Hear traditional stringed instruments from both Iran and Tunisia by New York-based musicians: kamancheh master Mehrnam Rastegari and Tunisian musician and songwriter Nour Harkati. These in-studio performances both come from the Soundcheck Podcast series.
Nour Harkati is a Tunisian musician and songwriter, now based here in New York City. His recent album, Moulena, represents Harkati’s musical journey from North Africa to the US, featuring rhythms and instruments from traditional North African music blended with elements of Western pop and rock. The ancient Guembri used in trance music, combines with the gritty and modern sounds of guitar, electronics and drums, as Harkati and his band play in-studio.
Then, listen to Mehrnam Rastegari, who is a New York-based master of the traditional Persian spike fiddle, the kamancheh. She's also a composer, writing film scores and ensemble works that draw on both Eastern and Western musical traditions. She moved here from Iran in 2022 and formed the Mehrnam Rastegari Traditional Persian Band, a group of New York locals which features traditional Iranian instruments kamancheh, qanoun, daf, and vocals. The Mehrnam Rastegari Traditional Persian Band plays original music, along with traditional Persian and Kurdish music, in-studio. - Caryn Havlik
Program #4993, From Soundcheck, Nour Harkati and Mehrnam Rastegari (First aired 3/27/2025)
Khosha HowramanMehrnam Rastegari Traditional Persian BandLive on Soundcheck, April 2024This Performance not commercially availablehttps://www.wnyc.org/story/mehrnam-rastegari-traditional-persian-band-studio/3/27/2025 23:00:001:00RahmenNour HarkatiLive on Soundcheck, Dec. 2024 https://www.wnyc.org/story/nour-harkati-blends-traditional-and-modern-his-original-songs-studio/This Performance not commercially availableThe song appears on https://nourharkati.bandcamp.com/album/moulena3/27/2025 23:01:524:20SidiNour HarkatiLive on Soundcheck, Dec. 2024 https://www.wnyc.org/story/nour-harkati-blends-traditional-and-modern-his-original-songs-studio/This Performance not commercially availableThe song appears on https://nourharkati.bandcamp.com/album/moulena3/27/2025 23:13:583:36DWENour HarkatiLive on Soundcheck, Dec. 2024 https://www.wnyc.org/story/nour-harkati-blends-traditional-and-modern-his-original-songs-studio/This Performance not commercially availableThe song appears on https://nourharkati.bandcamp.com/album/moulena3/27/2025 23:24:113:27VelvelehMehrnam Rastegari Traditional Persian BandLive on Soundcheck, April 2024This Performance not commercially availablehttps://www.wnyc.org/story/mehrnam-rastegari-traditional-persian-band-studio/3/27/2025 23:32:083:15Khosha HowramanMehrnam Rastegari Traditional Persian BandLive on Soundcheck, April 2024This Performance not commercially availablehttps://www.wnyc.org/story/mehrnam-rastegari-traditional-persian-band-studio/3/27/2025 23:39:584:01Show charayMehrnam Rastegari Traditional Persian BandLive on Soundcheck, April 2024This Performance not commercially availablehttps://www.wnyc.org/story/mehrnam-rastegari-traditional-persian-band-studio/3/27/2025 23:51:304:09