Ariwo

Cuban-Iranian Electronic Fusion Ensemble

ARIWO Ariwo are a Cuban/Iranian quartet, focussing on the unexplored intersection between electronic and Afro-Cuban folkloric music. The band combines the raw energy of Cuban rumba shows with the deep melancholy of Iranian electronic music The word Ariwo means “Noise” in Yoruba. The name was selected to underline the band’s emphasis on sound and its desire to combine traditional rhythms into a live electronic performance that challenges perceptions of ancestral music, and connects diverse cultures from around the world. The band is made up of Iranian electronic composer, Pouya Ehsaei [Entr'acte], and three of London’s most influential Cuban musicians: Oreste Noda [Sambroso Sambroso], Yelfris Valdes [Sierra Maestra] and Latin Grammy winner, Hammadi Valdes [Carlos Acosta / Irakere]. Pouya processes their live instruments while creating soundscapes and hypnotic rhythms that draw influence from the folkloric music of Cuba and his home city of Tehran.