With roots deeply anchored in millennia-old traditions and his gaze set on hope and the future, Mohammad Mostafa Heydarian invites audiences into the spiritual universe of the tanbur. The young Iranian musician has already emerged as a powerful voice for the sacred music of the Kurdish Yarsan people—a living heritage rarely heard beyond its homeland. We are proud to present Mohammad Mostafa Heydarian at ALICE, where he will perform music from his latest album Noor-e Vojood, recorded at Tehran’s legendary Bell Studio. He will be joined on stage by Valentin Portron on bendir (percussion).

Mohammad Mostafa Heydarian was born in Kermanshah in western Iran—the historical homeland of the tanbur and the center of the sacred rituals of the Kurdish Yarsan sect. He grew up surrounded by instrument making, rhythm, and faith; his father was both a dâf percussionist and a tanbur builder, and Mohammad picked up the distinctive string instrument before he could walk. As a child, he began learning the complex maqams that form the foundation of sacred Yarsan music, and his dedication has remained uncompromising ever since. As a teenager, he met the French musician Valentin Portron, a meeting that proved decisive. Together they recorded the debut album Songs of Horaman, released in 2022 to international acclaim from outlets including the BBC, Mojo, and WFMU. The album stands as a rare document of the tanbur’s power—raw, meditative, and deeply human.

In 2023, Mohammad Mostafa Heydarian followed up with the album Noor-e Vojood (The Light of Existence), recorded at Tehran’s legendary Bell Studio. Here, he refined his expression: more focused, more precise, yet still open to surprise. For Mostafa, music is an offering to the world—a light capable of creating calm, presence, hope, and connection in turbulent times. At ALICE, audiences can look forward to a rare opportunity to experience a young master in full bloom, as Mohammad Mostafa Heydarian brings his musical prayer to Copenhagen in March, accompanied on stage by Valentin Portron on bendir (percussion).

Said about Mohammad Mostafa Heydarian

“Heydarian’s work, if he maintains his integrity and consistency, should soon move beyond its own expressive limits, flowing gently and freely, like a spring breeze on the mountains of Kermanshah.” – Album of the Week, The Quietus