Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
What does it mean to pursue art when even carrying a guitar can be an act of rebellion?
In Episode 449 of Roqe, Jian Ghomeshi sits down with composer, producer, arranger and musical architect Ramin Zamani for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation about exile, creativity, craftsmanship, identity, and the future of music itself.
Recorded several months ago and finally shared at a moment that feels particularly fitting, this conversation traces Ramin's remarkable journey from post-revolution Iran to Canada and eventually Los Angeles, where he became one of the most influential behind-the-scenes figures in modern Persian pop music.
Topics include:
• Growing up under the Islamic Republic and pursuing classical music
• Leaving Iran and studying music in Canada
• His dream of becoming a film composer
• The chance encounter with Kamran that changed everything
• Working with Hengameh, Shahbal Shabpareh and Dariush
• Why so many great Persian pop composers come from classical training
• The difference between craftsmanship and shortcuts
• Autotune, authenticity and artistic integrity
• The rise of AI-generated music
• Whether technology is helping or hurting creativity
Plus, Jian opens the episode with an essay titled:
WE ARE BETWEEN CHAPTERS
Sponsored by:
• Stellar Law - stellarlaw.ca
And don't forget...
ROQE LIVE 6 returns Saturday, July 18, 2026 at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts featuring:
Shahram Shabpareh, Tina Parsa, Shally Zomorodi, Captain Christopher Behnam, Dariush Azar, Pegah Ganji and host Jian Ghomeshi.
Subscribe, share, and join the conversation.
Instagram:
@JianGhomeshi
#IranRises #RaminZamani #Roqe #JianGhomeshi #Iran #PersianMusic #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #DariushAzar #ShahbalShabpareh #KamranAndHooman
What does it mean to pursue art when even carrying a guitar can be an act of rebellion?
In Episode 449 of Roqe, Jian Ghomeshi sits down with composer, producer, arranger and musical architect Ramin Zamani for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation about exile, creativity, craftsmanship, identity, and the future of music itself.
Recorded several months ago and finally shared at a moment that feels particularly fitting, this conversation traces Ramin's remarkable journey from post-revolution Iran to Canada and eventually Los Angeles, where he became one of the most influential behind-the-scenes figures in modern Persian pop music.
Topics include:
• Growing up under the Islamic Republic and pursuing classical music
• Leaving Iran and studying music in Canada
• His dream of becoming a film composer
• The chance encounter with Kamran that changed everything
• Working with Hengameh, Shahbal Shabpareh and Dariush
• Why so many great Persian pop composers come from classical training
• The difference between craftsmanship and shortcuts
• Autotune, authenticity and artistic integrity
• The rise of AI-generated music
• Whether technology is helping or hurting creativity
Plus, Jian opens the episode with an essay titled:
WE ARE BETWEEN CHAPTERS
Sponsored by:
• Stellar Law - stellarlaw.ca
And don't forget...
ROQE LIVE 6 returns Saturday, July 18, 2026 at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts featuring:
Shahram Shabpareh, Tina Parsa, Shally Zomorodi, Captain Christopher Behnam, Dariush Azar, Pegah Ganji and host Jian Ghomeshi.
Subscribe, share, and join the conversation.
Instagram:
@JianGhomeshi
#IranRises #RaminZamani #Roqe #JianGhomeshi #Iran #PersianMusic #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #DariushAzar #ShahbalShabpareh #KamranAndHooman
