1. Hey Zhubin Kalhor! Glad to have you here to talk with you about your latest EP, ‘Be Jaane To’.
Thank you, it’s truly a privilege to be here and to share my music directly with both long-time listeners and new audiences. Those who have followed my journey over the past 25 years know my work across electronic, acoustic, and fusion sounds. For those discovering it now, this EP is a reflection of my path towards everything I’ve explored and evolved over the years.
2. ‘Be Jaane To’ is both the EP title and a track, what’s the story behind it, and what does it mean to you personally?
The style of music I feel most at home in has given me the freedom to express my emotions, my experiences, and my understanding of life. Despite years of studying music, learning from different masters and also at university — the purest music in me comes from a place beyond knowledge. It’s something I access through what we call Jaan in Persian — the essence of life, the soul, the force that keeps us alive.
In our culture, love is so profound that we speak of offering our Jaan to it — dissolving ourselves completely to something greater. Be Jaane To (offering to your life) comes from that space: a place of love, surrender, and inner stillness.
When music wants to emerge from me, it feels like a kind of birth — instinctive and unknown. I don’t always know what it will become; I simply allow it to happen. The process is often very natural, almost effortless. Be Jaane To was one of those pieces I felt compelled to share, and I brought it together with three of my previously released tracks in this EP, as they all follow the same emotional and artistic direction.
3. What kind of feeling or experience do you want listeners to have when they go through the full EP?
It’s about connecting to the present moment — as if there is no past, no future.
There is a deep love and unity in the moment we all share, where we can truly connect. You can dance, breathe, meditate, visualize, or simply be and listen. In that space, when you are in love, you begin to see yourself within it — as part of that presence.
In that state, nothing exists but pure music. A record, then, becomes like a photograph of that moment — a way to capture it, to hold it, and to remember. So it will be a true experience of transforming energy and feeling for the listener.
4. How would you describe your sound?
As one of the early artists in Iranian lounge and chill-out music, I’ve always been drawn to blending electronic sound with a mystical atmosphere. I began exploring this path around 2004, sharing it across different platforms — through albums, singles, and collaborations with other artists.
What has remained constant throughout my journey is the intention to bring spirituality into electronic music. There is something deeply fulfilling in creating a sound that allows the soul to feel light, to rise, and to move freely. With a background in both traditional music and electronic production, merging these worlds has become a natural and joyful form of expression — a way to explore creativity and reach a deeper state of awareness.
I am especially drawn to shaping music across the full frequency range — from deep bass to high tones — and allowing it to become rhythmic and danceable, particularly when it comes from an authentic, inner place. At times, I incorporate a line of poetry, often from Rumi or other mystic poets, but always with restraint. I prefer minimal words; for me, music should remain pure and true to its essence.
From there, anything can be added — but only if it feels right and stays aligned with that core.
5. Who is Zhubin Kalhor beyond the music, and what first made you fall in love with creating it?
I’m currently writing a book where I explore this more deeply, but briefly, I can say that the search itself — and the sound — made me fall in love with music. To me, music is a never-ending journey. You keep playing, discovering, and it continues to nourish both your soul and those around you, especially when it’s approached with joy and understanding.
Music called me when I was seven years old, and I’ve never truly been separated from it since. It made me a wanderer — taking me from the East, through places like India, Iran, and Turkey, to the West, including France, the Netherlands, and Mexico.
I feel I was born a musician. It is the most natural expression for me. I’ve tried to step away from it at times and pursue other paths, but it always finds its way back — stronger than before. Even after decades, I still feel the same joy in creating, playing, and living through music.
6. Do you remember the first track that made you fall in love with music?
When I was seven years old, a relative of mine was moving to Germany and gave me his guitar. I kept it hidden in the basement, as my grandmother didn’t want me to be distracted from school by music.
From the very beginning, I was fascinated by its sound. I would place the guitar flat on a table and play it like a Hawaiian guitar, even though it was just a classical nylon-string instrument. At that time, I had never really seen anyone play music, nor had I been exposed to it.
I would play the notes one by one, then close my eyes and simply feel the sound — almost like taking a sound shower. That moment became my first deep experience with music, and it awakened something in me. From there, the journey began — a path full of discovery, wonder, and its own kind of magic.
7. Who or what has shaped your sound the most throughout your journey?
In my search for music, I’ve had the opportunity to learn and play alongside many masters — both in acoustic traditions and electronic production. Throughout this journey, I’ve been deeply inspired by artists around the world who have developed their own unique voice, especially those who create with a sense of ease and authenticity. Reaching that state has always been something I’ve aspired to.
More than anything, however, it has been my spiritual journey that has truly shaped my music.
8. What’s the one activity you love doing in your free time when not making music?
When I’m not making music or traveling, I truly enjoy being at home spending time with loved ones. I spend a lot of time reading — especially Persian literature. which inspires me in a different way.
I also enjoy yoga and sports like basketball and tennis, and I love watching older comedy series, appreciating their writing and performances. And I’m always curious to learn — especially when it comes to new languages.
9. Can you tell us more about your dream and future collaboration and what do you hope to achieve in the next 3 years in your professional career?
I’m planning a world tour, performing my music live and sharing those moments directly with audiences. There’s a special chemistry I’ve felt on stage since I was 18, and it continues to inspire me to connect more deeply through live performance.
Alongside this, I collaborate on curating distinctive and sophisticated events, creating immersive spaces where my music, exceptional food, wellness, atmosphere, and human connection come together in a meaningful way.
I also continue to teach through the Zhubin Kalhor Music Academy, working with musicians of all levels and ages, both online and in person, across different parts of the world.
I keep creating and playing music every day, sharing it through my releases. I’m also fortunate to have my own label, Zhubin Kalhor Music Production, which gives me the freedom to release music in an authentic and independent way, exactly as I envision it.
10. Thanks for your time! Where can fans follow you and stay updated with your upcoming releases?
I enjoy sharing my music through social media, particularly on Instagram and YouTube, alongside my website, which remains the main source for my upcoming releases and news.
Listeners can always connect with me through my website, where they can leave comments and stay updated. My music is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and all major streaming platforms. There is much more to come, so I invite everyone to stay connected by following me on Instagram and YouTube, and by subscribing to my newsletter for updates on upcoming releases and live shows, especially in their area.
It’s been a true pleasure to be here and to share these moments of joy and love while speaking about the concept behind my music and the EP “Be Jaane To”.
Stream Links:
YouTube Saghi: https://youtu.be/dOCG6-WYcy4?si=MsRdU1fJEicKQnIq
YouTube Live: https://youtu.be/jJZklkr6tes?si=sLme4GMOh_e9s60w
Zhubin Kalhor on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5OSfmiagVA3OlxHjAx5YMg?si=UJWAnDiLQjqoC21ezibCGg
Follow Zhubin Kalhor on Socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zhubinkalhor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zhubin.kalhor
YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@zhubinkalhor?si=k8JsG-DTnqtEJytk
Website: www zhubinkalhor.com
