parts of his works in Tehran. His debut album titled Toranj was officially released in Iran in September 2007 and the last album to get legal license.[4][5][6] The album featured nine traditional folk songs, including poems from Hafez, Rumi, Baba Taher and Attar.[7][8][9][10][11] It was mostly produced underground music and was very well-received among the Iranian community. This album insulted the Islamic regime, which forced him into exile in 2008.[12] In 2009, while living in Vienna, he was sentenced to five years in prison in absentia for recording music that "dishonours" passages from the Quran.[13]

In 2010, Namjoo kicked off his "A Minor" tour, performing at many venues globally, including the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles[14] and the Sony Centre for the Arts in Toronto.[15] Mohsen Namjoo also released a single entitled "Such Strange Times" in June 2010, his first song performed in English. "Strange Times" words came from the Iranian poet Ahmad Shamlou.[16][17][18][19]

It was officially released in June 2010.[20][21][22][23]

In the fall of 2011, Namjoo recorded his next album Alaki live during his concert in Stanford University. This album was part of his work in the Stanford Pan Asian Music Festival. The accompanying band consisted of Ali Bazyar (Percussion), Dina Zarif (back vocal), Tannaz Jaffari (back vocal), Serwah Tabbak (backing vocals), Siamack Sanaie (Guitar), Mark Deutsch: (Bazantar, Guitar)

In the fall of 2012, Namjoo released his new album, 13/8. Thirteen/eight is a compilation of six pieces that were developed in the United States during the previous year. The performance had been prepared in collaboration with California-based musicians James Riotto (Contrabass), Robert Shelton (Keyboard), Ezra Lipp (Drums) and Greg Ellis (Percussion). Payam Entertainment produced a series of live performances for 2012. The inaugural performance in Berkeley, California, will be recorded in preparation for a future double-album release by the same title.[24]

In late 2013, Mohsen Namjoo became an Artist-in-Residence in the Brown University Middle East Studies department. On 7 December 2013, to kick off his residency, he performed at the Granoff Center for the Creative Arts.[25] In spring 2014, he taught the course "Tradition and Protest: Persian and Iranian Music," and gave several musical talks to public audiences on topics including "Shahram Shabpareh: Honesty and Minor Scale"[26] and Iranian Rhythms.[27] The spring 2014 semester was capped by a concert on the evening of 10 May.[28] In the fall of 2014, Namjoo taught "Revolution and Poets: Content and Form in Iranian Poetry."

His newest song named, "Begoo be baran" composed by Ehsan Matoori was released in March 2019 by Sheed Records company.[29] His new album "Phantasm" composed and produced by Ehsan Matoori released on 27 April 2019, in San Francisco.

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Namjoo has appeared in several films. He was featured in the documentary Sounds of Silence (Amir Hamz and Mark Lazarz, 2006) which has been screened at international film festivals.[30] He also acted in a feature narrative film called A Few Kilos of Dates for a Funeral (Saman Saloor, 2006)[31] which played in various film festivals. In 2016, he played in the feature film Radio Dreams by Babak Jalali.[32] [33]

Controversies

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In August of 2020, an anonymous Twitter account with the handle "Mahi" (Fish) accused Namjoo of sexual assault and attempted rape. Following this tweet, several other women came forward on social media accusing Namjoo of assault and/or harassment. "Mahi" eventually released a police report from the attempted rape that took place in California in 2013 to BBC Persian Television.[34][35]

In April of 2022, Namjoo posted a since-deleted video on his own YouTube channel in which he offered his apologies to those who had accused him of harassment. “Yours truly, Mohsen Namjoo, sincerely, honestly and with humility, apologizes to you for whatever words or deeds that might have been wrong or have hurt you. I express my regrets to both you and your respected and noble families.”

However, the next day, an audio recording of the singer speaking candidly was leaked online.[36] Over the course of the 17-minute monologue, Namjoo makes a number of statements that ignited controversy,[37][38][39] such as: "I say this with all humility: one hour of my breathing equals six months in the life of any one of you." He also called rape victims “crazy”, ridiculed the #MeToo movement, and makes a homophobic remarks. On the topic of consent Namjoo states: "'No means no?' Who says 'no means no?' The beauty of Persian literature is that 'no' means 1000 things."[40] Namjoo also declares that he is better than all women singers and, as an expert, claims that all young Iranian woman singers sing “off-key.” Namjoo also expressed overt homophobia in the recording by targeting lesbians: “The only way she can attract attention is to say she is a lesbian because she knows that if she says she is straight... there some things that are God-given, and her appeal is so below-average that nothing has been able to compensate for it.” The recording begins with him saying that since the accusations, his Instagram followers and Spotify plays have only increased. [41] [42]

