Middle Eastern (album)


Middle Eastern is an album by Mehdi Rajabian, along with a hundred musicians from twelve countries of Middle East, in classic and Middle Eastern form, released by Sony Music Entertainment in March 2019. This album haven't been released in Iran due to the restrictions Rajabian is facing. This album includes 11 tracks which are 40 minutes in total. The initiative idea for this album came to Rajabian's mind while he was imprisoned due to his musical activities. Countries which are collaborating on this album list as below: Iran, Turkey, Yemen, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Egypt, Bahrain, and Tajikistan and Azerbaijan as guest appearances. In this album is made by the use of traditional instruments, as the main focus was on Middle Eastern tones.

Publication

This album was published worldwide in March 2019 by Sony Music Entertainment. It was available on both physical and digital markets to buy. This album hasn't been published Iran due to the restrictions Rajabian is facing.

Cover

The cover of the album is a photograph by Reza Deghati. As he claimed in one of his interviews with Al Jazeera, the photograph was shot in Iraq.

Musicians' Condition

The melodies of this album were created in the middle of war, vast water, in prison, poverty and under bombardments. Rajabian himself was in prison for two years due to his musical activities, and he wrote the initiative idea for the album then. The message this album carries is about tyranny, oppression, human rights, war, peace, and freedom.

Reflection in media

News agencies such as Washington Post, Euronews, ICI, MSN, Al Jazeera, Newsweek, BBC World, etc. did cover the album. Washington Post mentioned this that music can talk about suffering and human rights, and not just for fun and politics. Newsweek labeled this album as one of the greatest albums of Middle East.