Summer 2016 and we performed Orchestra of Samples in the UK city of Leicester for the Journeys Festival, an event focusing on community cultural exchanges and collaborations, and who regularly work with artists from refugee and sanctuary seeking backgrounds.  The festival had introduced us to Iranian percussionist, composer and producer Arian Sadr who performed with us, so given a spare couple of hours in the afternoon we did a recording session with him in the BBC Radio Leicester building (where the artists dressing rooms were set-up).

Born in Iran, Arian grew up fascinated by Persian percussion, learning to play from the age of seven.  He studied Tonbak (the Persian goblet drum) and the Daf (the large circular frame drum) and in 2003, while still a young teenager, he had the opportunity to leave Iran and settle in the UK, where he’d eventually study music professionally.

As well as now being an experienced composer and producer, Arian also performs as both a solo artist and as part of groups, most notably with the World Music Network award winning act Haymanot Tesfa trio with Ethiopian singer Haymanot Tesfa and Egyptian multi-instrumentalist Mina Salama.  Arian was also previously a member of the Manchester International Roots Orchestra.  He also now teaches Persian drumming skills with workshops, one-to-one lessons and in schools and community groups, check him out here: www.ariansadr.com

2018 UPDATE NOTE: Arian has since performed with us many times, including dates on two UK tours in 2017 and 2018.

With huge thanks to the Journeys Festival and BBC Radio Leicester.