Azadoota

Artist Information

Biography

Known for their catchy originals and accessible, dance-driven style, Azadoota concocts a bubbling hybrid of traditional dabke, vibrant Flamenco, swirling oud and exotic rhythms, delivered in one of the world’s most ancient languages.

Twirling a pair of timbale sticks and often dressed as a sheik, charismatic front man Robin Zirwanda sings in his native Assyrian language, with occasional lyrics in Arabic. Azadoota is unique as the only Assyrian group who performs in venues outside the Assyrian community, and Robin commands the stage, quite clearly comfortable performing to an audience who don’t understand the lyrics. His vocal delivery is passionate and genuine, conveying meaning and emotion through gesture, intonation, and cheeky interactions with members of the audience.

A native of Iraq, where the Assyrians can trace their ancestors back nearly 7000 years, Robin was among the first Assyrians to migrate to Australia. Building a new life, he settled with his family in the remote Arnhem Land community of Nhulunbuy, where there were plenty of jobs in the bauxite mine and associated services. He assimilated quickly into the local way of life and formed a close bond with the indigenous community, gaining an invaluable insight into another ancient culture.

Eventually moving to Sydney, Robin worked as a percussionist until the rising profile of World Music inspired him to start writing his own songs. Although he wrote in Assyrian, his style was heavily influenced by the music he’d been performing as a percussionist, and this became the foundation for Azadoota.

In contrast, oud master Ahmed Al-Karawi arrived in Australia in 2009, with a background purely in classical Arabic music. With a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Baghdad, Ahmed worked as a professional musician in Iraq, touring internationally with Arabic music stars before rising to fame himself as a soloist in a series of televised concerts.

Defying decades of conflict between Assyrians and Arabs in Iraq, Robin and Ahmed have an uncanny musical connection, evident in the way that Ahmed’s oud effortlessly anticipates and responds to Robin’s vocals. Backed by driving grooves and energetic percussion, his intricate improvisations caress the melodies with the fluency of a true maestro. On Flamenco guitar, the modern descendent of the oud, Conservatorium-trained Chris Duff adds vibrant rhythms and melodies, creating a powerful synthesis of ancient and contemporary.

Azadoota’s first commercial album, “Planetarian”, was released in 2008, and was selected as a Top Ten finalist in the inaugural World of Music Awards. Then in 2010, Azadoota was profiled in Seth Jordan’s book “World Music: Global Sounds in Australia”, exploring groups who have contributed significantly to the development of Australia’s world music scene.

At the end of 2011, Azadoota released a new album titled "Beyond Bridges". Combining ancient grooves with a modern edge, this well-crafted offering tells stories of persecution and pride, forbidden love, regret, but above all hope and renewal. Touring Australia’s East Coast to promote the album, Azadoota have created quite a stir. Delivering a stellar performance at the National Folk Festival recently, the band’s fondness for a big finale was summed up by a startled MC who pondered, “I wonder if they were rocking like that in Ancient Assyria!”



PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

Azadoota's performance credits include:

· Sydney's Australia Day Celebrations at Darling Harbour
· Globe to Globe Festival
· National Folk Festival
· Bellingen Global Carnival
· Peats Ridge Festival
· Snowy Mountains of Music
· National Multicultural Festival
· Illawarra Folk Festival
· Marrickville Festival
· Refugee Week events
· Assyrian New Year Festival
· Harmony Day Celebrations
· Amnesty International events
Azadoota also participates in the Cultural Infusion program for schools.

Instrumentation

Robin Zirwanda - Percussion, Lead Vocals
Ahmed Al Karawi - Oud
Chris Duff - Flamenco guitar
Alvin Ash - Bass
Ben Kidson - Drums

Discography

"Beyond Bridges" - 2011
Distributed through Planet/MGM.

"Planetarian" - 2008
Distributed through Planet/MGM.

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace

Audio

• Shakita
  Listen  
• Nishra
  Listen  
• Joshie's Song
  Listen  
• Tadoor Ali
  Listen  
• Kiss Me Kiss Me
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Shakita
• Nishra
• Joshie's Song
• Tadoor Ali
• Kiss Me Kiss Me

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Beyond Bridges 4-star review in The Australian [+ Show ]
  

  Beyond Bridges (Azadoota) BY: MICHAEL ROFE From: The Australian January 14, 2012 LISTENING to ...Beyond Bridges (Azadoota)
  BY: MICHAEL ROFE
  From: The Australian January 14, 2012
  
  LISTENING to this infectious, foot-tapping, hand clapping, body-whirling slice of exotic rhythms, it is interesting to reflect on the influences that make up the cultural musical mix of Australia, far from the pop scene which garners most publicity and reward.
  
