Native to Iran and raised in India, Azam Ali and Ellis met in 1995 and collaborated on four Vas releases. Together, along with Laxmi Shankar and Deepak Ram, can be heard in the end title track by Juno Reactor's Ben Watkins on The Matrix Revolutions score. Ali has also recorded vocal tracks for the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead (scored by Tyler Bates) and appeared on the film adaptation of Frank Miller's "300".
Ali has also worked with composer Brian Tyler, performing vocals for the original television soundtrack for the SciFi Channel's 2003 miniseries Children of Dune. Her voice can be heard singing "Inama Nushif" ("She is Eternal") in the fictitious Fremen language.
Related projects and releases:
Ali, Tyler, and Ellis are currently to release an album under the name Roseland, featuring Azam singing in English against a more rock/ambient sound.
Niyaz is yet another project Azam sings for, along with members Loga Ramin Torkian from Axiom of Choice and Carmen Rizzo from Ekova. Niyaz have released two albums on Six Degrees Records: Niyaz in 2005 and Nine Heavens in 2008.
Azam Ali has two solo recordings, Portals of Grace, also on Six Degrees Records, released in 2002, and Elysium for the Brave, released in 2006. This second album is predominantly sung in English and has been said to be Azam Ali's most ambitious album to date.
Sunyata
Vas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
biraha le chaati polda timilai nai samjhanchu.
eklo banai chaadi gayeu sapani ma jhaskanchu.
sunyata ma eklai huda timilai nai samjhanchu.
juni juni saath dine timra ti bachaa haru
maile ruda aasu jhardai rune timra aankha haru.
juni juni saath dine timra ti bachaa haru
haath maathi haath rakhne timro baani samjhanchu:::::: 2
andheri jhai bilai gayeu, timro maya samjhanchu::::: 2
sunyata ma eklai huda timilai nai samjhanchu.::::::::::::::(music)
maya garchu vanne timra, ti jhuta kasam haru.
malai angaldai sumsumyaudai thap thapine haath haru.
maya garchu vanne timra, ti jhuta kasam haru.
malai angaldai sumsumyaudai thap thapine haath haru.
chatpati ma tadpi rahada, timro saath samjhanchu.::: 2
hidda hiddai ladna khojda, timro haath samjhanchu.:::::: 2
sunyata ma eklai huda, timilai nai samjhanchu
timilai nai samjhanchu.
timilai nai samjhanchu::::::
The Nepali lyrics to "Sunyata" by Vas reflect the feeling of being alone in emptiness, with only the presence of the beloved providing solace and meaning. The first verse translates to "When I am alone in emptiness, I feel like I understand only you. Biraha (separation) makes my chest ache, and I dance alone in my dreams." The second verse talks about the memories shared with the beloved, where the singer feels deeply connected to the children they once were when they were together. The third verse talks about the love that exists between the two, but with a layer of dishonesty and false promises that cause the singer both physical and emotional pain. The chorus repeats the idea of the singer finding understanding only in the presence of the beloved.
The repetition of the phrase "timilai nai samjhanchu" (I understand only you) highlights the theme of connection and understanding, suggesting that even in emptiness and suffering, the presence of the beloved can provide a sense of meaning and purpose. The song is both melancholic and hopeful, with the singer finding solace in memories and the presence of the beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
sunyata ma eklai huda timilai nai samjhanchu.
When I am alone in emptiness, I understand only you.
biraha le chaati polda timilai nai samjhanchu.
In the pain of separation, I understand only you.
eklo banai chaadi gayeu sapani ma jhaskanchu.
I am left alone to dream and fantasize.
juni juni saath dine timra ti bachaa haru
Your children give you company, growing up gradually.
maile ruda aasu jhardai rune timra aankha haru.
As I cry and shed tears, your eyes weep too.
haath maathi haath rakhne timro baani samjhanchu
By holding your hand, I understand your voice.
andheri jhai bilai gayeu, timro maya samjhanchu
Even in darkness, I understand your love.
maya garchu vanne timra, ti jhuta kasam haru.
Your false promises that you love me.
malai angaldai sumsumyaudai thap thapine haath haru.
You touch me softly and pat me with your hands.
chatpati ma tadpi rahada, timro saath samjhanchu.
I suffer and crave for your company.
hidda hiddai ladna khojda, timro haath samjhanchu.
In my search for fights and arguments, I understand your hand.
timilai nai samjhanchu
I only understand you.
Contributed by Maria D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@melchiah389
I was 16, 20 years ago, walking through the barnes and noble music section when an Azam Ali album cover caught my eye. My life changed after sitting down and listening. An entire new world of music opened up to me.
@beebeeq1514
Nazam Ali and Amanati changed my brain chemistry....
@patrickwalsh8191
Heals my damaged soul and cursed life.. trying not to give up
@starman4699
What a privilege to be alive to hear such brilliance.
@msg3030
The 1st song I heard of Azam and her projects back in 2001. Still blown away by how amazing this music is. Spellbinding beauty.
@dagnytaggart5955
I have been listening to their albums for almost twenty years. Goosebumps come back every time.
@GrimFelArt
This whole album is terrific.
@ibrahimakifates1344
Tehlikeli hakikatlerin baş döndürücü sarhoşluğunu yaşatıyor bu sesin tınısı...
@bandeiraMD
THIS IS MUSIC...The word music comes from the Greek mousikê (tekhnê) by way of the Latin musica. It is ultimately derived from mousa, the Greek word for muse. In ancient Greece, the word mousike was used to mean any of the arts or sciences governed by the Muses. Later, in Rome, ars musica embraced poetry as well as instrument-oriented music. In the European Middle Ages, musica was part of the mathematical quadrivium: arithmetics, geometry, astronomy and musica. The concept of musica was split into four major kinds by the fifth century philosopher, Boethius: musica universalis, musica humana, musica instrumentalis, and musica divina. Of those, only musica instrumentalis referred to music as performed sound.
@beingnonbeing
Thank you for this information.