Artist statement:
All those unexpected results that you might get while experimenting with specific ideas are something that motivates me to explore new possibilities with my instruments.
nhA is an exploration in an electro-acoustic environment with a strong focus on improvisation and live acoustic instrument.
My fascination for the spectral information of the sound of the Kamancheh had a crucial role in choosing the sound palette of the album. Most of the electronics used in this record have been derived from the complex spectrum of the live signal.
The use of electronics in this album sometimes leans more towards the compositional side of the process to create the form and structure of the pieces.
The initial idea of the album was an audio-visual experience creating defined spaces through movement between masses and transformation within an omnipresent continuum of geometry and sound. Both sensations, sonic and visual, can independently evoke the consistent perception of depth and distance in the emerging spaces with their unique properties.
I consider silence as the very essence of music. It works as a bridge between sonic events, I compose in a way that, emphasizes those spaces that I am trying to create with their unique quality. This is where the listener contemplates.
Sometimes I find it more fascinating to listen to just a single note than complex harmonies. The way it liberates my ears and lets my imagination wander makes me experience something that I strive to create the same atmosphere for my listeners through my sounds.
I appreciate the silence between notes more than the note itself. I believe this is the place where the listener can immerse into my sonic universe and become more aware of all the small details in the music.

Artist bio:
Soheil is an audio-visual composer, violinist, and Kamancheh player based in Amsterdam. His interest in exploring the sound of the Kamancheh with live electronics has led him to develop audio processing units which are unique to the instrument.
He appreciates the unpredictable nature of live performances and has incorporated this quality into every processing unit he has developed. This allows him to interact with and control the live electronics and Kamancheh-driven audio-reactive visuals regardless of any fixed timeline and based on the changes in the spectrum of the sound and the playing style of the player.
He weaves intricate and textured soundscapes with his layered drones, creating a hypnotic effect that seems to slow down time and transport the listener to a meditative zone.
Soheil believes by the coupling of image and sound the audience is not only listening to the music but also observing the physics of the sound from an artistic point of view. The brain will try to connect what it sees to what it hears and therefore it enters a new dimension of the sonic universe.
He has developed a unique style of playing the Kamancheh because he believes that his instruments extended by live electronics and visuals are new instruments that require a new vocabulary.
As a composer, Soheil has achieved significant recognition for his work, including winning the first prize at the 'Tera de Marez Oyens' award with his audio-visual composition ‘Zha’ for kamancheh, live electronics and visuals.

soheilshayesteh.com
soheilshayesteh.bandcamp.com