  Azadoota (meaning freedom in Assyrian), formed in 1998 by frontman, singer and percussionist Robin Zirwanda, combines the oud (Arabic lute) of virtuoso Ahmed Al-Karawi, with the flamenco guitars of Chris Duff and Alvin Ash's bass, and drums from Joey Pangilinan. Migrating to Australia, Zirwanda worked in the mines at Nhulunbuy, and then in Sydney joined the music scene.
  
  Beyond Bridges is the second disc after debut album Planetarian in 2008, and it is a bubbling hybrid of Iraqi and Arabic rhythms, with touches of flamenco and latin and reggae sounds, all made special by the partnership of Al-Karawi's oud and Zirwanda's percussion. Highlights are Nishra, with its desire to return to the homeland to see loved ones, and Teela Dana with its vibrant flamenco swirl. With a tour schedule set along the East Coast for the next few months, including the Illawarra Folk Festival this weekend at Bulli, Australia Day celebrations in Sydney and the National Folk Festival in Canberra, audiences will delight in this vibrant fusion.
  LABEL: Planet
  RATING: 4 stars

• Beyond Bridges CD review in FolkWorld [+ Show ]
  

  Translated from the German original (below). When we talk about Australian music, images of surfi...Translated from the German original (below).
  
  When we talk about Australian music, images of surfing come to mind. We think of Kylie, and at best, the Aboriginal didgeridoo sounds. You certainly don’t think of Arabic music. But Australia is a country of immigrants, and so you can also find traces of Arab culture on this continent. Arab music, interlaced with pop elements, Latin music and a reggae track all feature on the CD "Beyond Bridges" from the Iraqi Assyrian Robin Zirwanda. He sings his songs in Assyrian, Arabic, and finds space to include some English by the end of the CD. It doesn’t matter that we don’t understand most of the words on the album. Instead the music is catchy and with its exotic Arabic / Assyrian melodies, definitely not your run-of-the-mill pop music. The CD builds a harmonious bridge between Arabia, Latin America and Australia. Songs like "Tadoor Ali" and "Kiss Me Kiss Me" are just the thing for the world music and reggae dance-floor. "Hey Maro" would surely work in any language - as well as in Robin Zirwanda’s. That one can play a traditional Arabic instrument like the Oud in flamenco style is proven convincingly by Ahmed Al Karawi in the song "Teela Dana". "Beyond Bridges" is a successful cultural tour and absolutely deserves the term world music.
  © Karsten Rube
  
  Wenn man von australischer Musik spricht, kommen Bilder vom Surfen in den Sinn. Man denkt an Kylie und bestenfalls noch an die Didgeridoo-Klänge der Ureinwohner. Ganz sicher wird man nicht an arabische Musik denken. Doch Australien ist ein Land der Einwanderer und so finden sich auch Spuren der arabischen Kultur auf diesem Kontinent. Arabische Musik, gestreckt mit Popelementen, Latinmusik und einer Spur Reggae hören wir auf der CD "Beyond Bridges" des aus dem Irak stammenden Assyrers Robin Zirwanda. Er singt seine Songs auf Assyrisch, zum Teil auf Arabisch und räumt zum Ende der CD auch dem Englischen etwas Platz ein. Es macht nichts, dass man über weite Strecken des Albums kein Wort versteht, dafür ist die Musik eingängig und mit seinen exotischen arabisch/assyrischen Melodien kein Allerweltspop. Die CD schlägt eine sehr harmonisch wirkende Brücke zwischen Arabien, Lateinamerika und Australien. Songs wie "Tadoor Ali"und "Kiss Me Kiss me" sind wie gemacht für den Worldmusic-Dancefloor und der Reggae "Hey Maro" funktioniert sicher in jeder Sprache - so auch in der Robin Zirwandas. Dass man mit einem klassischen arabischen Instrument wie dem Oud Flamenco spielen kann, beweist der Gitarrist Ahmed Al Karawi im Titel "Teela Dana" überzeugend. "Beyond Bridges" ist eine gelungene kulturelle Wanderung und verdient unbedingt den Begriff Weltmusik.
  © Karsten Rube