Discography

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Namjoo in concert (2012) in Urbana, Illinois

Albums

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Studio albums
Title (English) Title (Persian)
2005 Damavand]] دماوند
2006 Jabr گیس
2007 Toranj ترنج
2008 Jabr-e Joghrafiyaei جبرِ جغرافیایی
2009 Oy آخ
2011 Useless Kisses بوسه‌های بیهوده
2014 Trust the Tangerine Peel از پوست نارنگی مدد
2016 Personal Cipher صفر شخصی
2018 On the String of the Tear's Bow بر چلّه کمان اشک
2019 Phantasm سودای من
2020 Motantan مطنطن
2020 Symphonic Odyssey سمفونیک اودیسه
2022 Odd Time Rock لنگ راک
2023 Restless بی تاب
2024 Oula اولى
Live albums
Year Title (English) Title (Persian) Month
2011 Alaki الکی In December
2012 13/8 سیزده/هشت In Fall
2017 Voices from the East آوازهایی از شرق In July
2017 Axis of Solitude مؤلفۀ عزلت In October

Books

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Audiobooks

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Books

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  • Dorrabe Makhdoosh (2017)[43]
  • Chahar Maghale (2018)[43]

Theatre

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Filmography

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Title Year Credited as Notes Ref.
Actor Composer Music department Soundtrack
Unforgotten Positives 2004 No Yes No No Short
Kontrast No Yes No No Short
Hofreh 2006 No Yes No No Short
Chand kilo khorma baraye marassem-e tadfin Abbas No No No
Hamkhaneh 2007 No Yes No No
Koodak, dirooz, khial No Yes No No Documentary
Sky Without Passport 2008 Self Yes Yes No Documentary
Not an illusion 2009 Self No No No Documentary
Appropriate Behavior 2014 No No No Yes performer: "YAARE JAANI" (BIRJANDI ETHNIC)
Aramesh ba diazepam 10 2005 Self No No No Documentary
A Deep Breath to End No Yes No No Documentary
Bodkin Ras 2016 No Yes No Yes
Radio Dreams Hamid Royani No No No
Behrouz: A Legend on Screen 2017 No No Yes No Documentary
The King of Feathers 2020 Self No No No
Mitra TBA Self Yes No No post-production

Performance

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Philadelphia, U.S.

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2014: Mohsen Namjoo performed with the Al-Bustan Takht Ensemble as part of the Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture concert series.[44]

