It has been more than four years since electroacoustic group Niyaz performed at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills.
Niyaz presents “The Fourth Light Project” on April 9 at the Fine & Performing Arts Center’s Dorothy Menker Theater but this performance will be different from what was presented in fall 2017.
“We all changed in the last two years. That really shows itself in the work as well,” said Loga Ramin Torkian, multi-instrumentalist, composer and director of Niyaz, which he cofounded with his wife of 20 years, vocalist and composer Azam Ali in 2004.
“When musicians, dancers and visual artists come and go, everything changes with them so a lot of that is the same but in many ways it’s going to be different. Every artist that participates in the production will inevitably have their own footprint.”
Niyaz (which means “yearning”) collaborated with interactive designer and visual artist Jerome Delapierre to create “The Fourth Light Project.”
“This is an immersive multimedia concert, which utilizes sound reactive elements and projection mapping to create scenography and to contextualize the music. Everything is synchronized. It breathes together. It works together,” said Torkian of Los Angeles.
“It’s based on the life of Rabia al-Basri, who we consider as being the first feminist of our region and the mother of Sufism. We present her spirit onstage.
“As an Eastern culture we need to recognize the role of women in our culture. In fact, if you ask most Iranians, they would not know who Rabia was despite her contributions to our literature. We’re trying to pay tribute to her, bring her back to life and give her the recognition she deserves.”
She was born in the eighth century in Iraq while both Ali and Torkian, who have been together for 22 years, were born in Iran.
“I really do consider myself more of an Iranian American and obviously I am an assimilated artist. My expressions are no longer pure,” Torkian said.
“I have borrowed from my host community and society and incorporated their language into my art. That is the definition of someone assimilating something into their expression, and I do see something that is not negative but positive.
“At the same time I do recognize my roots. I know how to keep those essential elements intact so that what I do is still really authentically me.”
“The Fourth Light Project” features Ali on vocals, a whirling dervish and four musicians, including Torkian.
“I play primarily a bowed guitar. Its roots go back to a Renaissance instrument called a viola da gamba. This one is custom made for me. It’s an electric instrument so I process the sound tremendously. The GuitarViol is my primary voice,” he said.
“It’s a relatively new instrument by the amazing genius Jonathan Wilson.”
More Top Picks Eufy Floodlight Cam E340
Torkian said his life and that of the luthier were changed after they met in 2002 and Torkian asked Wilson to make a GuitarViol for him.
“He became a professional GuitarViol maker and I became a professional GuitarViol player. Since then he’s made hundreds of them. They’ve become a recognized sound in Hollywood film scores,” said Torkian, who has been featured on film scores including “Body of Lies” and “Iron Man.”
“The Fourth Light Project” is an extension of Niyaz’s fourth album, which was released in 2015.
“Basically a lot of the music that we’re going to perform is from that album, which is called ‘The Fourth Light,'” Torkian said.
“Now we are working on the next album and making the next multimedia project, which hopefully will go onstage in 2024.”
Torkian said it is “amazing” to work with his wife on Niyaz, which has had music featured in film and TV scores including “Bones,” “Crossing Over,” “Nip/Tuck” and “True Blood.”
“Being on the road together creating together actually has kept us very close together,” he said.
“We share everything so it has worked for us. We keep it balanced. We are human just like anybody else. We are able to make it work because we have very clear boundaries in terms of our responsibilities and respect.”
They are joined on tour by their 14-year-old son, Iman Ali Torkian, who started doing lighting for Niyaz at age 12.
Niyaz presents ‘The Fourth Light Project’
When: 7:30 p.m. April 9
Where: Moraine Valley Community College’s Fine & Performing Arts Center’s Dorothy Menker Theater, 9000 W. College Parkway, Building F, Palos Hills
Tickets: $35 general public, $31.50 members, $28 veterans and active military; free for students
Information: 708-974-5500; morainevalley.edu/fpac
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.