• Beyond Bridges 4-star CD review in Limelight [+ Show ]
  

  Led by Assyrian singer/percussionist Robin Zirwanda, Azadoota has been a part of Sydney's World Musi...Led by Assyrian singer/percussionist Robin Zirwanda, Azadoota has been a part of Sydney's World Music scene for many years. The band's latest recruit is classically-trained Iraqi oud player Ahmed Al-Karawi, wo adds an extra layer of authenticity to their sound. Combining traditional dabke music with flamenco, latin pop and rock influences, Azadoota are at their best on tracks like Shakita and Teela Dana, where Al-Karawi goes note-for-note with guitarist Chris Duff. Zirwanda's passionate vocals are delivered ina mix odf Assyrian, Arabic and English, with his translated lyrics speaking of love, family and betrayal.
  4 stars.
  - Seth Jordan

• National Folk Festival performance review [+ Show ]
  

  Folk festival moment: Dancing to an Assyrian group who cite Flamenco as an influence, I'm squeezed b...Folk festival moment: Dancing to an Assyrian group who cite Flamenco as an influence, I'm squeezed between a couple of bellydancers and an old guy with long white hair. There's a couple of emo kids behind me, a girl with a black leather corset and a red satin skirt (I didn't see a burlesque sideshow, but it didn't mean there wasn't one). Someone puts their two year old on the stage wearing noise reduction headphones, and the singer serenades him in Assyrian, before handing the kid the mic for the chorus. This place is the best sort of crazy. It was magic. One of those sets where the crowd and the band were feeding off each other's energy. When the little kid finished singing, the band dropped from euro-belly-pop into full-on dance, and I swear everyone started jumping like the mosh at a Prodigy gig.

• Profile in Drum Media's Jazz/World column Blow. [+ Show ]
  

  Azadoota springs into Summer with compelling new album Beyond Bridges. It's a heady fusion of Middle...Azadoota springs into Summer with compelling new album Beyond Bridges. It's a heady fusion of Middle Eastern beats and Flamenco with a twist of latin, pop and reggae. Blow talks to Robin Zirwanda, lead singer, percussionist and songwriter of Azadoota.
  
  Who were your influences when writing Beyond Bridges?
  
  Although this album is really contemporary, I think the subtle influences that define it come from much older sources. With this album I have been able to capture a feature of Iraqi music that I’ve always imagined in my songs, but never quite been able to explain to a guitarist.
  
  How important to you is bridging together the cultures in Australia, and in Iraq?
  
  We are fortunate to live in a beautiful country that welcomes migrants, and it’s our responsibility to respect and honour this country for the opportunities it affords us. I feel very strongly that it’s our responsibility to make sure our kids grow up in Australia without knowing hatred.
  
  Your favourite song on Beyond Bridges and why?
  
  I think Nishra. It’s the first song we recorded for the album and it combines all the quintessential Azadoota elements. It starts with the teaser on the oud, then it moves to a pop feel for the verses and chorus, then it has a bit of vocal improv and the Latin Montuno at the end.
  
  How will you be celebrating Australia Day besides performing?
  
  We’re performing at the Darling Harbour and Marrickville celebrations - which have both chosen to present multicultural entertainment. I don’t think there’s a better way to celebrate the fact that we live in a beautiful, peaceful, free country than to be invited to share our own culture by performing on Australia Day.

• Australia Day: songs of freedom [+ Show ]
  

  Australia Day: songs of freedom 25 JAN 12 @ 08:30AM BY LAUREN MURADA CELEBRATING multiculturalis...Australia Day: songs of freedom
  25 JAN 12 @ 08:30AM BY LAUREN MURADA
  
  CELEBRATING multiculturalism is part of Australia Day and there couldn’t be a better band than Azadoota to do it with.
  
  The world music band will perform at Marrickville Council’s Australia Day celebrations at Enmore Park.
  
  Lilyfield musician Robin Zirwanda sings in his native tongue of Assyrian (from Iraq) and occasionally in Arabic. The singer and percussionist’s sounds are infectious, even though there might be a language barrier.
  
