Biography
Originating in Tehran, Iran, where Ashkan Kooshanejad came into the world during 1985, Ash Koosha works as an electronic musician and soundtrack composer whose creations probe the intersections of synesthesia with virtual reality. Fluid soundscapes assembled in collage fashion underpin his output, rooted in computer-generated sonic fractal patterns that blend altered voices with non-musical elements including car engines and shattering glass. Though dense and dissonant on the surface, constructions such as those on the 2016 release I AKA I prove engaging and approachable instead of abrasive or severe.
Early years unfolded across Tehran and Frankfurt, Germany, where Koosha immersed himself in whatever music he could access. Classical training took place at the Tehran Conservatory of Music, yet his focus shifted toward music technology and granular synthesis, prompting him to generate computer-based works. Rock music also captured his attention, leading him to play bass with the band Font until authorities ended that project by deploying a helicopter to raid one performance and detain every member. He subsequently formed the indie rock duo Take It Easy Hospital alongside singer/songwriter Negar Shaghaghi. Following online traction and well-received shows in the U.K., the pair appeared in No One Knows About Persian Cats, a film drawn from the Iranian music underground. Its soundtrack incorporated Take It Easy Hospital material along with Koosha’s solo contributions and tracks from other Iranian acts such as Mahdyar Aghajani and the Yellow Dogs. Worldwide acclaim greeted the movie, which secured the Special Jury Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, yet Iran’s harsh conditions after the 2009 elections prevented Koosha and Shaghaghi from remaining; they applied for asylum in the U.K. while already touring there.
Settled in London, Koosha increasingly channeled energy into computer music explorations and film scoring for Iranian projects, transmitting scores digitally rather than traveling back. After extended experimentation he began sharing his electronic pieces online during 2015. The debut solo album Guud, first issued independently, found a home on Olde English Spelling Bee, drew immediate attention from Pitchfork and The Guardian, and earned placement on FACT’s Top 50 Albums of the Year list. Ninja Tune subsequently signed him and issued the virtual reality-themed follow-up I AKA I in 2016. Koosha also produced, directed, scored, and co-wrote his debut feature Fermata, which starred Shaghaghi and Will Firth. The Chimera EP arrived via Ninja Tune in 2017. Numerous further albums and EPs have since appeared on his own digital label Realms. Five titles surfaced throughout 2018, among them Aktual (containing a track featuring vocals by “virtual singer” Yona) and Stamina. Comma and 2025 emerged together near the close of 2019, followed at the start of 2020 by the self-released album Bluud.
Early years unfolded across Tehran and Frankfurt, Germany, where Koosha immersed himself in whatever music he could access. Classical training took place at the Tehran Conservatory of Music, yet his focus shifted toward music technology and granular synthesis, prompting him to generate computer-based works. Rock music also captured his attention, leading him to play bass with the band Font until authorities ended that project by deploying a helicopter to raid one performance and detain every member. He subsequently formed the indie rock duo Take It Easy Hospital alongside singer/songwriter Negar Shaghaghi. Following online traction and well-received shows in the U.K., the pair appeared in No One Knows About Persian Cats, a film drawn from the Iranian music underground. Its soundtrack incorporated Take It Easy Hospital material along with Koosha’s solo contributions and tracks from other Iranian acts such as Mahdyar Aghajani and the Yellow Dogs. Worldwide acclaim greeted the movie, which secured the Special Jury Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, yet Iran’s harsh conditions after the 2009 elections prevented Koosha and Shaghaghi from remaining; they applied for asylum in the U.K. while already touring there.
Settled in London, Koosha increasingly channeled energy into computer music explorations and film scoring for Iranian projects, transmitting scores digitally rather than traveling back. After extended experimentation he began sharing his electronic pieces online during 2015. The debut solo album Guud, first issued independently, found a home on Olde English Spelling Bee, drew immediate attention from Pitchfork and The Guardian, and earned placement on FACT’s Top 50 Albums of the Year list. Ninja Tune subsequently signed him and issued the virtual reality-themed follow-up I AKA I in 2016. Koosha also produced, directed, scored, and co-wrote his debut feature Fermata, which starred Shaghaghi and Will Firth. The Chimera EP arrived via Ninja Tune in 2017. Numerous further albums and EPs have since appeared on his own digital label Realms. Five titles surfaced throughout 2018, among them Aktual (containing a track featuring vocals by “virtual singer” Yona) and Stamina. Comma and 2025 emerged together near the close of 2019, followed at the start of 2020 by the self-released album Bluud.
Albums
Singles
