Rend Studio: Khuban-e Parsi Goo - Who is Hafez?
- Koorosh Nejad
- Mar 13
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 14
My brother Keivan, was the one who brought music to our home. Ironically, it was right in the midst of the Iran-Iraq War. Music was forbidden in Iran after the Islamic regime took power in 1979. One day, Keivan brought in a keyboard and right away started receiving lessons at home. I was curious, and occasionally, I too did fool around with the new toy.
Later on at the university, I managed to receive 4 guitar lessons. Fast forward 20 years: I was living in Canada when I came across some sub-Saharan fusion pieces that I was quite impressed with. The fusion music brought back my childhood memories of Shiraz/Iran, where I grew up.
Learning about Hafez, Rumi, and other Persian philosophers was the way of growing up in Iran, at least when I was a teenager there. But again, only during the hardship of the divorce and in tough moments could I connect to the poems' deep meanings.
This is how the Khuban-e Parsi Goo was born. This album is the first of 4 that I have been recording the pieces in a rush on my iPhone since 2019. Only now have I started recording them in higher quality so I can publish and share them on Spotify and iTunes.
Listen to Khuban-e Parsi Goo on Spotify here.
What does Khuban-e Parsi Goo mean in English?
The name of my first album, "Khubane Parsi Goo", means the kind and gentle people who speak Farsi. It presents 9 musical pieces in which I sang Hafez poems.
What does Rend mean in Farsi?
Hafez calls himself Rend. Rend in Farsi means clever, in a good manner. A person who, despite all social restrictions of a radical religion or a closed society like one he used to live in (and not far from the social oppression we experienced after the Islamic regime took power), is smart enough to get his opinion out while manoeuvring the hardliners and avoiding jail and prosecution.
Why do I sing from Hafez?
Some hardship in life left me hopeless for meaning. I turned to Eastern Philosophy to calm down and reinvent myself: a time to pause life and take a break for reflection and mindfulness. I listened back to my recordings of Hafez and began to see more depth in them. I started noticing the message behind the words and tunes. This helped me a lot in recovering and standing up again, so one reason to sing and publish from Hafez, Rumi, and other Eastern Philosophers is to extend my respect and gratitude.
The second reason is to share the treasure of Eastern Philosophy with others who may be "in search of meaning" in their life. It is easier to connect when the message is conveyed musically. There is a greater chance that the message will be received when delivered through music.
Another reason is that I felt I should be part of the movement to bring our cultural gems to light and present them to the Iranian and those with Persian-speaking heritage. The country was under decades of oppression, and in my opinion, the Iranian and Persian-speaking community have a lot to offer when it comes to art and culture. Unfortunately, under extreme oppression, the society has disconnected from its roots.
How do I compose spiritual music from Hafez and Rumi?
I listen to music almost all the time. All genres and all cultures, especially movie soundtracks. When I am walking, especially in nature, a melody starts to form in my mind. I record it, and later on at home, I browse Hafez to see which of his poems might be a good match for the melody. Often, the structure of the Hafez verses reshapes and adjusts the tune. When I find a good match between the melody and the verse, I play it with the guitar, and this is when the second round of shaping and revision happens. I record a draft on my iPhone. The whole process usually takes a couple of hours.
Who was Hafez?
Hafez (c. 1315/1317–1390 or 1325–1389/90) was a renowned 14th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic who lived and died in Shiraz, Iran. He lived during a turbulent period, receiving patronage from various rulers like Shah Abu Ishaq and Shah Mubariz ud-Din Muhammad.
Key Details About Hafez's Life:
Birth: Generally believed to be born around 1315–1325 in Shiraz, Iran.
Death: Died around 1389–1390, buried in the Musalla Gardens in Shiraz, now known as Hafezieh.
Background: Known as a Sufi master and a poet who memorised the Quran, which is where he derived his pen name, "Hafez".
Era: His life coincided with the instability following the decline of the Ilkhanate, navigating the reign of several local dynasties in Fars.
Legacy: He is considered one of the greatest Persian poets, with his work influencing Persian culture and literature significantly.
Please see this video to learn more about Hafez. Also, more about Hafez's work on this page.
