Hunter
Ashkan Shafiei’s forthcoming EP Hunter was recorded as part of the Artist Accelerator Program by Music in Exile — an initiative supporting immigrant artists with non-English language backgrounds to launch and grow their careers in Australia. For Ashkan, the program provided a powerful opportunity to redefine his musical identity within the Australian landscape. The five-track EP features four original tracks arranged for his band, alongside a heartfelt solo cover of “Chi Begam” by the legendary Marzieh. The recording process with Jonathan Boulet (Party Dozen, Body Type) was a special one as it was his first experience recording everything live as a full ensemble — a departure from the usual studio procedure. The result is a deeply personal and sonically rich body of work that captures the raw spirit of Iranian funk through a uniquely Australian lens.
Ashkan is deeply influenced by the golden era of Iranian contemporary music from the 1960s and ’70s — a time when Persian classical traditions met the sounds of Western pop and rock. Growing up in post-revolution Iran, he discovered this rich musical heritage through forbidden cassette tapes shared among family, igniting a lifelong passion shaped by both resistance and reverence. Now based in Australia, Ashkan carries the legacy of those silenced or displaced artists, using his music to honour their stories and introduce new audiences to the beauty and depth of this often-overlooked era.
credits
released May 30, 2025
Ashkan Shafiei - rubab, vocals
Arya Mousavi - Rhodes (on Camel on Mars)
Diego Contreras - percussion
Ama Kamalasuriya - bass guitar
Sam Gill - alto + tenor saxophone
Reuben Lewis - trumpet
Antonio Puglisi - drums
Written by Ashkan Shafiei
except Parandah adapted from the original by Iraj and Chi Begam originally performed by Marzieh
Production by Jonathan Boulet
Recorded at Golden Retriever Studios
Made on Gadigal Country
Photography by Traianos Pakioufakis
Design by Rochelle Oh and Liz Luby
