Niyaz

Niyaz, an electronic world fusion ensemble, came into being in Los Angeles during 2004 through the efforts of Iranian refugees Azam Ali, previously associated with Vas, and Loga Ramin Torkian, who had established Axiom of Choice, joined by American producer and engineer Carmen Rizzo. Their initial release, a self-titled album issued by Six Degrees Records in 2005, showcased a distinctive blend of Persian and Urdu Sufi poetry set against hypnotic electronic rhythms alongside traditional instruments from the Middle East and India. In 2008 came their follow-up effort Nine Heavens, which featured an additional disc presenting acoustic renditions of its tracks. Sumud, their third full-length record from 2012, incorporated a contribution from renowned Indian composer A.R. Rahman and drew upon lyrics in Arabic, Kurdish, and Turkish. An acoustic EP, planned to accompany Sumud but issued separately the following year, marked 2013, the same period when Carmen Rizzo declared his exit from the group. Relocated to Montreal, the ensemble put out The Fourth Light in 2015. Two years afterward, they issued The Best of Niyaz, selecting its contents partly via a survey of supporters hosted on the band's official site.