Azam Ali

In a Career which spans over a decade and includes ten collaborative and solo albums, Iranian born and Indian raised singer/composer Azam Ali has confirmed her place as being one of the most prolific, versatile, and gifted performers on the world music stage today. An international touring artist, her unique voice and genre-defying compositions have won her legions of fans worldwide as well as the respect of critics and her piers. Currently based in Montreal, Canada, Azam Ali is considered to be one of the best singers and composers in world music today.

Azam’s immense talent and ability to adapt her voice to any musical style have drawn the attention of many diverse artists. Azam has collaborated in studio and on stage with Serj Tankian of System of a Down, The Crystal Method, Pat Mastellato and Trey Gunn of King Crimson, Dredg, Chris Vrenna of Nine Inch Nails, Ben Watkins of Juno Reactor, Buckethead, Steve Stevens, Rhys Fulber of Delerium, Mercan Dede, the world renowned Japanese group Kodo, Zakir Hussain, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, and Mickey Hart with whom she also toured for two years as a lead singer in his group Bembe Orisha.

Word of Azam Ali’s talent quickly spread through Hollywood as well. Azam has worked with many world renowned film composers such as Harry Gregson- Williams, Mychael Danna, Graeme Revell, Ramin Djawadi, Brian Tyler, Michael Giachinno, Christopher Young, Tyler Bates, Jeff Rona etc. Azam’s distinctive voice can also be heard on myriad film and television scores among which include "Matrix- Revolutions", “300”, “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”, "Godsend", "Papparazi", "The Nativity Story", "Speed Racer", “Lara Croft-:Tomb raider”, “The Fight Club”, “Season of the witch”, "Children of Dune", "Earthsea", "Dawn of the Dead", “True Blood”, "Alias", "The Agency, and "Prison Break".

Azam has also made major vocal and musical contributions to several big video games which include “Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow”, for which she won “best original song” at the Hollywood Music Awards in 2007, “Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands” , and the upcoming major game “Uncharted 3”.

Loga Ramin Torkian

Iranian born composer and multi-instrumentalist Loga Ramin Torkian is internationally recognized for his ground- breaking work with world music groups Niyaz and Axiom Of Choice, both of which he co-founded. Born in Tehran, Iran, Loga moved to the United States as a teenager after the Iranian Revolution.

As a multi-instrumentalist Loga experienced a profound need to expand the sonic capabilities and range of Iranian music, believing that this could further widen the possibilities of his rich musical heritage and bring it into to a modern platform. This need has contributed greatly to his unique approach to Iranian traditional music and has set him apart as a true visionary in his field. During his years with Axiom of Choice Loga was credited for creating the first ever quarter-tone Guitar with movable frets, to which he was able to adapt many of the traditional Iranian techniques, melodies and ornamentation which were a large part of his musical expression. In 2004, still unsatisfied with the limited expression of his instruments, he felt the urge to push further on these boundaries and sought out the help of renowned instrument maker Jonathan Wilson who introduced him to what would become one of Loga’s main forms of expression- the Guitar Viol, a bowed electric Guitar, to which Loga could finally adapt the entire range of eastern modality. Since then Loga has worked closely with Jonathan to develop the Kamaan - a bowed acoustic instrument which Jonathan specifically designed for him. Though Loga is highly accomplished on a wide array of instruments such as the Lafta, Guitar, Djura etc., his main instruments are the Turkish Saz, the Kamaan and the Guitar Viol. With its haunting sound that mesmerizes audiences, Loga is one of the few musicians in the world who performs the Guitar Viol live, and what makes his style so unmistakable is that he is able to apply traditional Persian bowing techniques and melodies to his playing.

Aside from his personal artistic accomplishments, Loga’s talents have become sought after by many renowned film composers in Hollywood such as Harry Gregson Williams, Hans Zimmer and Ramin Djawdi. His unique talents have been featured on many major film scores which include “Body of Lies”, “Iron Man” and “Prince of Persia.

Carmen Rizzo

Carmen Rizzo, Los Angeles based Producer, Artist, Electronic Musician, Composer, Remixer, & two-time GRAMMY Nominee has had a very eclectic career. From writing, engineering & programming on Seal’s classic Seal 2 album to producing, & writing for Paul Oakenfold’s Bunka album, remixing BT, Tiesto, collaborating with Tuvan Throat singers Huun Huur Tu, to co founding the ground breaking World Music act Niyaz. Carmen is also a frequent fixture on album credits working with artist such as Coldplay, Alanis Morissette, Dido, Jem, AR Rahman, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Khaled to Pete Townshend to contributing original music to the David Lynch Foundation album alongside Moby & Peter Gabriel. His artist albums has brought him critical acclaim from being a KCRW favorite to USA Today #1 pick on there fall music guide on his debut album to being licensed to many film & TV shows from CSI Miami to True Blood to many Buddha Bar Compilations. As a composer, he has scored films for acclaimed Director Michael Apted to the forthcoming film Perfect Sisters w/ Oscar Nominated actress Abigail Breslin & Oscar winner Mira Sorvino to composing the end title for the Sony PlayStation Video game Un Charted 2. As a member of The Grammys, Carmen has served as a Governor, Trustee & co-wrote the category’s Best Electronic Album & wrote Technical Grammys for Apple & Roger Linn.