Tehran-born, NY based brothers Mohammad and Mehdi collaborate with Ian McDonnell, a.k.a. Eomac on a new record entitled “Patience of a Traitor”. Inspired by the traditional bath houses in their native Tehran, the brothers say: “This record speaks to preserving the things that are timeless, through revisiting the past. The traditional Persian bath house — its architecture, the role it played in keeping, building community, the bathing rituals — served as our ultimate symbol. Now we drink from one cup, and fill the jar with the other.” In working with Eomac, they state: “With Ian, we wanted to explore as wide as possible. There’s a real trust in how we treat, explore samples. We translate and share stories and references all the time. What’s also been interesting to learn is that we both could see fundamental aspects in our respective cultures that are beautiful yet corrupted by various forces. Ian shared memories as a child of feeling deeply connected to the hymns and musical traditions of Christianity and of a connection to the beautiful messages of love at its core. But the church and government used Catholicism to suppress and control the Irish people for centuries. In this sense, the Catholic church in Ireland, or Shia Islam in Iran, have a lot in common. Explosive emotion used to tie one’s hand tightly to the established power.”
Saint Abdullah is the moniker of Mohammad and Mehdi, New York based Iranian-Canadian brothers working across sound. Inspired by Iran’s religious, political and cultural history, the project was formed out of “a deep frustration with the way the West perceives – and treats – Muslims and the Islamic faith”. They aim to “challenge stereotypes and act as a conduit between unnecessary enemies”. They have released on labels such as Purple Tape Pedigree, Cassauna, Psychic Liberation, Important Records and Room40.
Ian McDonnell, a.k.a. Eomac, is a composer, producer, DJ and label owner. He has released genre-spanning music via The Trilogy Tapes, Stroboscopic Artefacts, Bedouin Records, Killekill, his own Eotrax imprint and the iconic label Planet Mu with his 2021 album, ‘Cracks’. His music draws from obscure samples and raw sound design in an ongoing search for musical and collective unity through intense, visceral music for body and soul.
