{"id":114136,"date":"2025-05-08T13:33:11","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T17:33:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=114136"},"modified":"2025-05-08T14:00:01","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T18:00:01","slug":"interview-introducing-link-music-lab-fusing-classical-persian-music-contemporary-toronto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/05\/08\/interview-introducing-link-music-lab-fusing-classical-persian-music-contemporary-toronto\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Introducing Link Music Lab: Fusing Classical Persian Music In Contemporary Toronto"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Musicians
Musicians (L-R): Alireza Mortazavi and Carson Teal (Photo: Marzieh Miri)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s no secret that Toronto is home to people from many different backgrounds, nationalities, and ethnicities \u2014 and their musical traditions. That simple fact has led to many groundbreaking musical collaborations.<\/p>\n

Over the last two years, Link Music Lab<\/a>\u2019s Experimental Link Series has essentially created new genres of music by pairing musicians from the Persian diaspora with members of Toronto\u2019s diverse and excellent music scene, including pianist Chris Pruden, bassist Scott Peterson, and cellist George Crotty. The results have been a string of innovative recordings and live performances that veer from fusion to electronic music and back.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re holding a Label Release Party to celebrate the five (and soon to be six) releases that have come out so far, and future plans that include several more, on May 10.<\/p>\n

\"L-R:
L-R: Bassist Scott Peterson and nay player Shaho\u00a0Andalibi (Photo courtesy of the artists)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Link Music Lab founder Moudy (Mahmood) Schricker<\/h2>\n

\u201cI started with working with Small World Music<\/a>, with Alan Davis,\u201d recalls Link Music Lab founder Moudy Schricker. He\u2019s also a musician and producer. \u201cThere was a big movement of Iranian classical music.\u201d<\/p>\n

From its beginnings as a genre you\u2019d hear at strictly Persian community events, the popularity of Persian music and growing audience in the city has seen it fill Toronto\u2019s major concert halls, including the George Weston Recital Hall, and Roy Thomson Hall.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I work with them, I thought there was a good potential,\u201d he says. After five years or so of working with Small World, he wanted to branch out. \u201cI thought I should have my own company.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s partly in response to that growing audience. \u201cThe landscape has changed massively,\u201d he says, noting the growing number of arts related companies<\/a> with Persian roots<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By the end of the pandemic, he\u2019d decided on a new direction for the company and the music it produced. \u201cI started shifting from Iranian classical music to experimental music\u201d he says. \u201cWe kind of make our own genre that doesn\u2019t exist in Toronto.\u201d<\/p>\n

It takes the classical Persian traditions, and adds a broader and modern perspective, including elements of jazz\/contemporary and electronic music.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I love my culture, I love my country, at the same time, I live in Canada. It opens the door to engage with other things that are going on in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also about engaging with a wide variety of different artists. \u201cIt opens the door for many other artists,\u201d he notes. He\u2019s approached organizations like The Music Gallery and Wavelength, known for their own adventurous approach to music programming. \u201cI always looked up to organizations like Music Gallery,\u201d he adds. \u201cThey do really forward thinking stuff. I was also a fan of that music.\u201d<\/p>\n

The music becomes a part of living in the city.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really makes me feel closer to where I live, which is Toronto.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Musicians
Musicians (L-R): Kimia Koochakzadeh-Yazdi and Matti Pulkki (Photo courtesy of the artists)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Link Music Lab: Releases<\/h3>\n

So far, Link Music Lab has released four full-length albums, and one EP. Another is on the way, and all are available on Bandcamp<\/a>, along with most other streaming options;<\/p>\n