Acclaimed Iranian singer Mamak Khadem has released a new single titled “Across the Oceans” (Six Degrees Records) with special guest Chris Martin (Coldplay). The single is accompanied by a video directed by the award-winning director and cinematographer Sam Javadi. “Across the Oceans” is the first single from Khadem’s upcoming Remembrance album, a work that pays tribute to her late father as she addresses themes of profound loss and transcendence.
“Across the Oceans” is inspired by Khadem’s work in refugee camps where she sings and hosts workshops for underprivileged children. One of her goals is for the kids to find strength and hope through music. During the COVID pandemic, she couldn’t do such work in person, but she still managed to record the children’s choir remotely, bringing a youthful uplifting energy to the song. The track also features the vocals and piano of Chris Martin (Coldplay), whose performance was key to the song’s foundation. Khadem also enlisted the renowned poet Coleman Barks to recite the verse of Rumi. Barks is considered one of the world’s leading Rumi scholars and Mamak notes “It was an honor when Coleman accepted my invitation to record and translate the beautiful poetry of Rumi for this song.”
Khadem worked with Iranian director and cinematographer Sam Javadi on the creation of the song’s video, which illuminates many of the key themes. The children in the video transcend their impoverished circumstances with the purity of their intention, while the whales they are trying to save symbolize the Earth and the current state of global warming, environmental degradation and ongoing water issues. Filming in Bushehr, Iran and Northern California, Javadi and his team used special effects and editing to bring the visual manifestation of the song to life.
Her new album Remembrance, scheduled for early 2022, is Mamak Khadem’s fourth solo release and her first with Six Degrees Records. It was written in the isolation of her Santa Monica home during the pandemic as her beloved father lived out his final days back in Iran. Due to travel restrictions, Mamak was unable to be with him for the last time.
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Author: World Music Central News Room
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