Maryam Akhondy & Banu

All-female a-capella group from IranMaryam Akhondy, international known as the singer of the famous "Schäl Sick Brass Band" who won several awards, is a classical trained singer from Teheran. Because of the difficult situation for artists in Iran - esp. female artists - she moved to Europe and lives since several years in Cologne /Germany.Maryam Akhondy has been discovered by the famous actor Ostad Esmail Mehrtasch when she was 18 years old and thus had the chance to study classical singing at the academy of Arts in Teheran. She studied the "radif" the special Iranian music-system and also theater-science in Iran.In 1986 she moved to Europe because of the restrictions she had to face as an artist. Besides singing for several years with the international renown band "Schäl Sick Brass Band", she led several classical Iranian ensembles, produced an Iranian musical some years ago and sang as a guest-singer all over the world with various musical groups, Iranian but also bands from Afganistan...Music has always been a part of the Iranian culture. It tells of the history of the country, of fights and victories, revolutions and hopes of the people. And very often simply of love, love between women and men, but also love of women for their children or their parents. In countries like Iran the public appearanc of female singers is characterized by largest difficulties.. Only for religious rituals, called "Tazieh", it is allowed to make and to listen to music. For men it is forbidden to listen to the singing of women. Therefore singing is possible only in private spere, where women are alone or among themselves: at the craddle, at the housework and work in the fields or on woman's celebration.Maryam Akhondy made it her business to bring traditional women's songs back to life again. Over years she has been collecting songs. With these songs she wants to give a voice to the Persian women, who were not present with theri songs on the stages of the concerthalls and musicfestivals until now."Banu" (Persian word for noble lady or distinguished lady) is a kind of musical expedition to the different regions and cultures of Iran. It gives an informative view of the singing culture and self-confidencd of the Persian women.Most of these songs are full of live and energy, being accompanied by various percussion-instruments. This is quite unusual for Iranian music which is often more serene and melancholic. But these old folk-songs are funny, ironic and give a view on the Iranian woman when she is in private.