Hypernova is an Iranian indie-rock band based in Tehran. The band is made up of Raam, Kami, Kodi, and Jam. Raam is the vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Kami is the drummer, Kodi is the lead guitarist, and Jam plays bass.
Like many other Iranian rock bands, the group was formed in the wake of president Khatami's relaxed stance on cultural policies in Iran in the late 1990s and the early decade of the 21st century.
Their latest Ep is titled Universal and the songs Consequence and Fairy Tales That Dont Have Happy Endings and Universalare available for download on their Myspace page. The songs Fairy Tales That Dont Have Happy Endings and Universalare getting numerous Radio Plays all across The United States and some Countries In Europe.
They recently uploaded two songs of their upcoming album Through the Chaos named Viva la Resistance and Siren on their MySpace page.
The band were only issued visas after Senator Charles Schumer faxed a letter to the U.S. embassy in Dubai.
The band performed their first show in the United States at the Fat Baby bar on the Lower East Side in Manhattan, New York City. All of their songs are written in English. According to the band leader, Persian is a really poetic and harmonious language, but not one well-suited to the harsh and really energetic rock sound. The song themes mostly stay off the topic of politics, but amid the hyperpaced lyrics is the occasional reference to world events.
Their names are derivations of their first names to avoid undue attention at home in Tehran, where the rock playing is illegal and may lead to arrest, large fines and even a public flogging, after the president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad banned all Western music from state-run airwaves in December 2005 in a reversal of reforms made under his more liberal predecessor. However, gigs are still played there but only in private spaces: basements in large homes in Tehran, or villas out of town and ostensibly beyond the reach of a vast and prying network of state agents loyal to the ruling clerical establishment.
Interview with Iranian Rock Band Hypernova
Even though I am in Austin, the international music festival South By Southwest is in Austin, and Hypernova was meant to be at SXSW, I had to catch Raam over the phone. The Hypernova frontman was temporarily separated from his bandmates who were sitting out visa limbo in Canada.
Inspired by the indie movement, they started performing secret gigs in Iran, mixing their dance rock with covers of groups like Franz Ferdinand and Elvis to give kids in Iran the experience of going to shows. Their music has since evolved into a self described ‘post punk dark garage hi-fi dance pop’ based in New York.
MEY: When did you first start playing live shows?
Back in 2000 as a three piece. We didn’t take it too seriously at first, just sort of being drunk and crazy and then we realized we could actually start pursuing this as a career. So I dropped out of university where I was studying ‘international relations’. You’re not going to get anywhere with that. So I thought, I’ll change the world, I’ll become a rockstar.
MEY: What has been in your opinion, your biggest accomplishment since you started making music?
We played the Pangaea festival and it was broadcast to 500 million people around the planet and got to perform with all these really cool people. Our parents back home in Iran were watching on satellite tv, they never got to see us live so that was really cool and relevant. The whole idea was to create a global campfire so it felt appropriate for us to be a part of that because we had this idea that rock and roll has no boundaries.
MEY: Do you ever get tired of talking about Iranian politics when asked about your music?
Well we began like a more exotic animal in a cage, but we kind of sucked ass when we first came here. We just arrived at the right time. We just rehearsed and rehearsed and now people come to the shows for the music.
MEY: Your new album comes out in April, how soon will you do another tour?
Hopefully as soon as the bandmates get back from Canada and we can plan a national tour and even a European tour. As soon as we get the whole visa situation worked out. Everything on this sort of level for us is such an honour and we paved the way and we feel responsible for all the other musicians back home.
What’s next?
I started a management/promotional company called Neverheard,Inc. The Yellow Dogs were at SXSW and have had such good reviews and really good success. That’s why I wanted to come here and establish myself and then help others, give others the opportunity that I had.
MEY: In your music video for ‘Fairy Tales’ you’re all in these fantastic suits, which is sort of how I picture you guys all look strolling around New York. How far off is this mental image?
Actually we pretty much do dress up like this all the time in New York. Kodi is the most stylish, but I guess its normal for all of us.
MEY: Mideast Youth is about giving middle eastern youth a voice in places that are restrictive to freedom of speech. What message do you have not just to the musicians you have influenced but your fans as well?
My father has always said that you a re a citizen of this earth first and then whatever random boundary you’re in. It doesn’t really matter where you guys are but the struggle can be good in itself and keep working for what you believe in and the sky is the limit.
Hypernova’s debut full length album ‘Through the Chaos’ comes out April 6th (that’s tomorrow!) on Narnack Records.
