Pouya Mahmoodi has been forging a new path for Iranian music, weaving together the seemingly disparate threads of Persian classical tradition and rock, jazz, and blues. He was the lead singer and guitarist of the pioneering Iranian band BARAD who released an album on Hermes Records. His debut solo album Mehr (Faryaad; US release date February 19, 2008) showcases his virtuosic interweaving of musical worlds, drawing on elements that make Iran’s music unique.