Videos

Adrienne Shamszad at “Let Her Sing 2017”

Diaspora Arts Connection proudly presented Adrienne Shamszad at "Let Her Sing: A Celebration of Female Vocalists" on October 28, 2017 at Marines' Memorial Theatre in San Francisco, performing Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat's, "Twinkling of Hope (Daram Omidi)," melody inspired by the Kurdish song "Dayeh Dayeh," on a poem by Mohammad Ibrahim Jafari. The show brought ten female vocalists, a music band, and a choir together in support of women’s voices in music, threatened, censored, and suppressed in some parts of the world.

The lineup featured: Abjeez, Marjan Farsad, Mima Goodarz, Mamak Khadem, Ustad Mahwash, Sara Naeini, (Parnaz Partovi), Adrienne Shamszad Music, Parisa Vaaleh, Sepideh Vahidi Music Page, and Bay Area Iranian Choir, directed by Maziar Atrian. Music Director: Erwin Khachikian, Master of Ceremonies: Ana Bayat. Musicians: Nima Hafezieh, Yahya Alkhansa, Johan Moberg, Navid Naima, and Kaveh Haghtalab.
Video by Sam Javadi

Truth is the Road to Freedom

This song is a proclamation that it is our willingness to be honest with ourselves and to boldly tell the Truth to the world that will set us Free. All over the world, forces of greed, hatred, dogmatism and racism oppress the minds and bodies of millions of people. We are, as a whole, waking up more and more to the lies we have been spoon fed by these worldly power structures and, in the U.S., by white supremacy. As a seeker of Love, God and Unity, I see these lies as a betrayal to the pure Soul that dwells within each of us.

Meher Baba said, "You and I are not We, but One." These are words to aspire to, to strive towards, to long for... Oneness will ONLY be achieved through heartfelt effort and divine Grace. The work of achieving Liberation for All People requires, in my opinion, True Humility, True Courage and True Love.

This song comes from that longing to hear and speak the Truth.
http:/adrienneshamszad.com
©Adrienne Shamszad 2020

Calls to action:

*Learn about the Breathe Act: https://breatheact.org/

*Take action for Breonna Taylor: https://www.forbreonna.com/

*Sing, rest and breathe.

Tazarv / Twinklings of Hope

"These songs evoke something deeply needed by humanity - hope, comfort and connection. My journey as an artist has led me to the threshold of this incredibly rich tradition of Iranian music. Through the study of these melodies, the poetry, the heart of the songs, I am rejuvenated. I remember something deep about who I really am, what I am here to do, who I have come here to be. I stand in the hope, the courage and the illumination that this music inspires and follow that light through the darkness in our world. I sing for you with Love, with Mehr." - Adrienne Shamszad

دارم امیدی - Twinklings of Hope, Poem by Mohammed Ebrahim Jafari, Music by Marjan Vahdat based on a Kurdish melody
Tazarv (Tazarv is a type of pheasant that is very colorful and has an enigmatic appearance when in flight)

تذرو - Tazarv

I am the bird atop the cypress that stands tall in your soul
I will follow you to the Seventh Sky
I am the reed bed, silent and warm
I am the blue flower that grows out where the sun never sets
I am the drop of dew that sparkles only in your light
Like the shade, come and embrace me
For I am the missing piece of your heart
I am the one who comforts all of your old sorrows
I am the sound of Leili’s nei, singing to the land
I am the bitter wine on the lips of the drunken Majnun

دارم امیدی - Twinklings of Hope

I have hope
In your sky, I have seen a white cloud
O beautiful cloud,
O unbroken horse!
A lonely horseman rides while touching your mane
A restless, lonely rider
A Kaveh who came for making a change
A lover who is looking forward to meeting the beloved one

O plains! Have you seen the solitary rider from the dream/
In the sky and on earth, is anybody like him?
The messenger who never talks, but who has so many tales to tell?
The untamed white cloud of our dream?

I have hope
I have hope
O Country!
I have hope

Performed at the Freight and Salvage, Berkeley CA August 2019
Adrienne Shamszad - Vocals
Mahsa Vahdat - Vocals and Daf
Atabak Elyasi - Setar

تذرو - Tazarv is composed by Marjan Vahdat
دارم امیدی - Twinklings of Hope, Lyrics by Mohammed Ebrahim Jafari melody by Marjan Vahdat

Audio remixed and Video edited by Andrew Reissiger

When I'm Tired

Lyrics:

When I'm Tired
By Adrienne Shamszad
2014

Friday night I sit at home
Thought that I would let you know
I'm lonesome here without you
But I cannot come to your door

The moment I look into your eyes
Baby oh, I'm hypnotized
All my reason leaves me
And I'm not myself anymore

But when I'm tired of myself
check your phone 'cause I'll be calling
when I'm tired of myself
to my knees I'll be falling
Weakened by the memories
And you know I'll come crawling
Back to you
When I'm tired

I don't sleep very well at night
And I can't blame it on the fights
It's your body that I'm missing
And the way we fit together

But you treated me unkindly
and I wonder if you wonder why
you wore so much armor
When I held you like a feather

...I hunt you down in my dreams
And I pin you to the wall
You don't stand a chance at all
No your mine until I let you go

But in reality
You're the one that's haunting me
Oh please take my plea bargain
All I want back is my soul

I hunt you

Play Video

Sing and Surrender

This piece is a prayer, it is a wish, that when more of us express ourselves, the world becomes a more healed place for everyone to live. It is an invitation to lift your heart up to the sun, the moon, and sing your song. Like, follow, subscribe and then sing along!

Sing and Surrender
Adrienne Shamszad, 2020

Sing for the forest
Sing for the sky
Sing for the moments that are passing you by

Sing for the animals
Sing for your friends
Sing for the beginning and sing for the end

All of our days
Are endlessly numbered
while the clock runs, time stands still
Tomorrow’s never promised
To anyone
And the empty stage of life is yours to fill
So sing

Sing and then surrender
Sing and then let go
Sing for your happiness and for your sorrow

Sing because you can
Sing because it’s good
Sing for all the people in the world who wish they could

All of our days
Are endlessly numbered
while the clock runs, time stands still
Tomorrow is never promised
To anyone
And the empty stage of life is yours to fill
So sing

Sing for your healing
Sing because it’s right
Sing your warmth into the cold dark night

Sing for your homeland
Sing for your soul
Sing for your brokenness, sing until you’re whole

All of our days
Are endlessly numbered
while the clock runs, time stands still
Tomorrow is never promised
To anyone
And the empty stage of life is yours to fill
So sing

Adrienne Shamszad Home Videos - One Last Time

I had 10 million dollars to make a video and I chose this approach. I used the remaining million to buy a lifetime supply of trail mix and skin care products.

Here are the lyrics to this song:

In the evening of my life
I will see your name in lights
and the stars in my eyes
Will shine brighter

When you turn that one last key
And open up the door for me
I will take you in from the threshold
Before I fall inside

O! to see You like this
One last time
And to love you like this
One last time

When they come to mourn my name
To cry from grief and ache with pain
Will you remind them
I’m at home with you dancing

If their fear becomes too great
Tell them to appreciate
Just how brief the chance is
To love like this