Night Of Melodic Wanderlust​ ​​

Vatan, or "homeland" in Persian, is a group of Middle Eastern-American musicians based in Brooklyn, NY. Blending the lines between Persian folk music and country, funk and rock, they revive classic tunes while building new ones.

While Vatan's band members, Mona Kayhan and Piruz Partow were raised and even born in the United States, they draw inspiration from their motherlands/home country. Through their music, Vatan honors their roots while celebrating the coming together of the cultures. The country underlinings honor America and what it has to offer those who come from anothercountry to start a new life while continuing to empower their heritage through music.
  
Piruz's Persian tar playing is known to seamlessly transition between brooding, Persian dhastaghs to country pickin'.  While Mona's folky, jazz vocals bring a fresh edge to Persian classic love songs such as "Baroun, Baroun" and "Niloufar", she returns "home" with originals like "Woke Up" with the tar continues to pull them towards to their Persian roots.

Piruz Partow is a Brooklyn based musician, composer and educator who has dedicated much of his life to learning, writing, teaching, listening and supporting music.  Primarily an electric and upright bassist, Piruz also plays a host of other studio instruments with his current interest in the Persian tar.  He is a great appreciator of Persian classical music and is inspired by its improvisational nature given his extensive background in jazz.

Mona Kayhan has been a vocalist for as long as she remembers.  Accolades include performing in a Broadway tour, multiple recording artist credits to singing with a number of bands in NYC.  In an effort to reconnect with her roots, Mona founded the non-profit organization, Persian Arts Festival, which highlights Persian arts and culture through music, visual art, film and more.  She continued her pursuit by taking Persian vocal lessons to marry her love of singing and her family's heritage.  She soon met Piruz, who was looking for a vocalist with whom to start a Persian country band.  The rest was history.

Vatan has played at various festivals and venues such as BAM Cafe, Le Poisson Rouge, the LIC Bar and the Hudson Terrace.


Navid Kandelousi studied western classical music at the Verdi Conservatory in Milano, Italy and at the Moscow Violin Academy in Russia. Kandelousi has mastered virtuosic skills on a great breadth of instruments including the Violin, Setar, Taar and Kamanchah, in addition to experience with Tombak, Santour and Gheychak. Throughout his professional career, he has collaborated with numerous prestigious Persian ensembles such as Iranian National Orchestra, and has performed internationally across Europe, Asia and America in venues such as Lincoln center, Julliard music school, Albert Hall, Sydney’s Symphony hall and Vahdat hall. His teaching background include work at the Yamaha School of Music, Suzuki Violin School, and Master Classes in Kamanchah, Taar and Setar at the Julliard School. Navid is currently working with Maestro Danial Philips in Queens college of music.