Echo’s Van De Bergen – Echo’s Van De Bergen

Description

Echo’s van de Bergen is a multidisciplinary music project by singer and musician Farnoosh Khodadadeh, originally created as a stage production for young audiences. Conceived as a ‘visual symphony for all’, it brings together live music, poetry and illustration in a poetic reflection on identity, memory, and resilience.

At the heart of the work is the music — intimate, searching, and rooted in Farnoosh’s early life at the foot of the Zagros mountains in Iran. New compositions by Shahab Azinmehr and Joachim Thys form the musical core of this project. Their pieces, created in close dialogue with Farnoosh, deeply resonate with her personal story — capturing the essence of her memories, and translating the unspoken emotions of her youth into sound. Alongside newly written music, traditional songs from her childhood have been reimagined and rearranged by the trio, resulting in a body of work that is both personal and collectively crafted.

These compositions are not merely an accompaniment to a story; they are the story. Fusing traditional timbres with a contemporary approach, the music evokes childhood impressions, silent resistance, and the universal desire for connection and peace.

Now, stepping away from the stage and into the listener’s space, Echo’s van de Bergen will be released as a self-titled debut album on Zephyrus Records in September 2025 — a sonic landscape that resonates across generations.

Farnoosh Khodadadeh is an Iranian-born daf player and singer who has been active in the Belgian music scene since 2004. Trained from a young age on the daf, she experienced an artistic breakthrough in 2016 and has since performed in numerous ensembles and projects. Her work often explores themes of inclusion and cultural dialogue, blending her Persian musical roots with new artistic collaborations in Flanders.

Shahab Azinmehr, born in Tehran in 1985, is a master of Persian classical music known for his skill on the tar and setar as well as his expressive singing. Trained by some of Iran’s most respected musicians, he has performed at international festivals, released the solo album Showqe Mastur, and plays with ensembles such as Jordi Savall’s Orpheus XXI.

Belgian multi-instrumentalist Joachim Thys adds depth with his expressive saxophone and flute playing. Active in jazz, world, and interdisciplinary projects, he brings versatility and openness that enrich the collaboration with new colors and textures.

Together, the three artists weave Persian musical traditions with contemporary composition and improvisation, creating a vibrant and deeply moving sound world that bridges cultures.

Production
Created and produced by BRONKS and Farnoosh Khodadadeh.
In co-production with Ha Concerts, De Grote Post and PERPODIUM.
With the support of the Flemish Government, Tax Shelter and Stad Gent.

Echo’s Van De Bergen will be released on Zephyrus Records on September 19th, 2025.