Stockholm, Sweden

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2020: Mohsen Namjoo Performed with Stockholm Symphony Orchestra.[45]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Fathi, Nazila (1 September 2007). "Iran's Dylan on the Lute, With Songs of Sly Protest". The New York Times. NY. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Mohsen Namjoo Official Website | Mohsen Namjoo Music". Mohsennamjoo.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Magiran".
  4. ^ Talattof, Kamran (2015). Persian Language, Literature and Culture: New Leaves, Fresh Looks. Routledge. ISBN 9781317576914.
  5. ^ Olszewska, Zuzanna (1 November 2015). The Pearl of Dari : Poetry and Personhood among Young Afghans in Iran. Bloomington. ISBN 9780253017635. OCLC 936338723.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ Bleifeld, W. (1 February 1976). "[Letter: Beta-receptor blockaders in intraventricular conduction disorders?]". Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift. 101 (7): 264–265. ISSN 0012-0472. PMID 2456.
  7. ^ "Discography | Mohsen Namjoo Official Website". Mohsennamjoo.com. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  8. ^ "iTunes – Music – Toranj by Mohsen Namjoo". iTunes. 1 September 2007. Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  9. ^ "Mohsen Namjoo – Toranj | Iranian Album Review". Bia2.com. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  10. ^ "زندگینامه: محسن نامجو (۱۳۵۴-)". Hamshahrionline.ir. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  11. ^ "FarsNewsAgency – ط®ط¨ط±ع¯ط²ط§ط±ظٹ ظپط§ط±ط³". Farsnews.com. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  12. ^ Neshat, Shirin (1 April 2012). Sussler, Betsy; McStay, Chantal; Russ, Sabine (eds.). "Mohsen Namjoo by Shirin Neshat". BOMB (119). New York City: New Arts Publication. ISSN 0743-3204. OCLC 643482449. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  13. ^ Michaels, Sean (16 July 2009). "'Iranian Bob Dylan' sentenced to five years for singing Qur'an". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  14. ^ "Mohsen Namjoo the "Bob Dylan of Iran" At Walt Disney Concert Hall In Los Angeles – June 20th, 2010 « Music Zeitgeist – The Best New and Indie Music Blog". musiczeitgeist.com. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  15. ^ "Iranian Musical Rebel Mohsen Namjoo comes to Toronto" (Press release). 20 September 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  16. ^ "Discography | Mohsen Namjoo Official Website". Mohsennamjoo.com. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  17. ^ "iTunes - Music - Strange Times - Single by Mohsen Namjoo". iTunes. 1 June 2010. Archived from the original on 11 June 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  18. ^ "Mohsen Namjoo | Strange Times - Single". CD Baby. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  19. ^ "Persian Music Iconoclast Mohsen Namjoo Rocks Through 'Strange Times'". Spinner. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  20. ^ "Discography | Mohsen Namjoo Official Website". Mohsennamjoo.com. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  21. ^ "iTunes - Music - Strange Times - Single by Mohsen Namjoo". iTunes. 1 June 2010. Archived from the original on 11 June 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  22. ^ "Mohsen Namjoo | Strange Times - Single". CD Baby. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  23. ^ "Persian Music Iconoclast Mohsen Namjoo Rocks Through 'Strange Times'". Spinner. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  24. ^ "Press Release: Thirteen/Eight Mohsen Namjoo and Ensemble Live in Berkeley and Los Angeles | Mohsen Namjoo Official Website". Mohsennamjoo.com. 4 April 2012. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  25. ^ "Middle East Brown". Middleeastbrown.org. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  26. ^ "Shahram Shabpareh: Honesty and Minor Scale". Middleeastbrown.org. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  27. ^ "Upcoming Events » » Mohsen Namjoo: "Iranian Rhythms"". Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  28. ^ "When you are talking about Iranian fusion, what are you talking about?". Middleeastbrown.org. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  29. ^ "Instagram". Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  30. ^ "Sounds of Silence – Trailer – Cast – Showtimes – The New York Times". 23 September 2008. Archived from the original on 23 September 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  31. ^ Salur, Saman (1 June 2011), Chand kilo khorma baraye marassem-e tadfin (Comedy, Drama, Thriller), Mohsen Tanabandeh, Nader Fallah, Mohsen Namjoo, retrieved 9 January 2025
  32. ^ Jalali, Babak (19 May 2017), Radio Dreams (Comedy, Drama), Lars Ulrich, Bella Warda, Mohsen Namjoo, Butimar Productions, retrieved 9 January 2025
  33. ^ "Mohsen Namjoo Live in San Francisco — Diaspora Arts Connection". 27 April 2019. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  34. ^ Iran International ايران اينترنشنال (4 May 2021). زیر ‌ذره‌بین: روایت ماهی از تعرض محسن نامجو در شب حادثه. Retrieved 9 January 2025 – via YouTube.
  35. ^ "An Iranian Star Who Doesn't Understand No Means No". iranwire.com. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  36. ^ هر دم بیل {HAR DAM BIL} (17 April 2021). فایل صوتی مخفیانه محسن نامجو که بعد از عذرخواهیش از قربانیان آزار جنسی به طورزیرزمینی لو رفت.😱😱😱😱. Retrieved 9 January 2025 – via YouTube.
  37. ^ "واکنش‌های گسترده به انتشار ویدئو و فایل صوتی محسن نامجو درباره آزار جنسی". BBC News فارسی (in Persian). 17 April 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  38. ^ "واکنش‌های گسترده به انتشار ویدئو و فایل صوتی محسن نامجو درباره آزار جنسی". BBC News فارسی (in Persian). 17 April 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  39. ^ FRANCE 24 English (21 April 2021). 'No doesn't mean no': Iran's 'Namjoo scandal' triggers debate on sexual abuse. Retrieved 9 January 2025 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  40. ^ "Middle East matters - 'No doesn't mean no': Iran's 'Namjoo scandal' triggers debate on sexual abuse". France 24. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  41. ^ "An Iranian Star Who Doesn't Understand No Means No". iranwire.com. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  42. ^ "016a105a6c". United States Department of State. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  43. ^ a b c "Mohsen Namjoo – Bio". Mohsen Namjoo. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  44. ^ "Classical and Contemporary Persian and Arab Music". Albustanseeds.org. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  45. ^ "Symphonic Odyssey 2020". www.youtube.com. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
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