Persian music

This year's Big Day Out in Harmony is going to be bigger than ever with over 230 performers and the headline act will be Australian-Iranian musician Tara Tiba. Now based in Perth, Tara released two studio albums: A Persian Dream (2014) and OMID (2019) (which means Hope), which she dedicated  to all the people dealing with mental health issues. is a playful exploration of the musical traditions shared by Iran and Cuba after the Spanish took Middle Eastern soul to Latin America.Tara spoke with 8CCC's Kate Lyons-Dawson about the many years, having contracted a virus which developed into the debilitating MECFS Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), that kept her house bound and unable to perform. It’s only this year Tara has finally been able to perform, including at WOMADelaide, unfortunately at a time the conflict in Iran began in January, returning distress for family and friends back in Iran.

Celebrating this week's Big Day Out in Harmony, 8CCC is featuring Australian-Iranian singer and musician Tara Tiba with her second album from 2019 Omid (Hope). ARIA Award nominated, it won WAM Song of the year Award, cementing her reputation as one of Australia’s most distinctive voices in world music. Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, and now based in Perth, Australia, Tara Tiba is one of the few singers of her generation to have mastered the Persian classical repertoire of Radif. Hailed for her spinetingling voice and fearless musical vision, her work weaves traditional Persian vocal technique with jazz, Latin, and contemporary music, drawing on texts from classical Persian poets such as Rumi alongside her own original lyrics.“Iranian diva Tara Tiba exuded class and charm as she sailed through the songs on her eclectic and elegant new album OMID with a crack crew of Cuban expats — most notably the piano whiz Ivan ‘Melon’ Lewis.” — Rhythms“Elegant” — The Guardian“Rousing renditions of classical Iranian songs” — Vanity Fair