Salim Ghazi Saeedi

Salim Ghazi Saeedi was born in 1981 in Tehran, Iran. Despite the inactive rock scene in Iran, he decided to challenge his fate by becoming a rock musician. Salim started self teaching electric guitar and music production from 1999. Meanwhile living outside contemporary rock music currents in Iran made Salim shape his music style in a unique personal way. It has been compared to surprisingly diversified bands from all over the world like Univers Zero, King Crimson, John Zorn and Birdsongs of ...

Salim Ghazi Saeedi was born in 1981 in Tehran, Iran. Despite the inactive rock scene in Iran, he decided to challenge his fate by becoming a rock musician. Salim started self teaching electric guitar and music production from 1999. Meanwhile living outside contemporary rock music currents in Iran made Salim shape his music style in a unique personal way. It has been compared to surprisingly diversified bands from all over the world like Univers Zero, King Crimson, John Zorn and Birdsongs of the Mesozoic. In this regard Salim has found himself composing in genres like art rock, rock in opposition, progressive metal and jazz-fusion - with tinges of oriental music according to critics. Harmonie Magazine compared his guitar playing to King Crimson's Robert Fripp. He is the producer, composer and performer of all instruments in his instrumental music. He has coined the term "Pictorial Rock" as a description of his compositions which is also the title of his blog: "Pictorial rock" he says "is a term I use for my music that is usually based on series of mental images, a nightmare or maybe dreams of a sound sleep... As a listener, you have to wait for the pictures to materialize in your mind!" However Salim has had little chance to expand his music career in his hometown, he has regularly kept on working. While in Arashk band he released Abrahadabra (2006), Sovereign (2007) and Ustuqus-al-Uss (2008). Afterwards he released Iconophobic (2010) and Human Encounter (2011) both as a one-man-band. His albums are concept albums hiring elements of classical and electronic music and progressive rock with diversified use of instruments. He describes himself as "an ever improviser... both in performing and in composing." His main influences include Jeff Beck and Thelonious Monk. Salim says about his style of music: "I never decided to compose in progressive genre. I just have a very versatile taste of music listening... Maybe this is how progressive genre takes place. You let your mind free and it becomes progressive!"