Meelodi
Co-founded over two decades ago as an intuitive, improvisational duo between Iranian singer and painter Medi Farmani and myself, Meelodi has evolved across four critically acclaimed albums into a powerhouse multi-continental ensemble. Today, the project features a brilliant lineup of world-class musicians: Syrian vocalist and oud player Nawar Alnaddaf, percussionist Snorre Bjerck, bassist Anders Bitustøyl, and the legendary, visionary trumpeter, vocalist, and percussionist Per Jørgensen.
Meelodi’s sonic identity is an eclectic, deeply sensitive tapestry. It weaves ancient Persian classical poetry—drawing from mystics like Rumi and Omar Khayyam—and evocative Arabic vocal lines together with contemporary acoustic and electronic arrangements. My role as producer, composer, and multi-string instrumentalist allows me to directly implement parameters from my extensive global field studies, framing Farmani and Alnaddaf's vocals within a rich sonic landscape. This is seamlessly driven forward by Bjerck’s unique percussive sound palette, Bitustøyl’s low-frequency mastery, and Jørgensen’s singular, world-renowned musicianship.
🔮 Upcoming Release: DIDAMASH (Autumn 2026)
We are currently in the final production stages of finishing Meelodi's highly anticipated fifth studio album, DIDAMASH, scheduled for global release in the Autumn of 2026. This upcoming record marks a profound maturation of our expanded six-piece lineup, pushing our electroacoustic exploration into even deeper, uncharted cross-cultural territories.
📰 The Press & Accolades
Our third studio album, The Great Blue Wheel (2020), achieved major international acclaim and was awarded the coveted "Top of the World" status (Top 10 New Album Releases Globally) in the October 2021 issue of the UK's premier world music authority, Songlines Magazine.
"This is ‘world music’ without pretension: a beautiful melding of sounds achieved with cultural sensitivity and finesse. And it doesn’t try to ram home any vague message about universal oneness; it is simply just very good."
— Tom Newell, Songlines Magazine (UK)
"The core of Meelodi is the Iranian vocalist Medi Farmani and guitarist Ole André Farstad. Together they have created the finest surprise of the winter. [...] It is easy to dream yourself away when listening to Meelodi."
— Svein Andersen, Aftenposten (Norway)
🛒 Listen & Watch
Discography & Physical Media: Read the full Songlines feature and purchase our albums on heavy-weight 12" Vinyl and CD via our Meelodi Bandcamp Page.
Our 4th Album, Chahâr (2023): Stream and discover the album across all major digital networks via our Meelodi Linktree.
Live Broadcasts & Media Features:
Watch Meelodi's full live showcase at Førdefestivalen 2021 on NRK Hovedscenen.
Listen to our feature portrait and deep-dive interview on Jungeltelegrafen (NRK P2, 2021).
Watch our full, immersive live-in-studio concert filmed at NRK Studio 19 (April 2023). https://tv.nrk.no/serie/studio-19/sesong/2023/episode/MKMU65100021
