RASTAK – Iran

“Rastak,” in Farsi, means a newly born plant that grows at the bottom of a tree. Sometimes it grows taller and stronger than the main tree itself. So, it can be interpreted as a plant with its roots in the ground, containing all the essential elements of life, when it is fully grown. We, the Rastak music group, like the “Rastak” natural process, have borrowed the background of our music from the roots of our history and culture. We have been using ethnic-based themes with our specific arrangement to connect with a more extensive range of the audience worldwide for years.

Rastak is one of the most well-known bands in Iranian contemporary folk music, which was formed as an experimental music group in 1997. The group seeks to collect, record, and interpret Iranian folk music for a global audience. Rastak incorporates language, culture, and history, merging traditional instruments and forms with contemporary rhythms. Rastak has been trying to combine well-known tunes with less well-known ones to shorten the generational gap and create a geographical bridge in the music of Iran.