Mahan Mirarab – Unspoken (2026)

Mahan Mirarab, an Iranian-born guitarist now residing in Vienna, has unveiled his debut album with ACT, titled "Unspoken," offering listeners a deeply intimate exploration of his personal and cultural experiences. The album is a compelling fusion of jazz, European chamber music, and traditional Iranian folk influences, articulating themes of sorrow, beauty, and hope amid a complex global backdrop.

Mirarab’s musical trajectory began in Tehran, where he engaged with Western genres such as jazz and progressive rock despite significant social and political restrictions. Early exposure to artists like Bud Powell and Chick Corea came through black-market cassette recordings, a risky endeavor given the Iranian crackdown on such materials. These formative years were marked by perseverance and an intense dedication to mastering the language of jazz, as he transcribed solos and absorbed diverse musical vocabularies.

A key turning point came through Mirarab’s involvement in a Weather Report tribute band, which led to an instrumental connection with the Austrian ambassador to Tehran, a fan of Joe Zawinul. This relationship facilitated Mirarab’s relocation to Vienna in 2009, where he transitioned from architectural studies to focus fully on his musical career, opting to immerse himself directly in the vibrant local jazz scene rather than pursue formal conservatory training.

Over the years in Vienna, Mirarab cultivated his distinctive approach, integrating Persian musical elements with jazz improvisation. His initial trio recordings began to attract attention, and his collaboration with vocalist Golnar Shahyar, his wife, further solidified his presence on the international stage. Their joint projects have been recognized for their emotional depth and cross-cultural resonance.

For "Unspoken," Mirarab embraced a largely solo format, performing on a custom-built double-neck guitar crafted by Turkish luthier Ekrem Özkarpat, featuring both fretless and fretted necks. This unique instrument symbolizes the fusion of Western musical structures and the microtonal traditions of Iranian music, encapsulating Mirarab’s bi-cultural identity.

The album’s production was shaped in close collaboration with ACT director Andreas Brandis, who encouraged Mirarab to focus on authentic expression rather than technical display. This partnership led to the inclusion of guest artists such as cellist Kian Soltani, also Iranian-born, whose classical background and improvisational skill added rich textures to the project. Bassist Lars Danielsson, known for his nuanced sense of dynamics and harmony, contributed after a specially arranged in-person recording session in Gothenburg, enhancing the album’s intimate and immediate feel.

"Unspoken" also features contributions from Golnar Shahyar, whose vocals provide a profound emotional thread throughout. The album’s tracks are notably personal: pieces like "Banoo" and "A Way to Mourn" address the passing of Mirarab’s grandmother during the recording process, while "Jina" reflects on the tragic death of Jina Mahsa Amini in 2022, events that deeply affected Mirarab and informed his artistic voice.

In addition, the album includes a rendition of "In a Silent Way," acknowledging Joe Zawinul’s enduring influence on Mirarab’s musical path. The record stands as a testament to Mirarab’s journey from Tehran’s underground music scene to the international jazz arena, encapsulating a career defined by resilience, cultural dialogue, and a commitment to genuine artistic communication.

Reflecting on ongoing turmoil in Iran, Mirarab maintains a humanistic perspective, emphasizing empathy and sensitivity over nationalism. His music, as embodied in "Unspoken," resonates as a universal meditation on shared human experiences amid political and social unrest.

With this release, Mahan Mirarab offers a distinctive voice bridging geographic and musical divides, crafting an album that is as much a personal narrative as it is a broader commentary on identity and expression in a fragmented world.