Ava Rasti is an Iranian Composer and experimental musician of Ambient-Drone and Modern Classical music, as well as a Bass Guitarist and Pianist. KALTBLUT caught up with the artist to talk about her path, how she found her interest in music, and what experimental music really means to her.
KALTBLUT: You are an experimental musician of Ambient-Drone and modern classical music. What exactly does that mean?
Ava: I envision a mental space where classical elements are delicately decelerated, existing within an enigmatic expanse enveloped by a drone music backdrop. My creative pursuit revolves around synthesising classical and Drone genres, aiming to establish a unique auditory domain.
KALTBLUT: What’s the idea behind your debut solo album, “Ginestra”?
Ava: Named after a flower that grows on a volcano’s slopes, Ginestra explores destruction, revolution, survival, and reconstruction. Ginestra takes care of itself against fire and grows more resistant than before. This flower reminds me of the concept of revolution.
I was influenced by the state of my country last year and made the album. This flower symbolised resistance, strength, and immortality for me. These pieces are the result of the destruction of beautiful moments in history, with the emergence of revolution, destruction, and reconstruction.
Ginestra is a testament to survival as a form of resistance, and a reminder that swirling pressures can exist beneath veneers of stasis.
Ginestra is a testament to survival as a form of resistance, and a reminder that swirling pressures can exist beneath veneers of stasis.
KALTBLUT: Can you take us on your music development journey? You started in a post punk girl band. What was the journey like to your first solo project?
Ava: When I was about nine years old, I became very curious about music. I liked playing the piano, and then I received a Yamaha keyboard as a gift from my aunt.
Since then, I started learning music and classical piano. Classical music fascinated me. At the age of 15, my enjoyment of listening to music became much more serious, and I became more acquainted with rock music.
In my dreams, I saw myself as a rock star. Subsequently, I began playing the bass guitar and formed an underground girl band called Finches. I played with them in Tehran for five years, but classical music continued to excite me.
Gradually, my path shifted toward classical music and ambient genres. I initiated my own solo project, which was markedly different from what I was playing in the underground scene in Tehran at that time. From then until now, I have been dedicated to working on modern classical music and ambient-Drone music.
KALTBLUT: You are also composing music for films. What’s the most exciting part about that?
Ava: I find the most captivating aspect of film music to be when the musical score seamlessly intertwines with the visuals, becoming inseparable from the film itself. In these instances, the music narrates a story with a language and potency that mirrors the visual elements.
KALTBLUT: What’s most important for you in visual storytelling?
Ava: The relationship between visuals and film scores is akin to a carefully orchestrated symphony. Just as a film score relies on fidelity to the music, visuals must be loyal to the same artistic language. It’s a dynamic interplay where the two elements weave together seamlessly, creating a captivating tapestry of emotions and storytelling.
KALTBLUT: How do you evoke emotions in the recipient of your art?
Ava: In my creative endeavours, I strive to encapsulate the essence of that particular phase in my life and weave it into the fabric of my daily experiences. This practice serves as a therapeutic outlet, offering me a unique means of articulating and expressing the myriad emotions that define my inner world.
Follow @avarasti on Instagram to keep up with upcoming releases and shows. Stream or purchase her latest album, “Ginestra”, here.
Cover photo by @biancamarchesan.
Ava was part of last year’s Tehran Contemporary Sounds Festival. We’ve also caught up with Saba Alizadeh and the band Stereotype after the festival. Read the interviews below.
