Inspired by the Afghan revolutionary general, Ahmad Shah Massoud, or The Lion of Panjshir, who fought successfully against the Soviets in the 1980s, the California singer, songwriter, and activist of Afghan descent,
Ariana Delawari, combines ancient instruments with an ethereal blend of east and west. For her impressive debut album, promoted through the
David Lynch Foundation, and mixed by the American filmmaker himself,
Ariana Delawari returns to her roots and her hometown of Kabul to record songs oozing with passion, dreamy sounds, and crystal-clear messages.
—Nick Riganas