#4993, From Soundcheck, Nour Harkati and Mehrnam Rastegari

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)

ARTIST: Mehrnam Rastegari Traditional Persian Band
WORK: Khosha Howraman [1:08] 
RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, April 2024
SOURCE: This Performance not commercially available
INFO: https://mehrnamrastegari.com/

ARTIST: Nour Harkati
WORK: Rahmen [4:20] 
RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Dec. 2024
SOURCE: This Performance not commercially available
INFO: The song appears on Moulena | https://nourharkati.bandcamp.com/album/moulena

ARTIST: Nour Harkati
WORK: Sidi [3:36] 
RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Dec. 2024
SOURCE: This Performance not commercially available
INFO: The song appears on Moulena | https://nourharkati.bandcamp.com/album/moulena

ARTIST: Nour Harkati
WORK: DWE [3:27] 
RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, Dec. 2024
SOURCE: This Performance not commercially available
INFO: The song appears on Moulena | https://nourharkati.bandcamp.com/album/moulena

ARTIST: Mehrnam Rastegari Traditional Persian Band
WORK: Velveleh [3:15] 
RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, April 2024
SOURCE: This Performance not commercially available
INFO: https://mehrnamrastegari.com/

ARTIST: Mehrnam Rastegari Traditional Persian Band
WORK: Khosha Howraman [4:01] 
RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, April 2024
SOURCE: This Performance not commercially available
INFO: https://mehrnamrastegari.com/

ARTIST: Mehrnam Rastegari Traditional Persian Band
WORK: Show charay [4:09] 
RECORDING: Live on Soundcheck, April 2024
SOURCE: This Performance not commercially available
INFO: https://mehrnamrastegari.com/