  “People don’t understand what I’m saying but they still jump up and down,” Zirwanda said.
  
  He will be joined on the stage by musicians of different nationalities and backgrounds and together they fuse the sounds of Middle Eastern music with pop, reggae, flamenco and Latin.
  
  Zirwanda says Azadoota is the Assyrian word for “freedom” and much of the band’s music is inspired by freedom.
  
  “It affects the emotion, happiness and appreciation of the music, the fact that we can be free,” he said.
  

• Beyond Bridges CD Review in Rhythms [+ Show ]
  

  Beyond Bridges is the second album from Azadoota, a Sydney-based world fusion band formed and front...Beyond Bridges is the second album from Azadoota, a Sydney-based
  world fusion band formed and fronted by the charismatic Iraqi
  singer-songwriter and percussionist, Robin Zirwanda. The leader delivers his stories of persecution, pride, regret and hope mostly in his native Assyrian language, mixing traditional folk dance rhythms (dabke)
  with contemporary grooves. His countryman Ahmed Al Karawi lends
  classy support on acoustic and electric oud, mirroring the lead vocal
  melody lines. Chris Duff’s flamenco guitar complements both. As with
  Azadoota’s 2008 debut release, Planetarian, Latin and reggae mingle
  with Middle Eastern and Arabic rhythms on several songs. The tail-end
  tracks veer towards the pop side of the fence, culminating with a ballad part-sung in English (‘Destiny’) that seems at variance with the rest of the set.

• Planetarian 4-star CD review in Limelight [+ Show ]
  

  Azadoota (Assyrian for "freedom") is a hardworking, Sydney-based multicultural party band, led by Ir...Azadoota (Assyrian for "freedom") is a hardworking, Sydney-based multicultural party band, led by Iraqi musician Robin Zirwanda. With other members hailing from Latin American, Asian and European backgrounds, Azadoota's sound is a true hybrid of contemporary musical cultures, owing as much to Western pop as it does to its more exotic influences. The Arabic vibe dominates on tracks like "Bruni", "Habaniya" and "El Balil", but gives way to African soukous flavours on the title track, and the Latin phrasings that permeate "Doola Teela" and the tongue-in-cheek "Jimmy Barnes Samba". Planetarian is a tight, tasty smorgasbord of locally produced worldbeat.
  Four stars.
  - Seth Jordan

• Planetarian CD review in FolkWorld [+ Show ]
  

  Azadoota "Planetarian" Label: Own label; 2008 I have to admit that I wasn’t in the best mood this ...Azadoota "Planetarian"
  Label: Own label; 2008
  I have to admit that I wasn’t in the best mood this morning when I got out of bed. It was cold, there was snow and I had to get out of bed for the children a few times during the night. Typically such a morning that I rather would have stayed in bed. But…that’s impossible with two young children. After breakfast I picked this CD by Azadoota blind out of the pile of the review cd’s, probably the best thing I could do. Sunny, inventive and well played music streamed into my ear and I have to say, I feel much better now! Azadoota is a multi-cultural band with musicians from Iraq, Europe, Latin America and Asia. Over ten musicians bring music without borders. Funky Latin, melodic Arabic, European pop and jazz all brought together in one big melting pot of sounds. I love the title song Azadoota with this great electronic break in the middle. Another highlight is Get Up, one of the more middle-eastern style songs. The band at its best. A really good composition with fantastic vocals and music. In this song it all comes together, pure passion! Azadoota is exactly what life is. Sometimes funky and sunny, but on other moments more introvert and serious. A strong debut by this world-collective.
  - Eelco Schilder

• Click here to listen to a selection of radio interviews. [+ Show ]
  

  8 recent radio interviews are available to listen to in the Press Room section of Azadoota's website...8 recent radio interviews are available to listen to in the Press Room section of Azadoota's website.

Setlist

1, 2 or 3 sets of 40 mins to 1 hour.
All our songs are originals, mostly sung in Assyrian, with a few lyrics in Arabic and English.

For "Arabian Nights" theme parties we can tailor a performance to include more traditional Arabic and bellydancing songs.

Our Kid's Program can be downloaded at:
http://www.azadoota.com/downloads/CI_overview.pdf

Basic Requirements

Calendar