Hiatus bridges East and West on new album ‘Is’

Featuring collaborations with Malahat Haddad, Faraz Eshghi Sahraei, Bo Bruce, and Isabella Barszcz.

Photo credit: Hiatus – Official

British-Iranian producer Hiatus has released his fifth studio album ‘Is’ through Lucky Thunder Records. The LP is a blend of Western electronic elements and traditional Persian music.

‘Is’ marks a departure from his previous release ‘Distancer,’ trading pandemic-era melancholy for an uplifting celebration of present-moment awareness.

At its core, ‘Is’ represents a collaboration between cultures. The album showcases Iranian singer Malahat Haddad’s vocals and Faraz Eshghi Sahraei’s kamancheh performances, weaving these traditional Persian elements with contemporary electronic production.

‘Delta,’ the album’s latest single, features Bo Bruce’s ethereal vocals and electronic arrangements inspired by live performances at Albania’s Anjunadeep Explorations festival. Visual artist Isabella Barszcz created a psychedelic music video to complement the track.

“This record attempts to convey a feeling of hope that has been an unexpected companion these last couple of years,” reveals Hiatus, whose return to live performance after a decade-long hiatus deeply influenced the record’s euphoric tone. “I’ve been dealing with illness in my family, and facing the horrors unfolding in the part of the world I call home. But also I’ve been letting go of things, and the music reflects that. A friend told me that listening from start to finish felt a bit like taking mushrooms, feeling love and joy but also experiencing moments of profound grief, and coming out the end feeling lighter. I like that.”

Based in South London, Cyrus Shahrad, also known as Hiatus, has been blending electronic and Iranian music since 2005, drawing inspiration from his time as a journalist in Tehran and his father’s record collection. This cultural fusion has shaped his work from his 2010 debut ‘Ghost Notes’ to the present.

Listen to ‘Is’ below and grab your copy here.